Social-ecological dimensions of Marine Protected Areas and coastal fishing: How fishermen's local ecological knowledge can inform fisheries management at the future Taza MPA (Algeria, SW Mediterranean)

The aim of this paper is to examine fishermen's Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) relating to Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning and the overlap with fisheries management in the future Taza MPA (Algeria, SW Mediterranean). The case study focuses on both commercial and recreational coastal fisheries from the fishing harbour of Ziama (NE Algeria). In this area, coastal fishing is carried out by professional small-scale fishers and purse seiners for commercial fishery and by recreational boat fishers for recreational fishery. While there have been some science-based studies in the characterization of this coastal fishery by using direct observation of landings as a method for estimating catch and fishing effort, fishermen's LEK remains under-utilized in this Social-Ecological System (SES). To address this knowledge gap, perceptions regarding: (1) biological and ecological impacts of coastal fisheries, (2) marine ecosystem health and (3) attitudes towards the proposed MPA regulations were analyzed in order to assess potential social-ecological impacts which can inform more accurately on MPA planning and fisheries management in the future. To this end, thirty face-to-face semi-structured interviews with fishers at Ziama harbour were carried out between June and September 2017. The study found that the future establishment of the Taza MPA may affect the fisheries in this area in the short-term, and in particular the jobs and livelihoods of professional fishers by limiting the fishing area through new fishing restrictions. The fishermen's LEK provided some capacity to understand the heterogeneity of the SES in place and may be used as a tool to evaluate the outcome of fishery management actions. The results indicate higher acceptance rates among recreational than professional fishers regarding no-take zones. Professional fishers were proportionately more likely to oppose the new regulations, though 53% of the fishers surveyed were uncertain about the future positive impacts of the MPA. The LEK provides managers with a level of detail about the prediction and prevention of fishermen opposition, and can point out opportunities for improving conservation policy with respect to social acceptance.

Automated summary

This paper examines fishermen's Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) regarding Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning in Algeria and its overlap with fisheries management. The study found that the establishment of the future Taza MPA may impact the fishing area and livelihoods of professional fishers, and the LEK of fishermen can be used as a tool to evaluate fishery management actions and improve conservation policy.