ACTION PLAN. Acknowledgements This document would not have been prepared without the efforts of the staff of MOm and WWF Greece, as well

Transcription

1 ACTION PLAN FOR THE MITIGATION OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MONK SEAL FISHERIES INTERACTIONS IN GREECE SUMMARY REPORT IN ENGLISH JUNE 2009

2 ACTION PLAN FOR THE MITIGATION OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MONK SEAL FISHERIES INTERACTIONS IN GREECE SUMMARY REPORT IN ENGLISH Recommended citation form: Action Plan for the mitigation of the negative effects of monk seal fisheries interactions in Greece, Summary Report. MOm, WWF Greece, Fisheries Research Institute, pp.11. Acknowledgements This document would not have been prepared without the efforts of the staff of MOm and WWF Greece, as well as Dr. Argyris Kallianiotis and Tasos Papadopoulos of Fisheries Research Institute of NAGREF. We would like to thank also all who have commented and contributed in the elaboration process and especially the artesanal coastal fishermen in the hot spot areas of the MOFI project and the regional and national representatives of coastal fishermen associations. Copyright: MOm, WWF Greece, FRI Publication prepared as part of the LIFE Nature Project: MOFI: Monk Seal and Fisheries: Mitigating the conflict in Greek Seas. The MOFI project was carried out with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community, the Prefecture of Magnesia, the Piraeus Bank and IFAW.

3 Table of Contents A. Introduction...2 B. Goal of the Action Plan...2 C. Documentation of the actual intensity of the seal fishery interaction...2 C.1. Materials and methods used for the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the monk seals...2 C.2. Materials and methods used for the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the fisheries sector...3 C.3. Results on the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the monk seals...3 C.4. Results on the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the fisheries sector...3 D. Presentation and evaluation of potential measures towards mitigating seal fisheries interactions...5 D.1. Financial compensation...5 D.2. Providing or replacing fishing gear...5 D.3. Fisheries Management...5 D.4. Technical and practical measures...6 E. Proposed measures for reducing seals fisheries interactions...6 E.1. Proposed measures at a national level...6 E.2. Technical and practical measures...7 E.3. Responsible bodies for implementation...8 E. 4. Proposed measures at a local level...8 1/8

4 A. Introduction This Action Plan has been formulated by MOm, WWF Greece and Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), in the context of the European Community s LIFE Nature Project (): MOFI: Monk seal and Fisheries: Mitigating the Conflict in the Greek Seas. This Action Plan, elaborated for the first time in Greece, includes specific, realistic and feasible measures to be applied at the national level for the mitigation of the negative consequences of the Mediterranean monk seal fisheries interactions. B. Goal of the Action Plan The ultimate goal of the Action Plan is to be established as a key policy tool, upon its adoption by the competent national authorities (Ministries of Environment, Rural Development, and Mercantile Marine), and to lead into the immediate implementation of the measures proposed within it, so as to accomplish its two key objectives: the improvement of the status of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, and the support of artisanal coastal fisheries, a traditional professional sector of key socioeconomic importance of Greek coastal and insular communities. Realism and feasibility were key considerations in the elaboration of the Action Plan and characterize the approach, the rationale and the proposed measures, targeting directly at the origin of the conflict. The Action Plan s effectiveness in achieving its objectives depends on the willingness of the competent authorities to promote, adopt and implement it. C. Documentation of the actual intensity of the seal fishery interaction C.1. Materials and methods used for the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the monk seals The methodology used by MOm s Research Team to monitor the negative consequences of the interaction for the monk seals was the accurate identification of monk seal death causes related to fisheries activities. This was possible by: A. Monitoring the occurrence of stranded carcasses of monk seals throughout the country. MOm has designed and is implementing the Mediterranean monk seal National Rescue and Information Network (RINT) since The network is comprised by over 1,800 members of reporters (Port Police authorities, coastal or insular municipalities, relevant public authorities, fishermen associations, aquaculture owners and other local inhabitants) on a national scale, and is providing accurate and immediate information to MOm s Research Team, regarding sightings of dead or alive monk seals throughout the country. B. Conducting necropsies on stranded dead monk seals. The necropsies are conducted by expert biologists based on international scientific protocols in the stranded carcasses reported by RINT members throughout Greece. The results of these necropsies lead, in most cases, to the accurate identification of the death cause of the stranded animal. 2/8

