Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : The diversity of reef ecosystems, the multiplicity of reef resource uses and the breadth of the range of the island socio-cultural contexts concerned make coral reef fisheries (CRF) management in the South Pacific a complex task. The health and state of the targeted resources depend both on ecosystem characteristics (as determined by ecological and biological factors) and on fishing pressure, whose effects are only partly known. Increasing harvests from commercial and recreational fishing increasingly overlap with traditional Subsistence activity, creating an important CRF management challenge. This paper presents a new approach to CRF assessment and monitoring by providing a set of multidisciplinary indicators. The fisheries system is assessed from three different viewpoints: ecology of targeted populations, exploitation and the broader socio-econornic fishery context. The use of complementary indicators chosen from each of these fields could balance the chronic lack of human and financial resources for the management of these fisheries. We suggest the use of these indicators through an assessment grid or an indicator dashboard specifically adapted to given situations and management objectives determined through a participatory approach. The operational efficiency of this dashboard depends on i) dialogue between users, ii) the objectivity of the proposed monitoring, iii) the Visual transcription of divergent/convergent interests amongst stakeholders, and iv) stakeholder involvement in the decision-making process. The use and constraints of such a tool are described with reference to Ouvea atoll (New-Caledonia, South Pacific) for which an analysis of available indicators for assessing fisheries status is presented.
La diversité des écosystèmes coralliens, la multiplicité des modalités d'exploitation de leurs ressources et l'hétérogénéité des contextes socio-culturels insulaires rendent complexe la gestion des pêcheries récifo-lagonaires du Pacifique sud. La santé et l'évolution de ces ressources dépendent, d'une part, des caractéristiques propres de l'écosystème (obéissant à des facteurs biologiques et écologiques) et, d'autre part, de la pression de pêche dont certains effets seulement sont établis. La pêche traditionnelle aux fins de subsistance est aujourd'hui concurrencée par des activités à visées commerciales et récréatives, qui accroissent les prélèvements et soulèvent de nouveaux enjeux de gestion. L'article propose une approche pour l'évaluation et le suivi de ces pêcheries basée sur un ensemble d'indicateurs pluridisciplinaires. Le système « Pêche » est analysé de trois points de vue complémentaires : l'écologie des peuplements exploités, l'exploitation halieutique sensu stricto et le contexte économique et social plus large des pêcheries. La mise en place d'indicateurs issus de ces trois domaines vise à compenser le manque chronique de moyens financiers et humains pour la gestion des pêcheries coralliennes des îles du Pacifique sud. Nous suggérons que leur utilisation s'effectue au travers d'une grille d'évaluation ou tableau de bord répondant à des situations précises et des objectifs de gestion définis lors d'une approche participative. La portée opérationnelle de ce tableau de bord de gestion de la pêche repose sur i) la concertation engagée entre les usagers, ii) l'objectivité du suivi préconisé, iii) la transcription visuelle des intérêts convergents et/ou divergents des acteurs, et iv) leur implication dans le processus de décision. Les modalités et contraintes d'application de cet outil sont décrites sur l'exemple de l'atoll d'Ouvéa (Nouvelle-Calédonie, Pacifique Sud), pour lequel une analyse des indicateurs disponibles pour décrire l'état des pêcheries a été réalisée.
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2005-07 , Vol. 18 , N. 3 , P. 199-213

Droits : 2005 EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2005/publication-716.pdf
DOI:10.1051/alr:2005026
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/716/

Éditeur(s) : Oxford Univ Press
Résumé : Spatio-seasonal explicit simulation models can predict the impact of spatial management measures on marine fish populations and fishing activities. As fisheries are complex systems, fisheries simulation models are often complex, with many uncertain parameters. Here, the methodology is provided to deliver fishery diagnostics within an uncertainty context using a complex simulation tool. A sensitivity analysis of the model is performed on model outputs using partial least-squares to identify the most sensitive parameters. The impact of several management measures is then simulated using a statistical simulation design taking into account the uncertainty of the selected sensitive parameters. This approach was applied to the Bay of Biscay anchovy stock using the ISIS-Fish (Integration of Spatial Information for Simulation of Fisheries) model to assess the impact of imposing marine protected areas (MPAs) conditionally on parameter uncertainty. The diagnostic appeared to be highly sensitive to the mortality of larvae and juveniles, growth, and reproduction. The uncertainty of the values of these parameters did not permit any of the simulated MPA designs to be proposed. However, according to anchovy catch and biomass, the simulations allowed the low impact of closure duration to be shown and underscored the utility of protecting such key processes as spawning.
Ices Journal Of Marine Science (1054-3139) (Oxford Univ Press), 2010-07 , Vol. 67 , N. 5 , P. 1063-1075

Droits : 2010 ICES/CIEM. Oxford journals
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00011/12234/9281.pdf
DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsq002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00011/12234/

Éditeur(s) : Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls
Résumé : Coastal uses have deeply evolved these last decades and high anthropogenic pressures on coastal ecosystems have affected the sustainability of these areas with respect to the services and the resources they may provide. Traditional fisheries management has failed to avoid overexploitation of most coastal marine resources. Management measures based on an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) are thus required. Spatial management covers various ranges of properties that may enhance usual regulatory means. If spatial considerations are explicitly integrated in fisheries management, the latter may contribute to zoning design in order to balance the economic, social and biological values of natural marine resources. While traditional fisheries management approaches protect resource based on population numbers, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect ecosystem in space. Besides their ecological effects on fish assemblages within its boundaries, MPAs can enhance adjacent artisanal fisheries. MPAs can thus ensure the sustainability of fisheries and at the same time maintain non-fisheries benefits of marine ecosystems to society.
Vie et Milieu (0240-8759) (Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls), 2006-12 , Vol. 56 , N. 4 , P. 301-305

