UW Aquatic & Fishery Sciences Quantitative Seminar

Michael Pantalos

Freelance Artist/University of Western Brittany

A French Twist: Self-Regulated Fishing, Public Data, and Independent Environmental Monitoring in the Bay Of Brest

Abstract

Commercial dredging for clams in the Bay of Brest in Brittany, France, is regulated by the local fisherman's association and takes place in rhodolith beds known to be highly sensitive to disturbance. Previous attempts to map fishing pressure based on self-reported data have produced dubious results. However, all vessels in the fishery are required to carry AIS transponders and the data from them is available online to the public. This study uses AIS data from two and a half seasons to determine recent fishing pressure in the south basin of the bay and compare it to species richness, rhodolith health, and granulometry in the area's rhodolith beds. Results indicate a strong relationship between bed degradation and clam dredging. Socio-ecological challenges in the region and potential solutions are also discussed.