266
R. Sarda . M. Fiuvia
Although cyclical fluctuations can complicate the observations on pelagic species,
it is widely accepted that demersal stocks, except in few cases, are overexploited
(Farrugio et al. 1993). Some of the most important problems concerning the management of fisheries in the region, similar to those observed in other parts of the world,
are listed below.
a The overexploitation of stocks, based on the increased demand for marine products, which goes up during the tourist season (the demand for sea-rice, the popular
"paella", increases highly during these months), the improved fishing technology and
power (even if most part of the fleet can be considered as "artisanal") without a reduction in the time-effort of captures, and the use of illegal practices such as trawling on forbidden shallow bottoms, and illegal nets;
b lhe present fishing law that allows fishermen to catch immature fish (Table 14.3).
In most cases, a decreasing trend in individual lengths of the fish caught per unit
effort is observed in the ports, and in general, juveniles are under the most important fishing pressure. This problem is accentuated by the popular and at the same
time ominous habit of the Spanish people to consume "small fish", regarding its life
cycle;
c The presence of other national or foreign fleets in the zone which put higher pressures on the local fleet. During the last years, the Southern anchovy fleet, after depleting anchovy stocks in Southern regions of Spain, have moved to catch the species in the Northern part of the country, getting at the same time high governments
subsidies;
d The lack of better regulations and the application of the "tragedy of the common
principle". A fisherman who tries to conserve the stock by leaving fish in the sea has
no reason for thinking that he will gain by his investment: the fish he has spared, or
their offspring, will probably be caught by someone else, and
e The lack of a complete compilation of the entire catch in the littoral zone, including sportive and underwater fishing activities, and the absence of a clear compilation of a common data base on catches, as well as biological and economical information.
The above problems can be observed during the analysis of the following examples (Fig. 14.7). The anchovy occupies the second place with respect to the volume
of captures obtained in Catalonia, while is located in head insofar as the income
that it provides. Scientists consider that in the NW Mediterranean fisheries there is
no overexploitation of the anchovy, but it would be convenient to prevent recruitment overfishing (Pertierra and Lleonart 1996). Though it has had strong oscillations during the last 30 years, the presence of other fleets in the region have caused
the local fleets to work intensively during winter, the time of the year when the
average size of the species is small, and the captures are below the legal size and
the mature size (Fig. 14.7a). The Mediterranean hake is one of the most important
demersal species in the Gulf of Lions (the third single species in fisheries earnings).
The stock is actually overexploited (Recasens 1992) by four different types of gear
(Fig. 14.7b). Overfishing of this species derives from the use of trawling and the effect
on the small juveniles, commercialized (many times illegally) under the name of"llucet"
(Fig. 14.7b).
R. Sarda . M. Fiuvia
Although cyclical fluctuations can complicate the observations on pelagic species,
it is widely accepted that demersal stocks, except in few cases, are overexploited
(Farrugio et al. 1993). Some of the most important problems concerning the management of fisheries in the region, similar to those observed in other parts of the world,
are listed below.
a The overexploitation of stocks, based on the increased demand for marine products, which goes up during the tourist season (the demand for sea-rice, the popular
"paella", increases highly during these months), the improved fishing technology and
power (even if most part of the fleet can be considered as "artisanal") without a reduction in the time-effort of captures, and the use of illegal practices such as trawling on forbidden shallow bottoms, and illegal nets;
b lhe present fishing law that allows fishermen to catch immature fish (Table 14.3).
In most cases, a decreasing trend in individual lengths of the fish caught per unit
effort is observed in the ports, and in general, juveniles are under the most important fishing pressure. This problem is accentuated by the popular and at the same
time ominous habit of the Spanish people to consume "small fish", regarding its life
cycle;
c The presence of other national or foreign fleets in the zone which put higher pressures on the local fleet. During the last years, the Southern anchovy fleet, after depleting anchovy stocks in Southern regions of Spain, have moved to catch the species in the Northern part of the country, getting at the same time high governments
subsidies;
d The lack of better regulations and the application of the "tragedy of the common
principle". A fisherman who tries to conserve the stock by leaving fish in the sea has
no reason for thinking that he will gain by his investment: the fish he has spared, or
their offspring, will probably be caught by someone else, and
e The lack of a complete compilation of the entire catch in the littoral zone, including sportive and underwater fishing activities, and the absence of a clear compilation of a common data base on catches, as well as biological and economical information.
The above problems can be observed during the analysis of the following examples (Fig. 14.7). The anchovy occupies the second place with respect to the volume
of captures obtained in Catalonia, while is located in head insofar as the income
that it provides. Scientists consider that in the NW Mediterranean fisheries there is
no overexploitation of the anchovy, but it would be convenient to prevent recruitment overfishing (Pertierra and Lleonart 1996). Though it has had strong oscillations during the last 30 years, the presence of other fleets in the region have caused
the local fleets to work intensively during winter, the time of the year when the
average size of the species is small, and the captures are below the legal size and
the mature size (Fig. 14.7a). The Mediterranean hake is one of the most important
demersal species in the Gulf of Lions (the third single species in fisheries earnings).
The stock is actually overexploited (Recasens 1992) by four different types of gear
(Fig. 14.7b). Overfishing of this species derives from the use of trawling and the effect
on the small juveniles, commercialized (many times illegally) under the name of"llucet"
(Fig. 14.7b).