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Small pelagic fisheries are significant ecologically and economically, especially for small-scale fishers. The North Sulawesi Sea, which is part of the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 716 of the Republic of Indonesia, is an important area for small pelagic fishing by pajeko (or mini trawl) in North Sulawesi and beyond. This study aimed to assess the stock condition of small pelagic fisheries of small pelagic fish resources in the Sulawesi Sea, North Sulawesi Province (FMA 716). The parameters measured for this study were growth, length, mortality rate, exploitation rate, and length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR). The results indicated that small pelagic fish stocks in the North Sulawesi Sea are in an overfished condition (SPR < 0.2) for the majority of fish species, including Decapterus macarellus, Selar crumenophthalmus, Decapterus kurroides, Rastrelliger kanagurta, and Decapterus macrosoma, with a successive LBSPR value of 0.15, 0.15, 0.14, 0.14, and 0.17, respectively. In addition, the exploitation rate of the species was also suspected to be in conditions that exceed its optimal utilization rate, with a value of E > 0.5. Therefore, sustainable management is essential, particularly for fish resources that are fully exploited or overexploited, to help restore their stock status.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pelagic fisheries play a vital role in sustaining coastal livelihoods and food security in the Eastern Indian Ocean, yet they also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to fuel-intensive operations. Notwithstanding their significance, there is a lack of empirical evidence concerning the carbon footprint associated with small-scale pelagic fisheries in Indonesia. The study aimed to quantify the carbon footprint associated with pelagic fisheries and to investigate variations related to fishing gear and target species, while examining temporal, seasonal, and catch per unit effort influences to enhance climate-resilient fisheries management in the Eastern Indian Ocean. METHODS: A five-year dataset from fuel records, logbooks, landings, and interviews was used to estimate carbon footprints using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 method (2.68 kilograms carbon dioxide per litre diesel). Trends and relationships concerning gear-specific intensity and catch per unit effort were also analysed. FINDINGS: The average carbon footprints per vessel during 2019–2023 was 2.22 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton fish. Monthly emissions ranged from 1.35 to 4.94 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton fish, with levels 30 to 40 percent higher during peak fishing months (March–June), highlighting the strong influence of seasonal fishing intensity on emission variability. Longline fisheries exhibited the greatest carbon footprint, succeeded by gillnet and handline, while purse seine demonstrated the least cumulative emissions. Monthly catch per unit effort fluctuated from 0.56 to 2.52 ton per trip, demonstrating an inverse correlation that suggests greater stock abundance improves fuel efficiency per unit catch. At the species level, Yellowfin Tuna and Scad had the highest carbon footprint intensity, whereas Skipjack Tuna consistently showed the lowest emission levels.CONCLUSION: Although emission intensity remains moderate compared to industrial fleets, cumulative emissions from small-scale pelagic fisheries are significant and strongly effort driven. Re-revitalizing fish populations, boosting fuel efficiency, and embedding routine carbon accounting into fisheries governance are vital for ensuring that pelagic fisheries are in harmony with Indonesia’s sustainable and low-emission blue economy objectives.

IntroductionIdentifying spawning and nursery areas for exploited fish stocks is crucial for sustainable fisheries management, as these areas support fish reproduction and early development necessary for maintaining healthy fish populations. The mackerel scad, Decapterus macarellus, is a valuable species in Indonesia, playing a crucial role in the livelihoods of coastal communities and the national fishing industry.MethodsThis study aims to identify the spawning and nursery areas of D. macarellus in the Sulawesi Sea, specifically within Indonesia's Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 716. Field sampling was conducted at 25 sites using bongo net tows to collect D. macarellus larval specimens. Hydro-oceanographic conditions were measured, and larval ages were estimated through otolith analysis. Based on these data, trajectory models were developed to assess the D. macarellus spawning and nursery habitats within the Sulawesi Sea.ResultsResults indicate that spawning primarily occurs on the northern and western sides of Sangihe and Siau Islands. Nursery areas were identified in the southern Sulawesi Sea and Maluku Sea, where high zooplankton abundance supports juvenile growth.DiscussionOur findings highlight environmental conditions and critical habitats for D. macarellus, providing insights into spatial patterns of its spawning and nursery activities. The study underscores the need for pelagic fisheries marine protected area (MPA) to safeguard these critical habitats, ensuring sustainable fisheries amid increasing exploitation pressures. These findings provide a scientific basis for spatial management strategies, supporting Indonesia’s national MPA targets while offering a replicable framework for pelagic habitat conservation in other regions.