5 C.2. Materials and methods used for the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the fisheries sector The result of the negative consequences of monk seals to artesanal coastal fishermen is the partial loss of their income because of the damage caused in their fishing gear, as well as, the reduction in their fish catch due to monk seal depredation. The monitoring and accurate quantification of these consequences was based on a number of different methods, which were designed and implemented in collaboration with research and academic institutes in the context of the MOFI project. The methods for quantifying the negative consequences to the fisheries sector were based on: a. the monitoring of the actual damage and depredation to the fishing gear caused by marine mammals. This was implemented by conducting questionnaires to the involved stakeholders (coastal fishermen, aquaculture owners, Port Police Authorities and Fishery Services) and by sampling fisheries activities and monitoring the damage caused by marine mammals in collaboration with artesanal coastal fishers. b. the identification of the potential overlap of the dietary preferences and feeding habits of monk seals in relation to commercially important species fished by the coastal fisheries sector. This was conducted by stomach content analysis of monk seal carcasses found stranded throughout Greece, and by stable isotope analysis of monk seal tissue samples. C.3. Results on the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the monk seals The causes of death, identified based on the above mentioned methodology, are categorised in: deliberate killings (DK), most often resulting from bullet wounds or use of dynamite; accidental deaths (AD), resulting from drowning due to entanglement in fishing gears; non human induced deaths (NHI), resulting from disease, natural causes, starvation, etc. The results utilized in evaluating the impact of fisheries on monk seals are based on the identification of the causes of death from 246 dead monk seals, found stranded and reported by the RINT members, out of which in 94 carcasses full necropsies were conducted. In 65 of the necropsied cases the cause of death was possible to be accurately identified. The analysis of the data showed that: 35% of these cases where deliberately killed, 18% where entangled in fishing gear and 46% had non human induced death causes. The death causes that are closely related to the fisheries sector are the DK and the AD, thus fisheries related causes represent 54% of the monk seal mortality. Additionally, the fisheries related death causes present pick frequency values during the months of May, June and December. It is of further interest to mention that the relative importance of the death causes is significantly different depending on the age stage of the monk seals. In adult monk seals the most frequent causes of death are the DK (54%) and NHI (46%), while no entanglements are recorded. In contrast in sub adult animals the most frequent cause of death is the AD (48%), followed by the DK (32%), with few natural deaths (20%). C.4. Results on the monitoring of the consequences of the interaction for the fisheries sector The results utilized in the elaboration of the Action Plan, were based on the analysis of a. the sampling fisheries activities, b. the questionnaires to the stakeholders and c. the dietary preferences and feeding ecology of the monk seals. a. The sampling fishing activities were conducted in Kimolos and Alonnisos in collaboration with local artisanal fishermen. A total of 40 samplings were conducted per area, and a total of 341 commercial fishing landings in Kimolos and 355 in Alonnisos were collected during the MOFI 3/8

