msc.org/track-a-fishery/fisheries-in-the-program/certified/pacific/pna_western_central_pacific_skipjack_tuna; accessed 25th July 2013). If this sets

a precedent for certification of purse seine fisheries this may mark a move away from FAD fishing with renewed focus on pursuing free schools. The increase in the use of FADs over the past two decades has given rise to concern over their associated ecological impacts, yet management of FAD fishing is complicated by the compromise between achieving a reduction in these impacts and allowing the sustainable exploitation of healthy tuna stocks, namely skipjack tuna. This is complicated further by the current reliance of the purse seine fishery on this highly efficient fishing practice, which is likely to only increase further under a business-as-usual scenario as fishing operations

become more expensive selleck chemicals and shrinking profit margins require an ever greater use of FADs. PS-341 research buy However, continued growth in FAD fishing might be expected to result in diminishing returns as the relative benefit of each FAD in the fishery is diluted. Explicit management of the use of FADs is undoubtedly a necessity to ensure future sustainability of the fishery. Whilst there are several options available to manage the use of FADs, each option is expected to produce a different response from the purse seine fleet. Time-area closures have already been implemented but with mixed success in reducing juvenile mortality due to the flexibility of the fleet in reallocating effort. Whilst larger (and longer) closures may achieve greater reductions in juvenile catch this would be at the expense of significant reductions in skipjack catch. This has major implications on the fishing and processing industries based in the Indian Ocean, with a realistic danger that many purse seiners would choose

to leave the Indian Ocean altogether. On the other hand, input controls such as limiting Selleck Decitabine the number of actively monitored FADs or the number of sets made on floating objects directly address concerns about FAD fishing, if designed and implemented appropriately, but are likely to be challenging to negotiate within the IOTC and difficult to enforce. We are grateful to the Economic and Social Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council for funding this research. This paper is a contribution from Imperial College’s Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment initiative. Generous thanks are also given to J. Pearce, L. Dagorn and A. Fonteneau for informative discussion on the current and future management of FAD fishing, and to J.J. Areso, several members of staff at the Seychelles Fishing Authority and a number of anonymous skippers who gave up their time to offer invaluable insight into the practical aspects of purse seine fishing. “
“Coastal communities throughout the developing world are recognised as being particularly vulnerable to environmental change [1], [2] and [3].