Coral reef fisheries and small pelagic fisheries make different contributions to livelihoods, food and nutrition security, which have informed academic and policy debate about their respective needs for governance. However, few studies have explicitly examined how governance of these different fisheries interacts at a local level, or how they interact with wider social-economic contexts and processes. This study examines a small pelagic fishery in the Philippines, focusing on the varied interactions between this fishery and coral reefs. Drawing on household surveys, focus group discussions and interviews, we demonstrate the significant economic and social contributions made by the small pelagic fishery and describe a series of governance interventions aimed at protecting coral reefs and regulating small pelagics. We highlight some of the emerging governance risks that undermine legitimacy and social acceptance for the management of both small pelagic and coral reef resources. We argue that planning for successful management of fisheries needs to be highly cognizant of the complexity of livelihoods, to equity issues in sharing the benefits and burdens of conservation, and to tourism-fishery interactions.

Mesopelagic fish species represent a large potentially unexploited resource for the fishing industry and the fish meal, oil, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical production. However, thorough investigation on ecological sustainability and socio-economic viability are fundamental prerequisites for potential exploitation. The current study explores the economic viability of a potential mesopelagic fishery investigating minimum catch rates, under the assumption of previous assessments of biological sustainability of such exploitation. We analyzed fishery data from the North-East Atlantic fisheries of the Danish large pelagic fleet from 2015 to 2019, by comparing the combined data on fishing dynamics and cost-structures with data from interviews of key pelagic producer organization representatives to develop scenarios of profitability. The results show full year-round fleet occupation with the ongoing fisheries, exposing the need of switching from existing activities, or investing into new vessels for conducting potential mesopelagic fishery. Economic analyses revealed that the minimum revenue to break even (zero profit) by trip varies among métiers between 60,000 and 200,000 euro showing strong positive correlation with vessel sizes. High profitability was discovered for herring, Atlantic mackerel and blue whiting fisheries while low profitability was observed for the Norway pout fishery. Due to the lack of mesopelagic fishery data, different scenarios of profitability were investigated as informed by the pelagic catch sector stakeholder perceptions of prices and costs and compared to current economic dynamics. A high break-even revenue per trip was forecasted given the increased perceived costs for fuel, modifications of gears and on-board processing methods and potential new vessel investments. High profitability may be reached if the catches exceed 220–1,060 tons per trip depending on costs and vessel storage capacity. If the conservation methods are improved from current refrigerated sea water, fishing trips could last longer than 5 days, being the major limiting economic factor for potential mesopelagic fishery. Future investigations on realistic mesopelagic catches, trip durations and spatio-temporal distribution of fisheries in relation to location, resource abundance, fishing rights, storage and conservation methods will be essential to test the robustness of the scenarios proposed in this study, and will in turn benefit of the economic requirements evaluated herein.

Informal cross-border fish trade (ICBFT) is becoming predominant in many African nations and unfortunately there is little information on its magnitude at country level. To address this gap, this study was conducted in mainland Tanzania covering two border posts and one fishing village, to identify the nature, conditions and assess the weight and value of ICBFT in comparison to the available official data, so as to determine the Government revenue loss for the marine small pelagic fishery which is locally known as dagaa. Data was collected through participants observation, interviews and informal routes monitoring framework. Interview excerpt coding, social network analysis and quantification were used in data analysis. Findings revealed that the marine dagaa informal cross-border trade is being operated in a multifaceted setting, characterized by five aspects: network; key actors; social supports; informal cross-border trade routes; and informal transiting places, time and vehicles. Middlemen and Porters scored higher network centrality scores, implying that, they are the key actors in the ICBFT operation. Further, it was found that the marine dagaa ICBFT accounted for about 972.6 M. tons valued at US $1.8 million, which is 7.5 higher compared to official data between 2018 and 2019, resulting in approximately US$ 165,006 government revenue loss. Such findings are essential for assessing the total contribution of cross-border fish trade to the country's economy, and setting appropriate ICBFT management strategies to maximize benefits from the cross-border trade in the country for people’s well-being and the neighbouring countries.

