Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece
The assessment of the economic impacts of marine invasive species is fundamental for adopting mitigation measures, yet such impacts have been underreported in the Mediterranean Sea. The silver-cheeked toadfish (<i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i>) is a toxic pufferfish that since its introduc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/3/104 |
| _version_ | 1797241030813155328 |
|---|---|
| author | Georgios Christidis Stratos Batziakas Panagiota Peristeraki Evangelos Tzanatos Stylianos Somarakis George Tserpes |
| author_facet | Georgios Christidis Stratos Batziakas Panagiota Peristeraki Evangelos Tzanatos Stylianos Somarakis George Tserpes |
| author_sort | Georgios Christidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The assessment of the economic impacts of marine invasive species is fundamental for adopting mitigation measures, yet such impacts have been underreported in the Mediterranean Sea. The silver-cheeked toadfish (<i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i>) is a toxic pufferfish that since its introduction has seriously disturbed small-scale fisheries along the eastern Mediterranean coast. This species depredates on fishing gears, causing damage to nets, longlines and commercial catches. To quantify its economic impact on small-scale fisheries, we interviewed 141 fishers from Crete (Cretan and Libyan Sea) and the Ionian Sea (Greece) during May 2020–December 2022. The mean annual economic cost resulting from <i>L. sceleratus</i> depredation was estimated at EUR 6315 ± 2620 per vessel in Crete and EUR 258 ± 120 in the Ionian Sea. Additionally, observer surveys carried out on board small-scale fishing vessels in Crete showed that depredation probability was significantly influenced by fishing depth, sea surface temperature, gear type (nets, longlines) and region (Cretan, Libyan Sea). <i>L. sceleratus</i> was caught more frequently and in higher numbers in the Libyan Sea. In response to depredation, fishers in Crete have altered their fishing tactics in terms of fishing in deeper waters, reducing fishing time and changing the technical characteristics of fishing gears. Our results underscore the adverse impacts of <i>L. sceleratus</i> on Greek small-scale fishers, emphasizing the need for region-specific management plans where the species establishes large populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:16:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ca95585a6424edf97559d99d4f8285a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:16:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ca95585a6424edf97559d99d4f8285a2024-03-27T13:38:20ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882024-03-019310410.3390/fishes9030104Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in GreeceGeorgios Christidis0Stratos Batziakas1Panagiota Peristeraki2Evangelos Tzanatos3Stylianos Somarakis4George Tserpes5Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceHellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceThe assessment of the economic impacts of marine invasive species is fundamental for adopting mitigation measures, yet such impacts have been underreported in the Mediterranean Sea. The silver-cheeked toadfish (<i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i>) is a toxic pufferfish that since its introduction has seriously disturbed small-scale fisheries along the eastern Mediterranean coast. This species depredates on fishing gears, causing damage to nets, longlines and commercial catches. To quantify its economic impact on small-scale fisheries, we interviewed 141 fishers from Crete (Cretan and Libyan Sea) and the Ionian Sea (Greece) during May 2020–December 2022. The mean annual economic cost resulting from <i>L. sceleratus</i> depredation was estimated at EUR 6315 ± 2620 per vessel in Crete and EUR 258 ± 120 in the Ionian Sea. Additionally, observer surveys carried out on board small-scale fishing vessels in Crete showed that depredation probability was significantly influenced by fishing depth, sea surface temperature, gear type (nets, longlines) and region (Cretan, Libyan Sea). <i>L. sceleratus</i> was caught more frequently and in higher numbers in the Libyan Sea. In response to depredation, fishers in Crete have altered their fishing tactics in terms of fishing in deeper waters, reducing fishing time and changing the technical characteristics of fishing gears. Our results underscore the adverse impacts of <i>L. sceleratus</i> on Greek small-scale fishers, emphasizing the need for region-specific management plans where the species establishes large populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/3/104<i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i>small-scale fisheriesdepredationeconomic loss |
| spellingShingle | Georgios Christidis Stratos Batziakas Panagiota Peristeraki Evangelos Tzanatos Stylianos Somarakis George Tserpes Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece Fishes <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> small-scale fisheries depredation economic loss |
| title | Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece |
| title_full | Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece |
| title_short | Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece |
| title_sort | another one bites the net assessing the economic impacts of i lagocephalus sceleratus i on small scale fisheries in greece |
| topic | <i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> small-scale fisheries depredation economic loss |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/3/104 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgioschristidis anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece AT stratosbatziakas anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece AT panagiotaperisteraki anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece AT evangelostzanatos anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece AT stylianossomarakis anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece AT georgetserpes anotheronebitesthenetassessingtheeconomicimpactsofilagocephalussceleratusionsmallscalefisheriesingreece |