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Conflicting interests and growing importance of non‐indigenous species in commercial and recreational fisheries of the Mediterranean Sea
Author(s) -
Kleitou Periklis,
Moutopoulos Dimitrios K.,
Giovos Ioannis,
Kletou Demetris,
Savva Ioannis,
Cai Leda L.,
HallSpencer Jason M.,
Charitou Anastasia,
Elia Maria,
Katselis George,
Rees Siân
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/fme.12531
Subject(s) - fishing , indigenous , fishery , sustainability , geography , mediterranean climate , recreational fishing , quarter (canadian coin) , recreation , commercial fishing , mediterranean sea , business , ecology , biology , archaeology
Non‐indigenous species (NIS) are spreading and reshaping Mediterranean Sea biological communities and fishery resources. The present study used fisheries data and structured interviews to assess the impacts of NIS on recreational and commercial fishers in Cyprus. NIS that have been present in Cyprus for more than two decades were mostly perceived by local fishers as native, NIS with high market value were considered to be beneficial, and venomous or poisonous NIS were considered to be deleterious. Pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae) were identified by fishers as causing significant economic damage, which undermines the sustainability of the commercial fishing sector. The most popular and highly priced NIS were rabbitfishes ( Siganus spp.). In terms of commercial landings, six non‐indigenous taxa contributed over a quarter of the total landing value and more than half during the summer season. The results of the present study emphasised the multifaceted interactions of NIS with the fishing sector, and how policy objectives may not align with social and commercial fishery interests.