Despite the sector’s minor contribution (0.5%) to the Gross National Product, the fisheries sector in Cyprus is particularly important to the micro economy of coastal communities, offering direct and indirect employment and supporting small family businesses. Like any industry, the Cypriot fisheries sector faces its own challenges and opportunities. The current study aimed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the fisheries sector in Cyprus based on fishers’ knowledge and to provide strategic recommendations based on the sector’s identified needs. Following a participatory approach, a workshop with 30 small-scale fishers, six large pelagic longline fishers, and three scientists was conducted in November 2023. Fishers and scientists worked together to conduct the SWOT and the TOWS matrix (a reverse SWOT) analyses. Findings from the SWOT–TOWS analyses were used to develop strategic recommendations for the sector. Finally, using the Impact–Effort prioritisation method, the strategic recommendations were prioritised according to their potential impact on the sector and the effort required for their implementation. Based on the analyses, the study proposes 12 strategic recommendations that could significantly improve the sector’s overall performance and sustainability, which if applied will give a light of hope for the future of the Cypriot fisheries sector.

The study explores the interactions between dolphins and Cypriot fisheries, emphasizing the economic impact and fisher perceptions through data collected from structured interviews with small-scale and large pelagic fishers. The research documents frequent dolphin interactions, impacting catch and gear in both fishing sectors. Reported financial losses and gear damage highlight a significant economic burden, with annual losses averaging EUR 6144 for small-scale and EUR 29,882 for large pelagic fishers. Efforts to mitigate these interactions, such as using acoustic deterrents, have shown mixed results, reflecting dolphins’ adaptability to human activity. While some fishers use deterrents, others remain hesitant due to cost and inconsistent efficacy. The study underscores the need for improved, sustainable solutions that integrate fisher input to enhance acceptance and effectiveness. Findings suggest that dolphins are increasingly relying on fishing activities as a foraging strategy, aligning with broader trends in the Mediterranean. In the context of EU Directive 2014/89/EU, the study integrates ecological considerations and socioeconomic impacts to ensure balanced marine management strategies. This work emphasizes the complexity of human–wildlife conflicts in marine environments, suggesting that further research and collaboration with fishers are essential to developing adaptive strategies that balance conservation with the economic needs of local fishing communities.

Although researchers have investigated the impact of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phases on human lives, only a few have examined such impacts on fisheries. In this study, we analyzed the influence of negative (positive) IOD phases on chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations as an indicator of phytoplankton biomass and small pelagic fish production in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) off Java. We also conducted field surveys in the EIO off Palabuhanratu Bay at the peak (October) and the end (December) of the 2019 positive IOD phase. Our findings show that the Chl-a concentration had a strong and robust association with the 2016 (2019) negative (positive) IOD phases. The negative (positive) anomalous Chl-a concentration in the EIO off Java associated with the negative (positive) IOD phase induced strong downwelling (upwelling), leading to the preponderant decrease (increase) in small pelagic fish production in the EIO off Java.

Abstract Blue sharks (Prionaceglauca) are recognised as one of five key pelagic shark species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) due to their frequent incidental catch in tuna and billfish longline fisheries. Given their importance in the region, the aim of this study was to investigate the life history of this species for use in future population assessments in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Eighty-one vertebral samples were examined to provide preliminary age and growth estimates for P.glauca caught by commercial longline vessels operating in the Bismarck and Solomon seas. Ages ranged from 10 to 25 years. A Bayesian approach using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) was used to estimate growth parameters. The von Bertalanffy model provided the best fitting growth model (males: L∞ = 379 cm, L0 = 45.8 cm, k = 0.07 year−1; females: L∞ = 329.2 cm, L0 = 45.8 cm and k = 0.08 year−1; combined sexes: L∞ = 350.8 cm, L0 = 45.8 cm, k = 0.07 year−1). The asymptotic length parameter estimate for the male P.glauca population from PNG was the largest reported. Our results demonstrate that intraspecific variation in life history traits of P.glauca across its entire distribution is likely due to differences in methodology, sample size and interpretation of growth bands rather than regional differences in growth. This study takes an important step towards facilitating management strategies for P.glauca in PNG by producing preliminary growth estimates for the species. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to conduct age validation and refine the life history information for this highly migratory species in PNG.