Assessing the response of the German Baltic Small- Scale Fishery to changes in the abundance ...

135 Pages·2014·6.6 MB·English

Assessing the response of the German Baltic Small-
Scale Fishery to changes in the abundance and
management of fish resources during 2000-09

Developing and applying a spatial database to quantify the impacts of
changes in resource abundance and management during 2000-09 on
the structure and operation of the German Baltic Small-Scale Fishery

Dissertation

Zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades
der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät
der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

vorgelegt von

Eva Papaioannou

Kiel, 2014

Erste/r Gutachter/in: Prof. Dr. Athanasios T. Vafeidis
Zweite/r Gutachter/in: Prof. Dr. Martin F. Quaas
Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 16.5.2014
Zum Druck genehmigt: 16.5.2014
gez. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang. J. Duschl, Dekan

Eidesstattliche Erklärung

Hiermit erkläre ich, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit nach Inhalt und Form – abgesehen von der
Beratung durch meinen Betreuer – selbständig verfasst und keine weiteren Quellen und Hilfsmittel
als die im Quellenverzeichnis angegeben verwendet habe.

Diese Arbeit hat weder ganz, noch in Teilen, bereits an anderer Stelle einer Promotionskommission
zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades vorgelegen.

Ich erkläre, dass die vorliegende Arbeit gemäβ den Grundsätzen zur Sicherung guter
wissenschaftlicher Praxis der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft erstellt wurde.

Kiel,

Eva Papaioannou

___________________

Contents
Contents .............................................................................................................................................. i
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................ iv
List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... vii
Abbreviations / Acronyms .................................................................................................................viii
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. ix
Zusammenfassung ............................................................................................................................. xi
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Topical focus of the thesis ........................................................................................................ 1
1.2. Background .............................................................................................................................. 2
1.2.1. The governance and management of fish resources and fisheries ...................................... 3
1.2.2. Fisheries’ Assessment and Analysis .................................................................................... 5
1.2.3. SSFs governance and management framework .................................................................. 7
1.3. Research focus area - The Baltic marine coastal environment and the German Baltic Small-
Scale Fishery ................................................................................................................................... 8
1.4. Aims and Objectives of the study ............................................................................................ 10
1.5. Structure of the thesis ............................................................................................................ 11
2. Small-Scale Fisheries: key characteristics, challenges and constraints to development .................. 13
2.1. Abstract.................................................................................................................................. 13
2.2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.3. Methodological approach – Studies selection ......................................................................... 15
2.4. Background to the study – What are major constraints to the development of the SSF sector?
..................................................................................................................................................... 17
2.5. Which are the sector’s fundamental characteristics and how do they relate with its state and
development? ............................................................................................................................... 20
2.5.1. Operational distance ....................................................................................................... 20
2.5.2. Heterogeneity.................................................................................................................. 22
2.5.3. Selectivity ........................................................................................................................ 23
2.5.4. Diversity .......................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.5. Livelihood diversification ................................................................................................. 24

