The management of artisanal fishing within the Marine Protected Area of the Port-Cros National Park (northwest Mediterranean Sea): a success story?

Abstract Cadiou, G., Boudouresque, C. F., Bonhomme, P., and Le Diréach, L. 2009. The management of artisanal fishing within the Marine Protected Area of the Port-Cros National Park (northwest Mediterranean Sea): a success story? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 41–49. The Port-Cros National Park, France (northwest Mediterranean Sea), established in 1963, is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) where, unlike no-take areas, artisanal fishing has been permitted (except trawling), owing to social and economic pressures. Nevertheless, restrictions on artisanal fishing have increased through a fishing charter (1999). In the meantime, recreational fishing was progressively banned, which has helped as a management tool to make the restrictions on artisanal fishing acceptable in social terms. Monitoring of the artisanal fishing (2000–2005) reveals the stability of the fishing fleet (9–13 vessels); of the fishing effort [number of fishing sets per day between 3.4 (±2.1) and 6.9 (±3.4) in spring, and 3.0 (±1.7) and 5.2 (±2.7) in summer]; and of yields [catch per unit effort between 1.27 (±0.72) and 1.68 (±1.44) kg 100 m of net−1 d−1]. Furthermore, based on an analysis of available data, artisanal fishing does not jeopardize the conservation objectives of the MPA, so that, from 1963 to date, the issue has changed from “What can be done to ban commercial fishing?” to “Is there any reason to ban commercial fishing?”.