SUBMIT YOUR RESEARCH
Haya: The Saudi Journal of Life Sciences (SJLS)
Volume-3 | Issue-03 | 291-297
Original Research Article
Assessing Potential Impacts of Offshore Fish Farming on Small-Scale Fishery in Monastir Bay (Eastern Shore of Tunisia)
Rafika Challouf, Asma Hamza, Ali Yahia, Khemissa Ghozzi, Bechir Saidi, Mohamed-Nejmeddine Bradai
Published : March 30, 2018
DOI : 10.21276/haya.2018.3.3.11
Abstract
The establishment of offshore aquaculture production areas that compete with traditional fishing activities is a potential source of conflict that needs to be assessed in coastal areas. Having little specific data available on the impacts of these farms, we aimed, through the present study, to gather information on this issue, especially regarding Monastir bay, a major zone of aquaculture production in the eastern shore of Tunisia. Hence, we have surveyed fishers‟ observations through a questionnaire-based methodology. A total of 78 fishermen were interviewed, in December 2016, in three different ports: Monastir, Sayada and Teboulba. Results revealed that 77 % of local fishing communities complained about the loss of fishing grounds and changes in the quantity and quality of catches. Net damage, caused by dolphin predation, was reported by 31% of fishermen. The most abundant and dominant fish and mollusc species around fish farms, as reported by 30% of inquired fishermen, were Mugil cephalus, Octopus vulgaris and Sardinella aurita, while 15% of fishermen interviewed reported the presence of marine turtles near cage fish farms. The present survey already provides an important data platform that will be useful to decision makers, to adopt appropriate strategies allowing harmonious coexistence between fish farms and fishing activities, in order to ensure ecological sustainability.
Scholars Middle East Publishers
Browse Journals
Payments
Publication Ethics
SUBMIT ARTICLE
Browse Journals
Payments
Publication Ethics
SUBMIT ARTICLE
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
© Copyright Scholars Middle East Publisher. All Rights Reserved.