Issue |
Aquat. Living Resour.
Volume 31, 2018
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | 6 | |
Number of page(s) | 12 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2017045 | |
Published online | 19 January 2018 |
Research Article
Experimental evaluation of influence of FADs on community structure and fisheries in coastal Kenya
1
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute,
P.O. Box 81651,
80100
Mombasa, Kenya
2
College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi,
P.O. Box 30197,
00100
Nairobi, Kenya
3
Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries,
P.O. Box 90423,
80100
Mombasa, Kenya
4
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Eldoret,
P.O. Box
1125,
30100
Eldoret, Kenya
* Corresponding author: ekam.mbaru@yahoo.com
Handling Editor: Flavia Lucena Frédou
Received:
29
September
2016
Accepted:
24
November
2017
Fish aggregating devices (FADs) have been widely used by commercial fisheries to increase the catchability of pelagic stocks in the open sea. FADs have the potential to enhance nearshore small-scale fisheries where stocks are often overfished. This study examined changes in catch composition, abundance, catch and effort, and aspects of diversity in Kenya's nearshore coastal fisheries after deployment of anchored fish aggregating devices (AFADs). The study combined both fishery independent and dependent methods in assessing changes in fish assemblages post-deployment. Results showed orders of magnitude increase in length, weight, commercial value, and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of landed catch after deployment of FADs suggesting that FADs had a positive effect on the local fishery. Species richness at FAD sites increased post-deployment (n = 281) compared to pre-deployment values (n = 223). Simultaneous use of several complementary structural indices may be required in order to accurately describe and monitor fish assemblages around the FADs. The findings suggest that AFADs are capable of creating both short and long-term impacts on livelihoods, with the potential to deflect pressure on the overfished nearshore fish stocks. However, more research will be needed on redistribution of fish around FADs, design and placement configuration, and site selection amongst others.
Key words: Fish aggregating devices / pelagic fishes / species diversity / Kenyan coast
© EDP Sciences 2017
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