Longline métiers and associated economic profiles in eastern Mediterranean fisheries: The case study of Kalymnos Island (South Aegean Sea)
Abstract The small-scale fishery has a high socio-economic importance in the Mediterranean Sea. This is especially relevant for specific areas that harbor, proportionally, very large part of the fleet, and thus, represent hot spots. Among such areas, Kalymnos Island merits special attention as it harbors the largest and most active small-scale fleet in the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, the present study analyzes the small-scale longline fishery in Kalymnos, using the metiers approach, to assess its dynamics and evaluate associated economic profiles. A multivariate analysis was used to identify the relevant metiers, by inputting the main resources and fishing gear data that were recorded during landings. Six main practices were observed using set longlines, drifting longlines, handlines and squid jig-lines as fishing gears, and targeting the species Pagrus pagrus, Diplodus vulgaris, Pagellus erythrinus, Sparus aurata, Xiphias gladius, Octopus vulgaris and Loligo vulgaris; the above metiers earned a profit margin. The study revealed the multi-species nature of longline fishery in Kalymnos, and provided baseline information for their associated economic profiles, towards the development and implementation of sustainable management plans.