Ecological Footprint for the Algerian Fisheries Management: History
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Subjects: Environmental Sciences
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Sonia Akrour

According to the estimated ecological footprint (EF) of fishery production (EFf), Algiers fishing is in the status of ecological surplus, as the demand for fisheries production averages 15,338.49 gha compared to more than 108 thousand gha of biologically productive fishing area. In addition to this overall output, this metric indicates each species’ primary production requirement (PPR), which could help to restructure the fishing effort based on the stock’s condition. For the energy component, the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions expressed in metric tons of CO2 were used to estimate the required area for carbon sequestration, valued roughly at 500 gha. The latter is a reference state and remains approximate because it was derived from unofficial data provided by the fishers.

  • ecological footprint
  • sustainable fisheries
  • Algiers port
  • Algerian coast
  • North african country

1. EF to Restructure Fishing

Algerian fishing is mainly coastal, dominated by pelagic fishes. The ecological footprint (EF) of fishery production (EFf) analysis indicates that the demand for fisheries resources is substantially lower than the biological capacity of the available fishing grounds in the region of interest (fishing grounds biocapacity). According to the ecological footprint (EF) concept rationale, the fishing area would be in a state of an “ecological reserve”. This assumption can neither confirm nor reject the ecological deficit state attributed to Algeria[1] because this study was carried out on a small scale (ports of Algiers) and only considered local production statistics. Moreover, the Global Footprint Network (GFN) calculation uses international, synthetic data on fisheries and aqua farming production and trade. The EF of production based on primary production requirement (PPR) is even more interesting, as it serves as a lens to estimate the biomass demand of each species. For example, Crustaceans and Mollusks have the lowest PPR records due to their trophic levels, implying that increasing their catches would have negligible effects on the overall EFf. However, such a strategy should consider the species’ stock status.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that in Algeria, both overfishing and sustainable fishing have been reported for different locations and species. Indeed, the stocks of horse mackerel, bogues, red mullet, and axillary seabream do not appear to suffer from overexploitation in the port of Algiers[2], or round sardinella in Ghazaouet[3]. In other locations, the status of these populations’ stock has been described as unsustainable, particularly, the horse mackerel stock at the port of Bou Ismail[4], or overexploited for the red mullet, the Axillary seabream, and the Common sardine at the ports of Beni-Saf[5] and Ghazaouet[3]. However, the same authors recommend that these findings be investigated cautiously due to the sampling strategy and data collection system, which is regarded as weak and possibly biased[6][4]. In this case, the EF model could be an effective organizational tool for data collection. However, concerning the uncertainties and the complexity of the component assessed, it is evident that EF results should be supplemented by other studies, such as biological and stock dynamics analyses[2][7][8], as well as environmental parameters and climate monitoring, which is assumed to be lacking at the level of fisheries management structures[9].

2. Energy Use Inventory

According to this research, the catch of one ton of fisheries products requires an average of 22 L of diesel each year. More than a thousand metric tons of CO2 are released from this combustion, requiring about five hundred global hectares of sequestration land. This metric has been derived from data supplied by fishers and serves as a baseline since no previous research has been undertaken in this sector. However, detailed data on the number of days at sea, departure and arrival times, distance traveled, and actual fuel consumption would improve the quality of the results.
The effectiveness of the component-based EF remains in its standardized structure, which might support entities attempting to track their energy use and contribute to the establishment of greenhouse gases (GHG) inventories by activity type. Furthermore, the simple EF design makes it straightforward facilitates its usage by fishers, and allows them to engage in the management of fishing in a participatory framework. Indeed, according to national experts, multidisciplinarity is a crucial prerequisite for the fishing sector’s long-term growth[10]. In the context of the present study, the estimate of the CO2 sequestration land is approximate and probably not representative of the activity. A more detailed approach based on an accurate number of trips per type of métier conducted in the fishing ports of Tipaza (Algeria) has provided representative results, outlining the correlation between production and fuel consumption by vessel types[11]. The latter highlighted that sardine vessels use the least fuel quantity per estimated production, compared to trawlers and small-scale vessels representing 67% and 23%, respectively, of the CO2 emissions associated with fishing[11].

