the number of artisanal (commercial) licenses, for the same vessel length range, and lower
restrictions on the recreational sector [11, 29, 30]. The highest difference in number of licenses
between the two sectors is observed in Tipaza, Chlef, Mostaganem and Oran, where controls
and monitoring by the coast guards are severely lacking.
Another difference that highlights a lack of monitoring capacity occurs between the number of authorizations as reported by local departments of fisheries (2,067 recreational vessels
licensed in 2013), and those reported by the Central Ministry of Fisheries (25,042 for the same
year) [31], denoting of a major discrepancy between the central and regional governments.
Although spearfishing is closely regulated [10], restrictions on diver’s age, fishing times,
and distance from shore are often infringed upon. In addition to authorized spearfishers not
abiding by the law, a high number of unauthorized are operating along the coast, which means
that the catch estimates and values presented herein are likely conservative.
This paper sheds some light on the far-reaching negative social and economic implications
of the so-called recreational fisheries of Algeria, whose impacts on the government are often
assumed positive when compared to commercial sectors. Indisputably, far from being for
sports and recreational purposes, the economic value that these fisheries generate, while escaping local controls, and providing a tax shelter for fishers outcompeting traditional small-scale
fishers facing declining fish stocks [9], still contribute somehow to social peace in the country
through supplying human nutrition and food security [32]. The dynamics of this sector remain
unique in the sense that there is a general attitude of laissez faire within the government management system–which would have to face yet again social frustration by the Youth—, Hence,
these issues need to be urgently addressed given that catches are drastically declining across
sectors [9]. The issue of competition between artisanal (traditional) and recreational sectors is
reflected through other examples globally, yet it remains largely understudied. Indeed, Canadian Pacific fisheries whose management is based on a output controls generated an important
dispute over access between the recreational fishing lobby and the traditional indigenous fishing communities when 12% of the overall fishing quota was reallocated to the recreational sector. This issue was exacerbated by the fact that the recreational sector’s catch in Canada’s
Pacific, when monitored, appears to exceed quota [33]. This allocations has alienated smallscale and indigenous fishing communities at various occasions and remain an ongoing issue,
mainly driven by access priorities, and the lack of knowledge on the impacts of recreational
fisheries [33, 34]. Similarly, the lack of knowledge on recreational fisheries in the Bahamas [35]
creates a tremendous burden on the ecosystem,
This problem is also observed in Caribbean marine protected areas, in which fees of scuba
diving collected, which could contribute to resources conservation cost, do not reflect the real
number of divers neither the real ecological impact [36]. On a global scale, universal code of
conduct for the practice and management of recreational fisheries is required [37]. In fact,
even where recreational fishing sector is controlled, obeys to the leisure principle, and where
fishes are released, there is an ecological impact and contribution on global fish stock decline
[38–41]. This unsuspected additional pressure, on the marine resource in Algeria suggests a
higher ecological impact. The imprecise regulation of recreational sector allows a "legitimate"
confusion with commercial sector and the lack of control is "trivializing" a non conformity.
These two points are the mains issues highlighted in this paper. Managing recreational fisheries, within the fragile social environment of Algeria, where subsidizing recreational fisheries is
perceived as a levy to reduce social pressures [42–44] is a difficult but necessary task. Herein,
we argue that as the footprint of recreational fisheries is higher than that shown in official figure, the losses both on stocks, commercial fishers, and the government are important, there is
an urgent need for better monitoring of the fishery.
The reality of recreational fishing sector in Algeria
PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201602 August 2, 2018
8 / 11
restrictions on the recreational sector [11, 29, 30]. The highest difference in number of licenses
between the two sectors is observed in Tipaza, Chlef, Mostaganem and Oran, where controls
and monitoring by the coast guards are severely lacking.
Another difference that highlights a lack of monitoring capacity occurs between the number of authorizations as reported by local departments of fisheries (2,067 recreational vessels
licensed in 2013), and those reported by the Central Ministry of Fisheries (25,042 for the same
year) [31], denoting of a major discrepancy between the central and regional governments.
Although spearfishing is closely regulated [10], restrictions on diver’s age, fishing times,
and distance from shore are often infringed upon. In addition to authorized spearfishers not
abiding by the law, a high number of unauthorized are operating along the coast, which means
that the catch estimates and values presented herein are likely conservative.
This paper sheds some light on the far-reaching negative social and economic implications
of the so-called recreational fisheries of Algeria, whose impacts on the government are often
assumed positive when compared to commercial sectors. Indisputably, far from being for
sports and recreational purposes, the economic value that these fisheries generate, while escaping local controls, and providing a tax shelter for fishers outcompeting traditional small-scale
fishers facing declining fish stocks [9], still contribute somehow to social peace in the country
through supplying human nutrition and food security [32]. The dynamics of this sector remain
unique in the sense that there is a general attitude of laissez faire within the government management system–which would have to face yet again social frustration by the Youth—, Hence,
these issues need to be urgently addressed given that catches are drastically declining across
sectors [9]. The issue of competition between artisanal (traditional) and recreational sectors is
reflected through other examples globally, yet it remains largely understudied. Indeed, Canadian Pacific fisheries whose management is based on a output controls generated an important
dispute over access between the recreational fishing lobby and the traditional indigenous fishing communities when 12% of the overall fishing quota was reallocated to the recreational sector. This issue was exacerbated by the fact that the recreational sector’s catch in Canada’s
Pacific, when monitored, appears to exceed quota [33]. This allocations has alienated smallscale and indigenous fishing communities at various occasions and remain an ongoing issue,
mainly driven by access priorities, and the lack of knowledge on the impacts of recreational
fisheries [33, 34]. Similarly, the lack of knowledge on recreational fisheries in the Bahamas [35]
creates a tremendous burden on the ecosystem,
This problem is also observed in Caribbean marine protected areas, in which fees of scuba
diving collected, which could contribute to resources conservation cost, do not reflect the real
number of divers neither the real ecological impact [36]. On a global scale, universal code of
conduct for the practice and management of recreational fisheries is required [37]. In fact,
even where recreational fishing sector is controlled, obeys to the leisure principle, and where
fishes are released, there is an ecological impact and contribution on global fish stock decline
[38–41]. This unsuspected additional pressure, on the marine resource in Algeria suggests a
higher ecological impact. The imprecise regulation of recreational sector allows a "legitimate"
confusion with commercial sector and the lack of control is "trivializing" a non conformity.
These two points are the mains issues highlighted in this paper. Managing recreational fisheries, within the fragile social environment of Algeria, where subsidizing recreational fisheries is
perceived as a levy to reduce social pressures [42–44] is a difficult but necessary task. Herein,
we argue that as the footprint of recreational fisheries is higher than that shown in official figure, the losses both on stocks, commercial fishers, and the government are important, there is
an urgent need for better monitoring of the fishery.
The reality of recreational fishing sector in Algeria
PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201602 August 2, 2018
8 / 11