Droits : 2007 Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-2598.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2598/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : Changes in biodiversity may disrupt the ecological functions performed by species assemblages. Hence, we urgently need to examine the implications of biodiversity loss not only in terms of species conservation but also in terms of sustainability of ecosystem services. The ability of protected areas to maintain local species richness has been clearly demonstrated. However, preserving goods and services provided by ecosystems requires not only the conservation of species richness but also the conservation of the most 'original' species, i.e. the ones with the highest average rarity of their attributes which are likely to perform some unique functions in ecosystems. We proposed a new conservation of biological originality (CBO) index as well as associated randomization tests to quantify the ability of piotected areas to maintain viable populations for the most original species. As an application, we used long-term fisheries data collected in the Bonifacio Strait Natural Reserve (BSNR) to determine the species which benefited from the protection reinforcement in 1999. We also estimated a set of 14 ecomorphological functional traits on the 37 fish species caught in the BSNR and we obtained a functional originality value for each species. As a result, we found that functional originality was significantly protected in the fish assemblage of the BSNR: species with the most original functional trait combinations became more abundant after 1999. Our finding suggests that protecting most original species is an insurance against functional diversity erosion in the BSNR. More generally, our new index can be used to test whether protected areas may protect preferentially the most original species and whether restorative management promotes the reestablishment of the most original species with particular habitat requirements. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biological Conservation (0006-3207) (Elsevier), 2008-06 , Vol. 141 , N. 6 , P. 1569-1580

Droits : 2008 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/publication-4480.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.04.002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4480/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Science Bv
Résumé : Monitoring fish and underwater habitats, particularly in and around marine protected areas (MPAs) requires non-destructive observation methods. This is generally achieved by divers conducting underwater visual censuses (UVC), but video-based techniques are now being used more often to observe underwater macrofauna and habitats. A comparison of these two techniques is relevant with the development of high-definition (HD) video, which constitutes a substantial improvement over previously available video resolutions at limited extra cost. We conducted a paired observation experiment involving both HD video and UVC in an MPA located in the New Caledonian lagoon, which is a highly diversified coral reef ecosystem. We compared three techniques for counting fish along 50 m x 4 m delineated strip transects: UVC and two video techniques in which the diver used either a straight trajectory (I-type transect) or a browsing one (S-type transect). The results showed that the proportion of fish that were not identified up to the species level did not exceed 3.3% in video observations versus 1.7% in UVC. The abundance and species richness were larger in UVC than in videos, and S-type transects detected more individuals and species than I-type transects. The average abundance and species richness observed by UVC were 1094 individuals and 69.7 species per transect respectively. In comparison with UVC. I-type and S-type video transects detected on average 56% and 61% of the abundance and 85% and 77% of the species richness seen by UVC respectively. Our results showed that, in comparison to UVC data recorded in situ, the post field analysis of HD video images provided representative observations of fish abundance and species diversity, although fewer species and individuals were detected. The advantages and shortcomings of each observation technique for monitoring fish assemblages, particularly in an MPA are discussed. HD video appears to be a cost-effective technique in terms of the human resources and time needed for field implementation. Overall, this study suggests that HD video-based techniques constitute an interesting complement to UVC, or an alternative when these cannot be implemented. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Fisheries Research (0165-7836) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2011-01 , Vol. 107 , N. 1-3 , P. 84-93

Droits : 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00031/14192/11470.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.fishres.2010.10.011
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00031/14192/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : How users perceive the performance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is fundamental for the social acceptance of these zones. Moreover, their perceptions may be relevant for monitoring the effects of MPAs on extractive activities. This study analyzes artisanal fishers' perceptions of the performance of a north-western Mediterranean coastal MPA, which encompasses two no-take zones (NTZs). Three viewpoints have been considered: the effect on the personal activity of fishers, the effect on the local fishery and the effect on the ecosystem. In order to test the hypothesis that biomass export (spillover) - which had previously been evidenced from the two NTZs - may influence fishers' perceptions of NTZ effects, fishers' perceptions were compared with both declared and observed fishing activity over an one-year period. The results show that negative perceptions of NTZs are either nil or are negligible. Most fishers are aware of the beneficial effects of NTZs on ecosystems and fisheries. However, they remain to be convinced of the beneficial effects of the NTZs on their own activity. For instance, the proximity of a NTZ appears never to be involved in the choice of a fishing spot. This partial lack of correspondence between scientific expectation and fishers' perceptions is discussed in the light of fishing habits in the zone adjacent to NTZs, and takes into account fishing grounds, targeted species and seniority (defined as the number of years the fisher has been fishing within the MPA). All three factors appear to influence fishers' perceptions. For example, having a positive perception about a NTZ and spending more time fishing in the adjacent zone are habits that can be associated with fishers with less seniority. Fishers' perceptions obviously indicate the social acceptance of the MPA and are an essential monitoring tool for MPA managers. However, perceptions cannot be seen as a substitute for scientific monitoring, as both approaches are clearly complementary. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Marine Policy (0308-597X) (Elsevier), 2012-03 , Vol. 36 , N. 2 , P. 414-422

Droits : 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00060/17137/16442.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marpol.2011.06.002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00060/17137/