First Assessment of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Marine Recreational Fisheries

Type Article
Date 2021-10
Language English
Author(s) Pita Pablo1, 2, Ainsworth Gillian B.1, 2, Alba Bernardino3, Anderson Antônio B.4, Antelo Manel2, 5, Alós Josep6, Artetxe Iñaki7, Baudrier JeromeORCID8, Castro José J.9, Chicharro Belén10, Erzini Karim11, Ferter Keno12, Freitas Mafalda13, 14, García-De-La-Fuente Laura15, García-Charton José A.16, Giménez-Casalduero María17, Grau Antoni M.18, Diogo Hugo19, 20, Gordoa Ana21, Henriques Filipe11, 13, 14, Hyder Kieran22, 23, Jiménez-Alvarado David9, Karachle Paraskevi K.24, Lloret Josep25, Laporta Martin2, 26, Lejk Adam M.27, Dedeu Arnau L.28, Martín-Sosa Pablo29, Martínez Lllibori30, Mira Antoni M.18, Morales-Nin Beatriz6, Mugerza Estanis7, Olesen Hans J.31, Papadopoulos Anastasios32, Pontes João11, Pascual-Fernández José J.33, Purroy Ariadna28, Ramires Milena34, Rangel Mafalda11, Reis-Filho José Amorim35, 36, Sánchez-Lizaso Jose L.37, Sandoval Virginia16, Sbragaglia Valerio38, Silva Luis39, Skov Christian40, Sola Iván37, 41, Strehlow Harry V.42, Torres María A.39, Ustups Didzis43, Van Der Hammen Tessa44, Veiga Pedro11, Venerus Leonardo A.45, Verleye Thomas46, Villasante Sebastián1, 2, Weltersbach Marc Simon42, Zarauz Lucía7
Affiliation(s) 1 : Cross-Research in Environmental Technologies (CRETUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2 : Campus Do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Vigo, Spain
3 : Alianza de Pesca Española Recreativa Responsable, Illes Balears, Spain
4 : Laboratory of Ichthyology, Department of Oceanography, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
5 : Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
6 : IMEDEA CSIC/UIB, Esporles, Spain
7 : AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Sukarrieta, Spain
8 : Institut Français de Recherche Pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Délégation de Martinique, Le Robert, France
9 : I.U Ecoaqua, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
10 : Centro de Experimentación Pesquera, Dirección General de Pesca Marítima, Escuela de Formación Profesional Náutico-Pesquera, Gijón, Spain
11 : Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
12 : Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
13 : SRMar/DRM-Secretaria Regional de Mar e Pescas/Direção Regional do Mar, Funchal, Portugal
14 : MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
15 : INDUROT, University of Oviedo, Mieres, Spain
16 : Department of Ecology and Hydrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
17 : Department of Administrative Law, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
18 : Direcció General Pesca i Medi Mari (DGPMM), Palma, Spain
19 : Okeanos – R&D Centre, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
20 : Direção de Serviços de Recursos, Frota Pesqueira e Aquicultura, Horta, Portugal
21 : CEAB-CSIC, Blanes, Spain
22 : Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, United Kingdom
23 : Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
24 : Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos, Greece
25 : Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
26 : Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, La Paloma, Uruguay
27 : Department of Logistic and Monitoring, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Gdynia, Poland
28 : Institut Català de Recerca per la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR), Catalan Directorate-General of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs – Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
29 : Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, IEO-CSIC, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
30 : International Forum for Sustainable Underwater Activities, Barcelona, Spain
31 : Section for Monitoring and Data, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
32 : Fisheries Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Kavala, Greece
33 : Instituto Universitario de Investigación Social y Turismo (ISTUR), Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
34 : Lab of Human Ecology, Santa Cecília University, São Paulo, Brazil
35 : ICHTUS Soluções em Meio Ambiente, Salvador, Brazil
36 : Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
37 : Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
38 : Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
39 : Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, IEO-CSIC, Cádiz, Spain
40 : Section of Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
41 : Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile
42 : Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries, Rostock, Germany
43 : Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health, and Environment BIOR, Riga, Latvia
44 : Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, IJmuiden, Netherlands
45 : Centro Para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR – CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Argentina
46 : Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Oostende, Belgium
Source Frontiers In Marine Science (2296-7745) (Frontiers Media), 2021-10 , Vol. 8 , P. 735741 (24p.)
DOI 10.3389/fmars.2021.735741
WOS© Times Cited 29
Keyword(s) fishers' profiles, leisure activities, expert knowledge, fishery surveys, virus outbreak
Abstract

This work is the result of an international research effort to determine the main impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on marine recreational fishing. Changes were assessed on (1) access to fishing, derived from lockdowns and other mobility restrictions; (2) ecosystems, because of alterations in fishing intensity and human presence; (3) the blue economy, derived from alterations in the investments and expenses of the fishers; and (4) society, in relation to variations in fishers’ health and well-being. For this, a consultation with experts from 16 countries was carried out, as well as an international online survey aimed at recreational fishers, that included specific questions designed to capture fishers’ heterogeneity in relation to behavior, skills and know-how, and vital involvement. Fishers’ participation in the online survey (5,998 recreational fishers in 15 countries) was promoted through a marketing campaign. The sensitivity of the fishers’ clustering procedure, based on the captured heterogeneity, was evaluated by SIMPER analysis and by generalized linear models. Results from the expert consultation highlighted a worldwide reduction in marine recreational fishing activity. Lower human-driven pressures are expected to generate some benefits for marine ecosystems. However, experts also identified high negative impacts on the blue economy, as well as on fisher health and well-being because of the loss of recreational fishing opportunities. Most (98%) of the fishers who participated in the online survey were identified as advanced, showing a much higher degree of commitment to recreational fishing than basic fishers (2%). Advanced fishers were, in general, more pessimistic about the impacts of COVID-19, reporting higher reductions in physical activity and fish consumption, as well as poorer quality of night rest, foul mood, and raised more concerns about their health status. Controlled and safe access to marine recreational fisheries during pandemics would provide benefits to the health and well-being of people and reduce negative socioeconomic impacts, especially for vulnerable social groups.

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Pita Pablo, Ainsworth Gillian B., Alba Bernardino, Anderson Antônio B., Antelo Manel, Alós Josep, Artetxe Iñaki, Baudrier Jerome, Castro José J., Chicharro Belén, Erzini Karim, Ferter Keno, Freitas Mafalda, García-De-La-Fuente Laura, García-Charton José A., Giménez-Casalduero María, Grau Antoni M., Diogo Hugo, Gordoa Ana, Henriques Filipe, Hyder Kieran, Jiménez-Alvarado David, Karachle Paraskevi K., Lloret Josep, Laporta Martin, Lejk Adam M., Dedeu Arnau L., Martín-Sosa Pablo, Martínez Lllibori, Mira Antoni M., Morales-Nin Beatriz, Mugerza Estanis, Olesen Hans J., Papadopoulos Anastasios, Pontes João, Pascual-Fernández José J., Purroy Ariadna, Ramires Milena, Rangel Mafalda, Reis-Filho José Amorim, Sánchez-Lizaso Jose L., Sandoval Virginia, Sbragaglia Valerio, Silva Luis, Skov Christian, Sola Iván, Strehlow Harry V., Torres María A., Ustups Didzis, Van Der Hammen Tessa, Veiga Pedro, Venerus Leonardo A., Verleye Thomas, Villasante Sebastián, Weltersbach Marc Simon, Zarauz Lucía (2021). First Assessment of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Marine Recreational Fisheries. Frontiers In Marine Science, 8, 735741 (24p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735741 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00731/84254/