Trammel net is the main fishing gear used by artisanal fishers in Majorca
Island (NW Mediterranean), and is representative of Mediterranean
small-scale fisheries using static gear. The use of static gears close to
the coast, where seasonal variability and spatial heterogeneity are high,
promotes the diversification of fishing practices or metiers. We analyze the
seasonal dynamics of the nets used, target species (red and black
scorpionfish, red mullet and cuttlefish) exploitation patterns and the
socio-economic conditions under which this fishery takes place, based on
General Fisheries Directorate daily sale records (2002–2006). Additional
personal socioeconomic interviews allowed the characterization of the
trammel net fishery, its fishing behaviour, cost structure and conflicts.
Catch and effort data and market surveys are used to evaluate the level of
exploitation of the target species and allowed describing Majorca trammel
net fishery as an activity based on a sustainable resource. The main target
species were found to be near their maximum sustainable yield both by means
of a surplus production model (with parameters estimated by CEDA-Catch
Effort Data Analysis, software) and an age structured assessment model based
on yield-per-recruit analysis. Management actions currently debated by local
administration and fishers focus on improving fishers' economic situation,
rather than on protecting a threatened resource. One of the management
actions proposed is a one day effort reduction, which was analyzed here with
the help of a bioeconomic simulation model. A 15-year (2005–2020) simulation
allows providing advice to local managers to focus on the commercialization
aspects, in order to obtain a higher value to the fish production, rather
than expecting to obtain higher profits only by a reduction of the offer.