@article{fdi:010046219,
  title = {{C}haracterization and management of informal fisheries confronted with socio-economic changes in {N}ew {C}aledonia ({S}outh {P}acific)},
  author = {{G}uillemot, {N}icolas and {L}{\'e}opold, {M}arc and {C}uif, {M}. and {C}habanet, {P}ascale},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}n the rural north-west coast of {N}ew {C}aledonia, the settlement of a major mining complex is expected to cause rapid and important socio-economic changes, resulting in significant effects on local fishing practices and their impact on resources. {F}isher interviews were conducted in 2007 in this area to estimate fish catches, fishing yields and effort, to define a typology of informal fishing activities (including recreational, subsistence and benefit-aimed fishing), and to describe their spatial distribution. {T}hese results allowed the discussion of possible scenarios concerning the evolution of reef fish exploitation in a context of fast growing {P}opulation and socio-economic changes. {L}ocal reef fisheries were essentially conducted through informal activities: 312 active boats were recorded and their catches reached 169 t/year whereas catches by professional fishers represented only 25 t/year with 4 boats. {P}ractices and fishing yields were very diverse and linked to social, cultural and economic factors. {I}ndigenous ({M}elanesian) fishers were mainly associated with subsistence and in some cases benefit-aimed activities (with informal commercialization), resulting in cost-benefit practices, important catches and the use of productive gears (giilnets). {T}he fishers living in multi-cultural villages were mostly recreational, characterized by low yields and the use of less effective gears (spear gun, hand line). {F}ishing grounds were spatially structured according to these modern and traditional practices and their respective target biotopes. {T}he main target families of reef fish were {L}ethrinidae, {A}canthuridae and {M}ugilidae, the latter being mostly exploited by {M}elanesian fishers. {T}he overall fishing pressure in the area (0.26t/km(2)/year) was low compared to other countries in the {P}acific. {H}owever, its spatial distribution showed that some areas were lightly exploited whereas others were close to overfishing. {R}esults showed that the expected rise in fish demand may lead to unsustainable exploitation levels in the latter zones. {T}he increase in the recreational fishing fleet may also result in additional fishing pressure as well as reef degradations. {F}rom a social point of view, the fast economic development of the area is likely to disturb the present informal organization of fisheries and to initiate conflicts over the use of space and resources. {S}uch perspectives call for urgent management measures. {T}his case study therefore provided insights into the complex structure of informal fisheries in insular territories in the {P}acific and their possible evolution when confronted with socio-economic changes.},
  keywords = {{S}mall-scale fisheries ; {R}eef fish ; {S}ocio-economic changes ; {I}nformal fishers ; {S}outh {P}acific},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}isheries {R}esearch},
  volume = {98},
  numero = {1-3},
  pages = {51--61},
  ISSN = {0165-7836},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.fishres.2009.03.013},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046219},
}