6 project period. The analysis showed that in Alonnisos the fishermen use more fishing gear than Kimolos and fish different target species in different fishing periods. The mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) for Kimolos fishermen was recorded between 11,5 22,5 Kgr and between 9,8 177 Kgr respectively for Alonnisos. The difference between the CPUE values in the two areas is caused by the extensive tuna fishing in Alonnisos. The analysis of the data relevant to the damage caused by marine mammals to the fishing gear in the areas of Kimolos and Alonnisos showed that: in Alonnisos the frequency of monk seal attacks was recorded in 19% of the fishing trips and most damages in nets were caused in the depths of 40 to 60 meters. In Kimolos the frequency of monk seal attacks was recorded in 22% of the fishing trips and most damages in nets were caused in the depths of 10 to 40 meters. The frequency of dolphin attacks was recorded in 2% of the fishing trips in Alonnisos and in 7% in Kimolos. Additionally, the magnitude of the damage was recorded to be higher during dolphin than monk seal attacks in both areas. The average frequency of marine mammal attacks in both areas was recorded to be in 21% of the fishing trips of the fishermen. Considering the average damage caused in the nets during the attacks of marine mammals it was recorded to be 1,1% of the total length of the net used in every fishing trip. b. The questionnaires were conducted in all hot spot areas of the MOFI project (Kythira Elafonisos, Zakynthos, Chios Psara Oinouses, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kimolos and Alonnisos). A total of 196 questionnaires were conducted with artisanal costal fishermen, 19 with aquaculture owners, 64 with Port Police authorities and 7 with Fishery Services: According to the results of the questionnaires of the artisanal coastal fishermen there is a strong belief that fish stocks are becoming depleted. They suggest that active law enforcement and constraint of illegal fishing activities would reverse this situation. Additionally, fishermen support that the negative consequences caused by marine mammals is one of the most important impediment for their sector. Lastly, the majority (53%) suggests that there should be monetary subsidise to the damage caused by marine mammals, but there is still a small minority (11%) in support of deliberate killings as a measure for the mitigation of the conflict. Aquaculture owners reported that marine mammals are present near their installations, but only monk seals are causing damage to the fish cages. However, they suggest that acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) and reinforced nets are minimising the damage caused by monk seals. According to the results of the questionnaires of the Port Police authorities there is a strong belief that fish stocks are becoming depleted. They suggest that this could be confronted with the implementation of measures for fisheries management. They also report that overfishing is one of the most important impediments of coastal fisheries. Lastly, the Port Police authorities consider that marine mammals have a negative impact to coastal fishermen, and that there should be a monetary subsidise for these consequences. c. Stomach content analysis showed that the most important prey for monk seals are the octopuses (Octopus vulgaris and Eledone spp.), constituting 61% of the total weight of stomach remains. Additionally, it was shown that monk seals prey on a great variety of marine species (more than 75 different taxa), some of which are commercially valuable, indicating direct competition with the coastal fisheries sector. These finding were also confirmed by the stable isotope analysis. 4/8

7 D. Presentation and evaluation of potential measures towards mitigating seal fisheries interactions D.1. Financial compensation As financial compensation for seal damage was the main request and proposal of the fishermen interviewed within MOFI, the project team examined various compensation schemes and related issues from around the world as far as terrestrial species are concerned, since, essentially, damage from marine mammals is not compensated anywhere in the world. The key determinants of success for compensation schemes according to related bibliography include rapid and accurate identification of damage, prompt and fair payment, long term source of funding, clear rules and guidelines linking payment to sound management practices, adaptation to cultural and socioeconomic context and ability to monitor the wildlife population for which the compensation is directed. Furthermore, serious limitations of compensation schemes appear to be unanticipated negative consequences due to failed expectations, which may result to detrimental effects, as far as, attitudes and tolerance are concerned, the fact that compensation schemes do not essentially deal with the root of the problem (in this case overfishing and lack of prey), and the lack of solid evidence demonstrating the reduction of retaliation killings due to the compensation schemes. In the case of Greece it should be stressed that the interaction between marine mammals and coastal fisheries concerns a fleet of approximately 17,000 vessels and 32,000 fishermen in a country with about 15,000km of coastline, a fact that makes fulfilling most of the above prerequisites rather difficult. Given the inherent problems of such a compensation scheme, a potentially effective approach would be to link any financial aid to fishermen, for the damage that is inflicted upon their gear, with sound management practices, aiming at improving the state of fish stocks and the marine environment. D.2. Providing or replacing fishing gear The idea of providing and/or replacing fishing gear damaged by marine mammals was proposed by the fishermen interviewed. Unfortunately, this measure has the exact same inherent problems with financial compensation. D.3. Fisheries Management Managing fisheries through regulations and/or restrictions spatially and/or temporally is widely applied when aiming at protecting certain marine species, fish stocks or specific ecosystems. Other tools, widely used, include restricting or banning destructive fishing practices, increasing selectivity of fishing gear, and regulating fishing capacity. Spatial and/or temporal restrictions at a national level are a feasible and potentially effective management tool, as far as, fish stocks improvement and conservation of the marine ecosystem are concerned, as well as, for reducing seasonal high monk seal mortality due to entanglement in fishing gear. Banning destructive fishing gear, such as «winch trawling» (a type of beach seining over Posidonia fields), based on European Union regulations should be immediately enforced. Increasing selectivity of fishing gear is another tool that may aid in the improvement of the state of fish stocks. Finally, sorting and streamlining the Greek Fisheries Vessels Registry would be a first important step towards evaluating the actual fishing capacity of the coastal fleet. 5/8

