| 1. |
- Sumaila, U. Rashid, et al.
(författare)
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WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 374:6567, s. 544-544
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 2. |
- Elsler, Laura G., 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Compliance in small-scale fisheries is linked to fisher-trader relations : not fishers alone (Southeast Asian case study)
- 2023
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Ingår i: Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. - 0960-3166 .- 1573-5184. ; 33:3, s. 751-766
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fisher-trader relations are influential in many small-scale fisheries worldwide. The ability to influence emergent fishing practices has shifted traders into focus of fisheries policy-making. Formal policies could be more effective if they were complementary to and build on an understanding of the role of traders, their interaction with fishers, and how these contribute to the emergence of compliant or non-compliant fishing practices. Here, we first compared fishing practices with policies to assess the latter's effectiveness in Indonesia, Spermonde. Second, we identified the roles and interactions of fisher-trader relations in shaping emergent fishing practices using the social-ecological action situation framework. We found that 6 out of 7 fishing practices were at least partially non-compliant with formal policies. Second, fisher-trader relations mediated by social norms enabled more fishing practices to emerge than those focused solely on selling and buying fish. Third, traders' interactions with other fishery actors enabled non-compliant fishing practices. These findings comprehensively characterize fishers' and traders' roles and interactions in the emergence of fishing practices. Policy effectiveness could be enhanced by engaging in traders' interactions with other fishery actors.
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| 3. |
- Elsler, Laura G., 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Global trade network patterns are coupled to fisheries sustainability
- 2023
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Ingår i: PNAS Nexus. - 2752-6542. ; 2:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapid development of seafood trade networks alongside the decline in biomass of many marine populations raises important questions about the role of global trade in fisheries sustainability. Mounting empirical and theoretical evidence shows the importance of trade development on commercially exploited species. However, there is limited understanding of how the development of trade networks, such as differences in connectivity and duration, affects fisheries sustainability. In a global analysis of over 400,000 bilateral trade flows and stock status estimates for 876 exploited fish and marine invertebrates from 223 territories, we reveal patterns between seafood trade network indicators and fisheries sustainability using a dynamic panel regression analysis. We found that fragmented networks with strong connectivity within a group of countries and weaker links between those groups (modularity) are associated with higher relative biomass. From 1995 to 2015, modularity fluctuated, and the number of trade connections (degree) increased. Unlike previous studies, we found no relationship between the number or duration of trade connections and fisheries sustainability. Our results highlight the need to jointly investigate fisheries and trade. Improved coordination and partnerships between fisheries authorities and trade organizations present opportunities to foster more sustainable fisheries.
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| 4. |
- Elsler, Laura G., et al.
(författare)
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Global trade network patterns coupled to marine fisheries sustainability
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Increases in the speed and scale of seafood trade in the global trade network along with the simultaneous decline of many marine fisheries globally raises serious concerns about the sustainability of such trade development. The continuity, number and grouping of trade connections has changed: seafood trade in the Anthropocene is short-lived and globally connected. In this new reality, (i) the formation of new trade connections can outpace that of regulatory action in fisheries and (ii) the state of a fishery can depend on its trade-related connectivity to other fisheries. Despite mounting empirical and theoretical evidence of the importance of trade networks in natural resource management, indicators of network speed and scale are rarely used to understand fisheries sustainability. Here, we assess whether the speed and scale of the seafood trade network is indicative of fishery status. Our data consolidates post-1995 global, bilateral trade data including >400,000 bilateral trade flows and stock status estimates for 746 stocks from 222 countries and is analyzed with both static and dynamic panel analysis methods. We find that low levels of grouping in the network correlates with low fishery status and despite increasing numbers of trade connections grouping has declined. Contrary to earlier findings, we demonstrate that long-term trade connections correlate with low fishery status. These results highlight the importance of the way trade develops i.e. in the continuity and grouping of trade connections as key indicators of fisheries sustainability. Thus, policies aimed at improving fisheries sustainability cannot focus on regulating local fisheries alone. For one, trade agreements could target the formation of new multilateral trade alliances. Parallel efforts of international trade organizations, national trade and fisheries ministries need to create incentives that long-term trade connections enable sustainable fisheries use.
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| 5. |
- Elsler, Laura G., et al.
