This project will address the need to improve knowledge on the trends in Adriatic fisheries with novel methods as well as to acknowledge recent changes in fish biodiversity in complex Adriatic ecosystem. The central objective of the project will be to evaluate the potential use of the LEK in developing the knowledge base for fisheries management and conservation. The strategy employed for this evaluation will be a two-way discussion between fisherman and other stakeholders from one side, and fisheries biologists from other side around the subject of what sorts of indicators of ecosystem health would make sense in light of both the LEK of the fishers and the research-based knowledge (RBK) of the fisheries biologists.
Objective 1:
Development and application of LEK Interview-protocol (survey questionnaire)
Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) is being increasingly used as an innovative approach to investigate changes in the marine biota, such as those related to the establishment of exotic species in the Mediterranean Sea. In order to deal with ongoing environmental uncertainties, especially climate change, and complex, multi-species fisheries, fisheries management should ideally be ecosystem based, adaptive and precautionary, being implemented even if managers have incomplete biological data. Additionally, destructive methods of research don't do a favour to the ecosystem in already overexploited sea and any attempt to provide a non-destructive approach should be at least considered as a small step toward better conservation. The development of less complex and economically efficient indicators of ecosystem health and exploitation status that are both scientifically valid and widely acceptable by fisheries stakeholders is an important strategy for the management of aquatic ecosystems (Wilson et al., 2006). Therefore, our goal is to seek out novel approach and assess and apply gathered information that might enhance our understanding of recent changes in the Adriatic ichthyofauna from both fisheries and biodiversity perspective. Beside the collection of data, activities connected with implementation of LEK protocol can serve as a bridge between different stakeholders, especially between fishermen and scientists. This is especially important from the fisheries management standpoint as bridging the gap between fishermen and scientist might lead to developing ideas of research on issues of shared interest. In order to gather as much valuable information as possible from fishermen targeting different types of fish and habitats, a preliminary analysis of the current state of knowledge on the issue will be made. This analysis will take into account different types of data i.e. number of fishermen per specific metier, detection of most important target species and most vulnerable species, tropicalization indicators etc. Upon analysis, a key elements will be extracted that will serve as a basis for development of LEK interview protocol. Occurrences of thermophilic species, of both native and exotic origin, are increasingly recorded in the Adriatic Sea and there is an urgent need to provide appropriate monitoring program which will serve as a basis for rapid detection and rapid response. Beside species which are shifting their distribution towards northern areas due to climate change, an increasing number of non-native anthropogenically introduced fish species (either directly through various introductory events or as lessepsian migrants) are being more frequently recorded. However, the extent of these changes may be under appreciated especially because of the limited nature of scientific monitoring (Azzurro et al., 2010). It would take huge, economically and work exhaustive, efforts to monitor and survey marine habitats at a sufficient scale to perceive temporal and spatial trends in marine communities and LEK methodology is a good practice to fill this information gap and deepen our capability to perceive the complex process of change (Polunin et al., 2008; Azzurro et al., 2011). Therefore, beside fishery related survey, we will incorporate a "CIESM Tropical Signals" protocol which will make a contribution to already ongoing program which encompass international network of 21 research teams from 15 different countries and has been established to monitor long term geographic shifts and changes of temperature-sensitive species across the Basin and neighbouring areas (Moschella, 2008).
Objective 2:
Data analysis and comparison of research based scientific data (knowledge) (RBK) with data collected through LEK surveys
Since LEK is considered anecdotal, non-scientifically sampled and of limited application, few studies considered parallel use of LEK and scientific data when assessing fishing impacts. However, combining data from different sources renders more robust and reliable assessments, which are especially important in times where decision makers require scientific certainty. Numerous investigations on the state of marine resources has been carried out in the eastern Adriatic Sea and there is a solid amount of data available for comparative purposes. These investigations encompass all major fishery realms – demersal, pelagic and coastal fishery. Majority of investigations are actually being carried out through various monitoring programmes aimed at collection of fishery related data used to make quantitative and qualitative assessment of catches starting from previous investigations such as Hvar expedition, investigation of Jabuka Pit through PIPETA, GROUND, to the recent international surveys: MEDITS, SOLEMON, DEEPSEA, UWTV, MEDIAS, and national monitoring programs DemMon, PRIMO and PERIMON. Data originating from beforementioned sources will be extracted according to area and fishery type of LEK participants in order to make comparison and to test variability of certain traits. Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IOF) has a unique and valuable long series of fishery biological data (starting from after the Second World War), as well as environmental data. Complex models that will include all existing parameters, will be used to analyse long-term changes in communities, which occur either as a result of fishing, or as a result of climate changes Upon collection of LEK data, a database will be established for both types of data (fishery related and tropicalization signals/biodiversity data). Based on the outcomes, we will explore the utility of LEK as a reliable information source. It will be done by comparing results obtained through LEK and data available from research based knowledge (RBK).
Objective 3:
Identification of tropicalization and meridionalization indicator species and species with significant abundance change with emphasis on invasive species: providing baseline biological fisheries data for timely response.
Biological invasions severely challenges the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources and are considered to be one of the most important drivers of biodiversity loss and a major pressure on ecosystem with a far-reaching impacts. Unfortunatelly, knowledge on biological properties of invasive species (non-indigenous species and tropicalization indicators) in the Adriatic Sea is generally very scarce. Knowledge of biological traits of most important invasive and indicator species can present a starting point for succesful adaptation and potential management of those species but can also provide an insight into traits which faciliated the adaptation and establishment of those species. Additionally, since some invasive species can also present a potentially economically significant resource, an emphasis will be shifted toward those species which show greatest potential in that sense. Depending on the outcome of LEK surveys but also based on data originating from research based studies, most important tropicalization indicator species will be determined and, according to the participant perception, species with pronounced invasive potential will be detected. Most important invasive species are going to be chosen according to severity of their impacts on fisheries and biodiversity, but also those with greatest increase in the abundance in the recent years. Additionally, potential for exploitation of the species will also be taken into account. As a starting point for any succesfull management practices, a basic biological and ecological knowledge on particular species is essential. Objectives in this module will encompass collection of biological and fishery related data for the most important invasive species/abundance change indicator species and, based on the collected data, recommendations for management and potential exploitation of the species. Special attention will be paid to cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyans) as a special indicators of changes in the marine ecosystem. They may be affected by a large number of physical, chemical and ecological factors, as like as by fishing effort (high level of exploitation), that influence their immediate environment or affect the habitats, food webs and ecological interactions upon which they depend. The expected results will give us an insight as to whether the LEK is a suitable way to reconstruct ecological processes (identification of indicators of meridionalization/tropicalization, reconstruction of historical trends of abundance for indicator species/tracking the invasion of non-indigenous species (NIS). We will also be able to assess if LEK protocol is suitable for (early) detection of significant changes in the marine ecosystem and if it's robust enough to provide reliable data that could serve as a starting point for appropriate actions. We also expect to determine biological, ecological and fishery characteristics of the most important indicator species in the context of fishery and tropicalization/invasion events.