Horizon scanning to identify priority research questions for the South African marine shore-based recreational fishery

Abstract

The marine shore-based recreational fishery (MSBRF) is the largest sector of the South African linefishery. The high rate of participation, widely dispersed effort, the diversity of motivations, attitudes and perceptions of its participants, and the large number of target species make this fishery a highly complex socio-ecological system with many governance challenges. Although improving the communication between fishers, scientists and managers is important to improve governance of the MSBRF, the views of multiple stakeholders in the MSBRF have not yet been synthesised. Here, horizon scanning was used to identify what stakeholders view as the 100 most-important research questions that need to be addressed to improve MSBRF management and sustainability. A total of 365 questions submitted by 175 stakeholders (63% anglers and spearfishers, 31% anglers, 3% spearfishers, 2% researchers, and 1% managers) were reviewed, thematised and refined by experts in the field to generate 100 priority research questions for the MSBRF. The 12 themes of these are: governance, management actions, resource monitoring, competing sectors, human dimensions, bioeconomics, compliance, education and engagement, catch and release, ecosystem impacts, marine protected areas, and threats to sustainability. This study aligns with the ecosystem approach to fisheries, can guide the development of research programmes, and will assist in co-management of the fishery by embedding the needs and opinions of stakeholders within the research process.