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Habitat Observed from the Decks of Fishing Vessels

1999; Wiley; Volume: 24; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1577/1548-8446(1999)024 2.0.co;2

1548-8446

Madeleine Hall‐Arber, Judith Pederson,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

FisheriesVolume 24, Issue 6 p. 6-13 Article Habitat Observed from the Decks of Fishing Vessels Madeleine Hall-Arber, Madeleine Hall-Arber arber@mit.edu Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant College Program; Center for Marine Social Sciences, 292 Main Street, E38-300, Cambridge, MA, 02139 USASearch for more papers by this authorJudith Pederson, Judith Pederson MIT Coastal Resources CenterSearch for more papers by this author Madeleine Hall-Arber, Madeleine Hall-Arber arber@mit.edu Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant College Program; Center for Marine Social Sciences, 292 Main Street, E38-300, Cambridge, MA, 02139 USASearch for more papers by this authorJudith Pederson, Judith Pederson MIT Coastal Resources CenterSearch for more papers by this author First published: 09 January 2011 https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(1999)024 2.0.CO;2Citations: 10AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract From the decks of their boats, commercial fishers observe target species, habitat, prey, and changes through time to the environment. Their observations, perceptions, and impressions are colored by their values, culture, and interactions with other fishers. Fishers who are at sea every day hold a vast amount of knowledge; however, their information is considered anecdotal. Motivated by the need to describe essential fish habitat using all available data and information, we surveyed fishers to identify records and other documentation of their observations. Through surveys and focus group meetings, we collected information on fishing gear, seasons and years of fishing experience, types of fish caught, and general observations. We also asked fishers if they kept records of their findings and if they would share that information with fisheries managers. Most fishers indicated they kept some type of record, and 68% were willing to share that information with managers. Another 30% indicated they might do so, while 5% said they would not, and 8% did not respond. At focus group meetings fishers used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maps to delineate areas fished for target species, characterized bottom habitat when known, and often indicated seasons fished in the various areas. Fishers' perceptions of changes varied, but most identified changes in habitat as affecting fish abundance. Several fishers indicated that changes in their gear types and target species were related to fish availability. Nearly all fishers agreed that habitat is important to fish productivity. Citing Literature Volume24, Issue6June 1999Pages 6-13 RelatedInformation