Riverine communities and management systems for anadromous fisheries in the Iberian Peninsula: global strategy, local realities.

Abstract

Anadromous fish challenge human jurisdictions and are exposed to cumulative pressures originating in the marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms. Here, a detailed questionnaire survey to anadromous fishers (river Mondego, n = 35; international river Minho/Miño, n = 38) assesses and compares perceptions on sustainability and management for important small-scale estuarine and inland fisheries in the NW Iberian Peninsula. There are diferences in the governance and fisheries management of the two systems, but exploitation patterns are similar. Revenue importance of fishing, professional exclusivity, and geographic mobility in the last two generations significantly decline upstream in both rivers. The intangible “contact with nature” is the most valued dimension of fishing, common across rivers and longitudinal position. A long tradition in the fishing profession and a strong generational continuity are still detected, especially in the river Minho, but there are signs of diminishing likelihood of hand-over to younger generations. Fishers detect environmental degradation (e.g., perceptions of increase in exotic species and pollution in both rivers, increase in siltation in the river Minho) and overexploitation (perception of decrease in allis shad abundance in the river Minho and increase in sea lamprey poaching in the river Mondego) that will require reactive governance under external drivers that intensify such problems. Better communication, to clarify and improve fishery rules, and more deliberation, to legitimize fisheries management and increase its capacity to contribute towards integrated approaches at the level of watersheds, are locally explored solutions that can have global relevance.