Artisanal Fishermen

Artisanal fishing commonly refers to small-scale fisheries using traditional, low-tech harvesting methods, typically for local consumption rather than export markets¹.

These communities are particularly vulnerable to the over-exploitation of sharks. Despite the short-term economic benefits of the shark fin trade to artisanal fishermen, shark fishing in fact depletes marine ecosystems of commercial fish, is an unsustainable source of income and leaves small communities vulnerable to exploitation larger international fishing operations.

Healthy shark populations support healthy and abundant fish stocks.

Coral reefs are vital to the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide². Research shows that overfishing of sharks can trigger a domino effect leading to the decline of these important marine habitats³. “It appears that ecosystems such as Caribbean coral reefs need sharks to ensure the stability of the entire system,” said Sala, deputy director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps⁴.

Removal of sharks, evaluated from survey data and statistical models, can result in complex community changes, including large declines of valuable commercial fish, such as tuna and jacks^5,6.

Pristine coral reefs around remote Pacific islands with high levels of shark biomass support higher levels of herbivorous fish and species biodiversity overall when compared to similar systems where sharks are heavily fished⁵. Healthy shark populations not only impact prey numbers but prey behavior, as well. By regulating grazing behavior of prey species, such as dugongs and green turtles, the presence of tiger sharks has been demonstrated to have a positive influence on the health of sea grass beds, which serve as vital habitat for many species^7,8.

Local fishermen, in many cases, are exploited rather than helped by the shark fin trade.

Shark catches by vessels flagged to the Pacific Island Countries and Territories represent a very small proportion of the total catch of sharks in the Western Central Pacific Ocean8. In fact, large-scale fishing fleets often illegally enter developing nations’ Economic Exclusive Zones to fish for sharks, spurred by the lucrative trade in fins. There are approximately 150-200 foreign vessels targeting sharks off East Africa, the Middle East, and in the Western Indian Ocean⁹.

This large-scale fishing generates millions of dollars, but very little will trickle down to local fisheries. Between 2003 and 2006, Indonesia’s shark fishing trade was estimated at US$ 7 million, but local communities only received small, one-time access fees¹⁰.

Artisanal fisheries, on the other hand, barely break even. In Jakarta a case study analyzed the income of artisanal shark fishermen and found that after paying the boat owner, the captain, each of the crew members as well as the cost of gas, fishermen received less than 10% of the profit made, amounting to US $4 for an average voyage. In fact, 8 out of 22 trips lost money¹¹.

A Javan artisanal fishery study showed that only 5% of the catch value came from sharks, skates and rays (elasmobranchs) and found that even if no elasmobranchs were caught at all, the household incomes only decreased by 7% for boat owners, and 3% for the crew¹².

To make matters worse, foreign fishing fleets have also been known to engage in destructive fishing practices, including bombing reefs and the use of poisons, which indiscriminately destroy local marine resources¹³. Foreign vessels illegally fishing for sharks in coastal waters have a significant negative economic and ecological impact on local fisheries¹⁴.

Shark fin fisheries are not a sustainable long-term income for coastal communities

Shark fisheries are characterized by boom and bust patterns, cycles of high catches followed quickly by declining numbers as evidenced in fisheries for soupfin shark, porbeagle, and basking shark¹⁵. In West Africa, catches for shark fishermen climbed until 2005, and then suddenly dropped 50% in three years¹⁶.

This sudden drop affects fishermen enormously. In small West Africa fisheries where the local shark population has been depleted, fishermen owe heavy debts to traders from South East Asia, who lend money to finance the rising costs of the fuel and larger boats needed to fish further from shore. But as sharks become harder to find, fishermen find it more and more difficult to break even¹⁶. “We catch them,” says a Senegalese shark fishermen, “But I couldn’t afford a small bowl of soup.”¹⁷

Small-scale aquaculture for seaweed, shellfish and other complementary species, on the other hand, can provide valuable sources of food and fuel, while improving the marine environment and potentially even mitigating impacts of climate change¹⁷.

Seaweed, for example, doubles as a nutrient-rich food source and a sponge for organic pollutants. ‘Seaweed farms alone have the capacity to grow massive amounts of nutrient-rich food. Professor Ronald Osinga at Wageningen University in the Netherlands has calculated that a global network of "sea-vegetable" farms totaling 180,000 square kilometers -- roughly the size of Washington state -- could provide enough protein for the entire world population'⁹.

Seaweed farming has become the main source of income for many fishermen in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and has resulted in both environmental and socioeconomic benefits. The environment benefits from the reduction of destructive fishing practices, increased awareness regarding conservation of mangrove areas and protection of coral reefs due to absorption of excess nutrients from terrestrial farming and development. Socioeconomic benefits come from increased income and enhanced family and community participation¹³.

Sea cucumber ranching is another example of a potentially lucrative business for coastal communities, which also improves the health of the ecosystem. Sea cucumbers are referred to as the “vacuums of the sea” due to their role of cleaning sediments, which is critical to maintaining a healthy ecosystem¹⁴. Farming of these valuable animals, which have been severely depleted in many areas, has been introduced in many locations, including in Madagascar, the Solomon Islands and Indonesia, providing a sustainable alternative to destructive or unsustainable practices¹⁰.