| title: | Relations of fish community with the ecosystem as a whole and possibilities for collaborative management of the fish resources in Lake Peipsi |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6820 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.16. Marine Sciences and Limnology 4.4. Animal Husbandry (incl. Pisciculture) 5.3. Sociology |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Estonian University of Life Sciences |
| head of project: | Peeter Kangur |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2009 |
| description: | The project innovatively combines methods of fish biology studies and novel sociological approaches in identifying deficiencies in sustainable management of fish resources and at the same time management strategies for sustaining the well-being of the fishing dependent communities. Large shallow Lake Peipsi has been a water body rich in fish production. However, during 20th century the total commercial catch in the lake has declined. Socio-economic changes brought along with the collapse of the Soviet Union caused drastic increase in pressure on fish resources of L. Peipsi forming potential risk to the ecosystem structure and functioning as well as to local livelihood. Furthermore, valuable fish resources of the lake are under the threat of anthropogenic eutrophication and are strongly influenced also by large natural fluctuations of water level and temperature. The number of professional fishermen and fishing power in L. Peipsi do not correspond to the recent state of fish stocks. The influence of the interactions of these factors on fish community is investigated insufficiently. Moreover the share of poaching, unregistered catches, influence of extensive winter angling is unknown; therefore, the proper assessment of fish stocks is hindered. As local fishing dependent community inhabiting L. Peipsi basin is vulnerable to any fisheries management regulations, next to technocratic and scientific views dominating today, local needs and perspectives on development need to be taken into account in management decisions. Though, the state of fish stock, its management’s implications on local well-being and disparities in understanding the possibilities for mitigating fisheries management problems among different stakeholders have not been addressed jointly in previous studies concerning L. Peipsi. Therefore, the planned study will innovatively approach fisheries management problems integrating social and environmental research efforts in clarifying on how the state of the fish community is affected by the interactions of environmental and anthropogenic pressures, and to assess the impact of fisheries’ management strategies on livelihoods of local people and their motivation for participating in fish resources management. Fishing pressure of wintertime angling on target species will be assessed based on the participatory observations among anglers on L. Peipsi. In semi-structured interviews with the representatives of fishing dependent community, regulators and experts the possible disparities in understanding environmental and socio-economic risks of fishing related activities and their access to management decisions will be identified. Transboundary citizens’ jury will provide a novel basis for evening the knowledge gaps of different interest groups. Planned interdisciplinary research project endeavours developing integrated and coherent knowledge on L. Peipsi fisheries status and effects on environmental pressures and socio-economic implications, and legitimate fisheries management affected by local knowledge on its design. The project will provide scientific support for national implementation of the Water Framework Directive and European Common Fisheries Policy as well as can be exploited in protecting Estonian interests in preventing fish stock degradation and ensuring stability of the vulnerable ecosystem of transboundary L. Peipsi. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Andu Kangur | |||
| 2. | Peeter Kangur | Eesti Maaülikool | ||
| 3. | Reet Laugaste | |||