Multidisciplinary assessment of the sustainability of small-scale fishery around anchored FADs

• Main Authors: Rey-Valette, H, Cillauren, E, David, G
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: eng ; fre
• Subjects: Marine
• ISSN: 0990-7440
• DOI: 10.1016/S0990-7440(00)01060-3

Multidisciplinary assessment of the sustainability of small-scale fishery around anchored FADs. Since fifteen years the introduction of anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) has been an important component in the development of the small-scale fishery of many tropical island countries. Results however, have not always been as good as expected. In this paper we propose the use of a method to assess the diversity and complexity of changes caused by the FADs on one side, and the sustainability of this innovation process on the other side. The concept of sustainability includes both ecological and socioeconomical purposes. The first aims to preserve the resource, the second to secure the innovation process. The assessment framework is based on a grid of twenty-one key parameters of biological, technical, economical and sociological nature. A value ranging from zero to three is given to each parameter according to its effect (no effect, doubtful effect, sustainable effect). An example of this grid is presented by combining experts' viewpoints in three cases (Comoros, Reunion Island, Vanuatu), which are representative for the diversity of FAD projects. A graphic representation is given for an easier reading of the grid and to improve its use for decision making.Original Abstract: Depuis une quinzaine d'annees le developpement des pecheries artisanales des pays insulaires est base sur la peche des grands pelagiques a partir de l'introduction d'une innovation majeure, a savoir l'immersion de dispositifs de concentration de poissons (DCP ancres). Face a cet engouement recent et aux resultats tres mitiges, voire aux echecs, souvent observes, l'article propose une demarche methodologique d'elaboration d'un cadre d'evaluation permettant un classement de la diversite et complexite des transformations induites par l'introduction des DCP et une estimation de la durabilite de leur integration. La notion de durabilite integre ici des objectifs a la fois ecologiques quant a la conservation de la ressource et socioeconomiques en termes de maitrise et d'acceptation d'une innovation devant favoriser l'evolution du systeme. Cette analyse est effectuee en croisant plusieurs points de vue disciplinaires - biologique, geographique, economique et sociologique - et en comparant differentes experiences relevant de contextes et de communautes de pecheurs varies. Le cadre d'evaluation se compose d'une serie de 21 indicateurs de nature biologique, technique, economique et sociale. Un