8 D.4. Technical and practical measures Technical measures aiming at reducing fisheries and aquaculture depredation by marine mammals consist of Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs). As far as dolphins and fisheries are concerned, the long term effectiveness of AHDs, such as pingers, has not been demonstrated. In the case when pingers have been effective in the short term, a dinner bell effect is usually observed in the mid or long term. Regarding aquaculture seal interactions, there are successful examples on the use of AHDs. However, given the deterioration and wide loss of monk seal habitat in Greece, it is suggested that the precautionary approach should be used instead, and further banning the use of AHDs. It should be noted that in fact, according to Greek and E.U. legislation, using such devices is illegal, since they are a source of disturbance for an endangered species. Practical measures used by fishermen for avoiding or decreasing the interaction with marine mammals include various evasion or deterrence techniques (boat manoeuvres, noise etc.) and have been ineffective overall. In addition, other techniques include decreasing the soaking time of nets and moving them to more than one locations per fishing trip (which have not proven effective for Greek fishermen) and increasing the depth of fishing gear (for which evidence for its effectiveness is not conclusive). Finally, regarding aquacultures, protective and reinforced nets around units or cages have been successful in not allowing monk seals to approach and enter the cages. One approach that needs to be evaluated for Greece and which has been successful in Turkey is moving aquacultures away from monk seal biotopes. E. Proposed measures for reducing seals fisheries interactions E.1. Proposed measures at a national level The most important prerequisite for the conservation of fish stocks and the marine environment as a whole, is the enforcement and implementation of existing legislation, which constitutes one of the main requests of fishermen interviewed within the MOFI project. Moreover, the national measures proposed herein consist of two basic pillars: fisheries management measures and financial aid for the fishermen regarding the damage from marine mammals. These two pillars are interconnected and aim at mitigating the interaction between marine mammals and fishermen directly or indirectly, i.e. the direct killings of marine mammals as retaliation, the accidental deaths of juveniles due to entanglement in fishing gear and the damage on fishing nets by marine mammals. E.1.1. Fisheries management measures The following fisheries management measures proposed, aim at improving the state of fish stocks (and thus the income of fishermen) and reducing the entanglement of juvenile seals (leading in many cases death) in fishing gear during spring: 1. Cessation of all fishing activities in Greece during May, an important month for the reproduction of many fish species and a period when 30% of juvenile monk seals get drowned due to entanglement in fishing gear. 2. Increase of selectivity of static nets to a mesh size minimum of 20mm (40mm diagonal) and size 14 hooks for long lines. 3. Banning of octopus fishing for recreational fishermen and professional fishermen using traps from May to July, as this is an important period for the reproduction of octopi, which make up 6/8

