Socioeconomic aspects and characteristics of small-scale fishery in eastern Mediterranean Sea

Small-scale fishery represents an important part of Mediterranean fishery. In order to improve the knowledge on this sector primary research was carried out in the Dodecanese fishery aiming to identify the fishery and socioeconomic characteristics, fishing activities, and to identify the small-scale fisheries metiers. Specifically, data were collected over the time period 2013-2014 by interviews aiming to characterize fleets, fishing gear used, fishing activity and socioeconomic elements and interviews during unloading aimed at catch data. The highest CPUE values were reported for Boops boops (2.38±2.93 kg/1500 m net*day) caught by gillnet in the winter season, Xiphias gladius (101.03±86.06 kg/800 hooks*day) by drifting longline in the spring season. The catch is traded in both the wholesale and the retail market. The most important metiers with fishing gear and target species: gillnet, B. boops, trammel net, Scorpaen porcus and Mullus surmuletus, set longline, Pagellus erythrinus, Pagrus pagrus, Diplodus sargus, drifting longlines, X.gladius and handlines, Octopus vulgaris. The Dodecanese fishery need management measures to protect fishery resources and maintain small-scale fishery.