Relevance of socioeconomic information for the sustainable management of artisanal fisheries in South Europe. A characterization study of the Asturian artisanal fleet (northern Spain)

Artisanal fisheries constitute an important source of employment and income for many South European coastal communities as Asturias (northern Spain), as well as a fundamental cultural and traditional identity factor at a regional level. However, and despite its importance, there is little information available about artisanal fleets and, generally, low attention has been given to their social, economic and cultural characteristics, which hampers the chance of developing sustainable and integrated management measures that take into account the complex interactions and linkages between the socioeconomic and the environmental dimensions within these fisheries. Hence, this study was aimed to improve the knowledge about the Asturian artisanal fleet focusing on its socioeconomic characteristics, to compare such characteristics with those of other artisanal fisheries in South Europe and to collect baseline information to facilitate the implementation of specific management measures aimed to improve the sustainability of the artisanal fleet. Findings on the annual days of activity and its spatial distribution have proven the necessity of implementing standardized data collection procedures in order to provide an accurate and sound basis for management planning. The analyzed social profile of the fleet confirms its marked artisanal character at the same time that highlights the existing similarities between the Asturian and other South European artisanal fisheries. The collection of economic information has allowed for the first time the assessment of real fleet profitability indicators taking into consideration both declared and undeclared incomes. Results confirm that current levels of profitability are clearly lower than those from other alternative economic activities, fact that acts as an entry barrier for new artisanal vessels. Finally, information on fishermen perceptions have shown that the sector is aware of existing difficulties and stresses out the necessity of reorienting traditional management policies toward more efficient strategies based on a profound knowledge about the specific context of artisanal fisheries.