Economic performance of coastal fisheries in Galicia (NW Spain) : case study of the Cíes Islands

Biological, social and economic information is necessary in order to assess the effectiveness of fisheries management measures. Indicators of the economic performance of fishing vessels are a useful tool for improving management strategies and are necessary for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management in European waters. However, they are usually difficult to obtain from official data, which are often biased, incomplete and/or lacking in spatial references. In this paper, a broad set of economic indicators is provided for the fleet operating around the Cies Islands (NW Spain) during 2008, based on data obtained from interviews with fishers. Artisanal and purse seiners were the most representative segments of the study fleet. While artisanal vessels played an essential social role in Galician fishing communities, purse seiners were a fundamental economic segment as they had the highest profitability per vessel. Both segments appeared to be economically profitable in 2008, with a moderate rate of return on investment for artisanal vessels (around 7%) and a high rate (around 13%) for purse seiners. The present study identified the waters around the Cies Islands as an essential fishing ground for the study fleet due to the high cash flow that it generated. As part of this area now belongs to a national marine park, our results represent a reference point for decision-makers and for the development of effective management strategies.