i
2.6. How can major limitations in the sector’s further development be overcome? ....................... 25
2.6.1. Operational distance ....................................................................................................... 26
2.6.2. Heterogeneity.................................................................................................................. 26
2.6.3. Selectivity - Diversity........................................................................................................ 27
2.6.4. Livelihood diversification ................................................................................................. 28
2.7. How can the sector’s sustainability be enhanced? .................................................................. 29
2.7.1. Environmental sustainability ............................................................................................ 29
2.7.2. Socio-economic sustainability .......................................................................................... 30
2.8. Outlook .................................................................................................................................. 31
3. The development and use of a spatial database for the determination and characterization of the
state of the German Baltic Small-Scale Fishery sector........................................................................ 33
3.1. Abstract.................................................................................................................................. 33
3.2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 33
3.2.1. German Baltic Small-Scale Fishery.................................................................................... 35
3.3. Study area, data and methods ................................................................................................ 37
3.3.1. Description of the study area ........................................................................................... 37
3.3.2. Data description .............................................................................................................. 38
3.3.3. Methods .......................................................................................................................... 40
3.3.4. Data limitations ............................................................................................................... 43
3.4. Results ................................................................................................................................... 45
3.4.1. Structure of the German Baltic SSF fleet .......................................................................... 45
3.4.2. Spatial extent of German Baltic SSF.................................................................................. 46
3.4.3. Target species .................................................................................................................. 47
3.4.4. Landings across German Baltic fishing grounds (ICES Rectangles) ..................................... 47
3.4.5. Landings in German Baltic fishing harbors ........................................................................ 47
3.5. Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 49
3.5.1. Structure of the German Baltic SSF .................................................................................. 49
3.5.2. Spatial extent of the German Baltic SSF ........................................................................... 50
3.5.3. Landings across German Baltic fishing grounds (ICES Rectangles) ..................................... 50
3.5.4. Landings in German Baltic fishing harbors ........................................................................ 51
3.5.5. Target species .................................................................................................................. 51
ii
3.6. Outlook .................................................................................................................................. 52
3.7. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 53
4. Using indicators based on primary fisheries’ data for assessing the adaptation potential of Small-
Scale Fisheries to management changes in the German Baltic ........................................................... 55
4.1. Abstract.................................................................................................................................. 55
4.2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 55
4.2.1. The German Baltic SSF and past changes in fish resource abundance and management .. 57
4.3. Materials and methods........................................................................................................... 58
4.3.1. Variables and assumptions considered ............................................................................ 60
4.3.2. Methodological framework of analysis ............................................................................ 61
4.4. Results and discussion ............................................................................................................ 62
4.4.1. Weight of landings ........................................................................................................... 63
4.4.2. SSF fleet composition ...................................................................................................... 67
4.4.3. Target species .................................................................................................................. 69
4.4.4. Range of operation .......................................................................................................... 71
4.4.5. Changes due to spatial closure ......................................................................................... 73
4.4.6. Limitations of the study ................................................................................................... 73
4.5. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 76
5. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 78
5.1. Key Findings ........................................................................................................................... 78
5.2. Summary of results................................................................................................................. 80
5.3. Relevance of the thesis ........................................................................................................... 84
5.4. Future work – possibilities for further research ...................................................................... 86
6. References .................................................................................................................................... 87
7. Appendix - Supplementary Material ............................................................................................ 105

iii
Acknowledgements
There are many people who contributed either directly or indirectly to the present work and to
whom I would like to extend my deepest acknowledgements.
This work would not have been made possible without the support of Prof. Athanasios
Vafeidis. Other than his scientific guidance I am thankful for his moral support and strong belief to his
PhD students. He was also the mastermind behind the ‘Coastal Risks and Sea Level Rise’ Research
Group which was a very inspirational place to work, learn and develop. Reflecting on the past 4+
years, I now realize that this [or ‘this situation’ as he would correct, ‘Eva don’t forget the noun!’] is
equally important as conducting sound scientific research for one’s personal and academic
development.
I am very thankful for my supervisor Prof. Martin Quaas whose contribution to the present
work was decisive. He was very helpful and supportive, his comments and remarks were always
constructive and I feel I benefited a lot from his supervision. He also actively promoted my
involvement in many of the ‘Sustainable Fisheries’ Research Group activities and he was always very
welcoming.
I owe a big ‘thank you’ to Dr. Jörn Schmidt. His scientific and moral contribution to the present

work was substantial. Although he is an international jet-setter and constantly on the move, he was
always of great help to me, readily available to address my concerns and questions. I would also like
to thank Dr. Harry Strehlow for his input, especially regarding the assessment of the adaptation of the
SSF to management changes and our nice and harmonic co-operation.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Koerth family, especially Janoula, one
of the best officemates and friends a person could possibly have. I am greatly indebted to her
generosity (which cannot be measured in material terms) and friendship.
I would also like to thank all ‘CRSLR members’ past and present, Mark, Mihal, John, Barbara,
Mira and the HiWis. A big ‘thank you' goes to Prof. Sterr and Sandra and the nice people, students
and employees, of the Geography Institute for making the years in Kiel such a nice experience; also,
all my friends here and especially Dr. Dolch, Cynthia, Betta Ballarina, Armando, Silvina, Natia and
Steffen. Finally, I express my gratitude to the ‘extended family’ in Greece for their solidarity during all
these years and especially to Nikolas E., Markella, Adamantini, Marthouli, Maria, Phaedra, Stavroula
and Katerina. And last, but definitely not least, to Alex, Natassa and Victor.
iv