49
3 Fisheries Production and Market Demand
driving the general trend of an increase to 1988 and subsequent decline, but changes
in cuttlefish landings contributed more to the above-mentioned sharp increases.
3.4 Small-Scale Fisheries
On a global scale, official statistics on cephalopod landings are dominated by the
large-scale trawl and jig fisheries for key species such as T� pacificus, I� argentinus,
Ommastrephes bartramii and Dosidicus gigas� However, an important facet of cephalopod fishing in many parts of the world, including Europe, is the high importance
of small-scale artisanal fisheries targeting coastal octopus, cuttlefish and squid using
a variety of traditional gears like hand jigs, pots, trammel nets and traps. In addition,
squid are targeted by small trawlers, for example, in Scotland (UK; Fig. 3.2): see
Pierce et al. (2010) for a recent review of European cephalopod fisheries. In Europe
(and very likely in most parts of the world), information on the numbers of boats
and fishers involved in small-scale fisheries and amounts landed has, historically,
been poorly documented. Guerra et al. (2000) estimated that as much as half of all
cephalopod landings in Galicia (Northwest Spain) did not find their way into official
statistics. Socially, economically and in terms of protein supplies, small-scale fishing
makes an enormous contribution to the wellbeing of coastal communities.
3.5 Stock Assessment and Fishery Management
There is no routine assessment of European cephalopod stocks although there have been
several one-off assessments of particular species in particular areas under the auspices
of research and data collection projects (e.g. Dunn 1999; Payne et al. 2006; Young et al.
2004, 2006a, b, etc.) and some preliminary assessments by the ICES Working Group
Fig. 3.2 Small-scale cephalopod fishing. a Directed (small-scale) trawling for Loligo forbesii in
the Moray Firth, Scotland (UK) (Photo: Michael Wiseman). b Jigging for squid ( Todarodes sagittatus) in Greece. (Photo: Jennifer Smith)
3 Fisheries Production and Market Demand
driving the general trend of an increase to 1988 and subsequent decline, but changes
in cuttlefish landings contributed more to the above-mentioned sharp increases.
3.4 Small-Scale Fisheries
On a global scale, official statistics on cephalopod landings are dominated by the
large-scale trawl and jig fisheries for key species such as T� pacificus, I� argentinus,
Ommastrephes bartramii and Dosidicus gigas� However, an important facet of cephalopod fishing in many parts of the world, including Europe, is the high importance
of small-scale artisanal fisheries targeting coastal octopus, cuttlefish and squid using
a variety of traditional gears like hand jigs, pots, trammel nets and traps. In addition,
squid are targeted by small trawlers, for example, in Scotland (UK; Fig. 3.2): see
Pierce et al. (2010) for a recent review of European cephalopod fisheries. In Europe
(and very likely in most parts of the world), information on the numbers of boats
and fishers involved in small-scale fisheries and amounts landed has, historically,
been poorly documented. Guerra et al. (2000) estimated that as much as half of all
cephalopod landings in Galicia (Northwest Spain) did not find their way into official
statistics. Socially, economically and in terms of protein supplies, small-scale fishing
makes an enormous contribution to the wellbeing of coastal communities.
3.5 Stock Assessment and Fishery Management
There is no routine assessment of European cephalopod stocks although there have been
several one-off assessments of particular species in particular areas under the auspices
of research and data collection projects (e.g. Dunn 1999; Payne et al. 2006; Young et al.
2004, 2006a, b, etc.) and some preliminary assessments by the ICES Working Group
Fig. 3.2 Small-scale cephalopod fishing. a Directed (small-scale) trawling for Loligo forbesii in
the Moray Firth, Scotland (UK) (Photo: Michael Wiseman). b Jigging for squid ( Todarodes sagittatus) in Greece. (Photo: Jennifer Smith)