Mapping inshore fishing activity using aerial, land, and vessel-based sighting information

Information on the distribution and intensity of inshore fishing activity is needed to inform marine spatial planning and to assess fisheries interactions with the environment and other industries. Although fishing vessels under 15 m (overall length) account for 98.4% (2011 value) by the number of the European fleet, information on inshore fishing activity in Europe is very limited as there is no statutory satellite monitoring of smaller vessels (<15 m length before 2012, <12 m thereafter). Here, we develop, present, and apply a method which uses sightings-per-unit-effort (SPUE) estimates calculated from fisheries enforcement data to describe the distribution and intensity of inshore fishing activity off the coasts of England and Wales. For the larger inshore vessels, the SPUE estimates of activity were validated with vessel monitoring system (VMS) data and showed good agreement at the scale of analysis. Fishing activity estimates from SPUE are presented with an assessment of uncertainty, to account for spatial differences in enforcement activity. Our estimates of the distribution and intensity of inshore fishing activity and will complement estimates of offshore fishing activity based on VMS.