9 61% of the monk seal diet in Greece. Increase of the minimum landing weight for octopi from 500gr to 750gr. E.1.2. Financial aid measures The proposed financial measures concern the loss of income from marine mammal damage on nets, not catches or long line damage, as these were not possible to be measured and quantified. The proposal for providing fishermen with financial aid given the fact that the intensity of net damage was measured during the MOFI project aims at reducing direct killings of marine mammals as a precautionary measure by fishermen or as retaliation. The proposed financial aid for the damaged nets is calculated based on the following parameters and hypotheses: Maximum fishing days per year: 200 (X) Maximum length of nets for one fisherman: (Y) Average encounters with marine mammals: 21% Average damage per fishing day on the length of nets: 1.1% Cost of trammel net per meter: K Financial aid= Χ*Υ*0,21*0,011*Κ Based on 2009 prices and the above parameters and hypotheses, an indicative financial aid per fisherman annually amounts to euros. E.2. Technical and practical measures As aforementioned, decreasing the soaking time of nets and moving them to more than one location per fishing trip, are practiced but have not proven effective for Greek fishermen. Regarding aquacultures, the effective measure of using protective nets can be financed by the National Fisheries Operational Plan (European Fisheries Fund). The following table summarizes all measures proposed to mitigate the seal fishery interaction at the national level: Category Measure Aim Fisheries management measures Financial aid measures Technical and practical measures Cessation of all fishing activities during May Increase selectivity of fishing gear Banning of octopus fishing from May to July and increase minimum landing weight Financial aid for marine mammal damage on nets Placement of protective and reinforced nets for aquacultures improvement of the state of fish stocks reduction of entanglement of juvenile seals improvement of the state of fish stocks improvement of the state of fish stocks increase of prey availability for monk seals decrease of marine mammals deliberate killings reduction of income loss of coastal fishermen reduce seal aquaculture interactions 7/8

10 E.3. Responsible bodies for implementation According to Greek Law No from 1986, Chapter D, Article 22, Paragraph 3, responsible for compensating marine mammal damage on fisheries is the Central Agriculture, Farming and Forest Fund of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Foods. Although this law exists since 1986, the responsibility for its enforcement and the creation of a legal framework lies with the Ministry of Environment and Public Works. The proposed mechanism by the MOFI team, in order for the fishermen to receive financial aid, consists of three parts, the Fishermen Federations, the Port Police authorities and the Central Agriculture, Farming and Forest Fund. The Fishermen Federations together with the Port Police authorities will be responsible for creating and maintaining the list of fishermen eligible for aid, based on the annual purchases of fishing nets and the average annual damage as calculated by the MOFI project. The Port Police authorities will not inspect each case of damage, rather the fishermen will have to declare the damage from marine mammals to the Port Police authorities. The lists of fishermen eligible for funding will be updated on a yearly basis for gear purchases (not exceeding purchases from previous three years over 30%) and damage declared. The Central Agriculture, Farming and Forest Fund will then pay the appropriate amount to each fisherman. Following inquiries with DG Environment and DG MARE, it was stated that there are no European Community funds available for such financial aid, since the issue concerns a recurrent phenomenon. Fisheries management measures though, are eligible for funding from the National Fisheries Operational Plan Given the high overall cost of such financial measures at a national scale, a special fund could be created within the Central Agriculture, Farming and Forest Fund, with possible sources of funding being the revenue from recreational fishing licences (the cost of which could increase), a special tax on fishing gear purchases, the fines from illegal fishing activities fines, and the creation of a fee contribution scheme from professional fishermen. Finally, marine mammal mortality (especially deliberate killings) should be monitored at a national level, and the proposed financial aid mechanism should be reviewed in the event there is no decrease in fisheries related mortality. E. 4. Proposed measures at a local level The areas proposed for local measures adoption include marine protected areas, areas of importance for marine mammals and communities with a direct socioeconomic dependence on fisheries. Fisheries management plans should be adopted and implemented for all three types of areas. In addition, marine protected areas should implement special management plans for recreational fisheries and marine mammal mortality monitoring programmes. 8/8

11 Action Plan for the Mitigation of the Negative Effects of Monk Seal Fisheries Interactions in Greece Summary Report in English MOm, WWF Greece, FRI, 2009