3. Available Fishing Grounds

This situation of “ecological reserve” available and potentially exploitable meets the hypothesis of other authors in Algeria who stipulate the possibility of investigating further areas, notably zones of more than 500 m of depth[12][13]. Nonetheless, managers and decision-makers should not arbitrarily expand fishing efforts based on this conclusion. Indeed, prior initiatives to increase the national production resulted in a temporary growth that faded due to intense competition for the same marketed resource and the same space explored by all users[14].

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/su14031418

References

  1. Global footprint network . Global footprint network. Retrieved 2022-1-31
  2. Habib, A., Koudil, M. La pêche au chalut et à la senne au port d’Alger : étude statistique des mises à quai et détermination du niveau d’exploitation de quelques espèces cibles. Master thesis, Institut National des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral ENSSMAL, Algiers (Algeria), 1990.
  3. Fliti, K., Harir, T., Sari, A. La pêche à Ghazaouet: Etude statistique des débarquements et évaluation du niveau d’exploitation des principaux stocks exploités. Master thesis, Institut National des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral ENSSMAL, Algiers (Algeria), 1992.
  4. Korichi, H.S. Contribution à l’étude biologique des deux espèces de Saurels : Trachurus trachurus et Trachurus mediterraneus et de la dynamique de Trachurus trachuru en baie de Bou_Ismïl. Magister thesis. Institut des Science de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral, Algeria ENSSMAL, Algiers (Algeria), 1988.
  5. Derdiche, O., Djekrir, F., Stambouli, A. La pêche à Bani-Saf : Stratégie d’échantillonage des mises à terre et estimation du niveau d’exploitation de la pêche chalutière. Master thesis, Institut National des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral, Algiers (Algeria), 1990. 107p.
  6. Lahmer, N., Ramdani, K. Les petits pélagiques de la baie de Bou Ismaïl: Débarquement, Etat des stocks en rapport avec les variabilités milieu/effort de pêche. Master thesis, Institut National des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral ENSSMAL, Algiers (Algeria), 2007.
  7. Pauly, D. Recent developpement in the methodology available for the assessment of exploited fish stocks of reservoir. Etat Des Pêcheries Dans Les Réservoirs D'Afrique. Etat Des Pêcheries Dans Les Réservoirs D'Afrique. James M. Kapetsky, Petr, T., eds.; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Rome, Italy, 1984, 10, CIFA technical paper, Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa, 326 p. ISSN 0379-5616.
  8. Gulland, J.A. Manuel des méthodes d’échantillonnage et des méthodes statistiques applicables à la biologie halieutique. Première Partie : Méthodes d’échantionnage. Manuels F.A.O. 1966, Sciences halieutiques : 3-94
  9. Lahmer, N., Ramdani, K. Les petits pélagiques de la baie de Bou Ismaïl: Débarquement, Etat des stocks en rapport avec les variabilités milieu/effort de pêche. Master thesis, Institut National des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Aménagement du Littoral ENSSMAL, Algiers (Algeria), 2007.
  10. Chakour, S., C., Guedri S., E. Sustainable management of artisanal fisheries in Algeria: The contribution of an empirical approach. MRJBM 2015, 2(3), pp. 030-039. http://www.meritresearchjournals.org/bm/index
  11. Akrour, S. Ecological Footprint of Fishing: A device to structure sustainable production in Algerian fisheries. International Conference for YOUNG Marine Researchers (ICYMARE). Bremen, Berlin, 28 October 2021
  12. Hansal, A. L’activité de la pêche et le développement local: étude des cas sur la wilaya de Mostaganem. Magister thesis, Université d’Oran, Oran (Algeria) 2013.
  13. Simmonnet, R. Essai sur l'économie des pêches maritimes en Algerie. ISTPM 1961, 25 (1), pp. 33-124. Available at : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4253/
  14. Chikhi S.M.R.The Maritime Fisheries Sector in Algeria: Challenges and Realities. Revue des Etudes Economiques Approfondies 2018. 3(1), pp. 81-111. https://www.asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/76715
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