(författare)
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Local, Global, Multi-Level : Market Structure and Multi-Species Fishery Dynamics
- 2019
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Ingår i: Ecological Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-8009 .- 1873-6106. ; 156, s. 185-195
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Price and market structures in fisheries change rapidly, now 40% of seafood is traded internationally and are associated with overharvesting of marine species. We have developed a bio-economic fishery model to address the pressing need of managing the interplay of different markets. We first regard local, multi-level and global markets individually and then analyze the effect of transitioning between markets on the exploitation of species and the stability of income. We find that in gradually globalizing markets, transition management needs to account for non-linear price changes since earlier policies may not be suitable after globalization. We hypothesize that short-term policies to ban harvest in the interest of species recovery benefit a local market in which incentives prevent overharvesting. In global markets we expect that sustained initiatives are needed to prevent overharvesting. Individual fisheries using contextualized models representing local ecological and trade structures may benefit from assessing the price dynamics presented in this analysis.
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| 6. |
- Elsler, Laura G., 1987-
(författare)
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Multi-level Interactions between Fisheries and Trade : Modeling intertwined social-ecological systems
- 2018
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sustainable and equitable fisheries are central for addressing the challenges of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. International trade, once presented by Walrasian economists as a panacea for fisheries development, has not markedly decreased poverty and has been related to the overexploitation of marine species. In this light the consequences of a continued expansion of seafood trade are highly uncertain and problematic. Two competing theoretical hypotheses predict either overexploitation or recovery of marine species when connected to international trade, respectively. The empirical literature finds trade relationships and connections of local fisheries to a large-volume market critical factors for social-ecological outcomes. Here, I combine these insights to show that multi-level links, between fishers & different markets (market manuscript) and marine species & trade relationships (squid manuscript), are critical to explain diverging social-ecological outcomes. In the market manuscript we model the transition from local, to multi-level (both local and global), to global markets in a two species fishery. We find this transition is non-linear, leading to fluctuations in species abundance as a result of abrupt switches between target species. Critical fluctuations of species abundance driven by new market connections are a result of large shifts in prices for one species and high asymmetries in expected income between the two species. The squid manuscript provides empirical and modeling evidence that cyclical changes in the ocean can drive social-ecological systems outcomes through changing interactions at multiple levels. The interactions between squid population and fishers and squid distribution and trading structures determines benefit distributions in the fishery. The lack of consideration of multi-level interactions related to trade in models for fisheries management is likely associated with a lack of processes for integrating the empirical and theoretical insights of two disciplines at the core of fisheries science. Social-ecological system scholars study more often empirical and fishery economics the theoretical aspects of interactions between trade and fisheries. One process suggested in this thesis to bridge insights from both disciplines in fishery models is the careful study of the important interactions in the empirical case. Comparison of these interactions with observed empirical interactions in other systems informs the model conceptualization that is then embedded in a theoretical framework. This leads to the development of models of intermediate complexity that integrate insights on regular structures and patterns observed in real social-ecological systems. The squid manuscript exemplifies this integration. We integrate observed multi-level links in a standard fishery model between the squid population fishers and traders, and thus better represent the empirical system. A continuous dialogue between empirics and theorycan help build models of intermediate complexity. To capture the complex elements of these social-ecological systems, in this young field of study, next to a continuous dialogue priority observed empirical dynamics can help question theoretical assumptions. This study seeks to contribute to the development of fisheries management models more suitable to face contemporary challenges of fisheries management by focusing on how multi-level interactions between fisheries and trade shape sustainable and equitable outcomes.
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| 7. |
- Elsler, Laura G., et al.
(författare)
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Protecting ocean carbon through biodiversity and climate governance
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Marine Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-7745. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Global policy goals for halting biodiversity loss and climate change depend on each other to be successful. Marine biodiversity and climate change are intertwined through foodwebs that cycle and transport carbon and contribute to carbon sequestration. Yet, biodiversity conservation and fisheries management seldom explicitly include ocean carbon transport and sequestration. In order to effectively manage and govern human activities that affect carbon cycling and sequestration, international biodiversity and climate agreements need to address both biodiversity and climate issues. International agreements that address issues for climate and biodiversity are best poised to facilitate the protection of ocean carbon with existing policies. The degree to which the main international biodiversity and climate agreements make reference to multiple issues has however not been documented. Here, we used a text mining analysis of over 2,700 binding and non-binding policy documents from ten global ocean-related agreements to identify keywords related to biodiversity, climate, and ocean carbon. While climate references were mostly siloed within climate agreements, biodiversity references were included in most agreements. Further, we found that six percent of policy documents (n=166) included ocean carbon keywords. In light of our results, we highlight opportunities to strengthen the protection of ocean carbon in upcoming negotiations of international agreements, and via area-based management, environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment.
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| 8. |
- Elsler, Laura G., et al.
(författare)
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Social relationship dynamics mediate climate impacts on income inequality : evidence from the Mexican Humboldt squid fishery
- 2021
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Ingår i: Regional Environmental Change. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1436-3798 .- 1436-378X. ; 21:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small-scale fisheries are critically important for livelihoods around the world, particularly in tropical regions. However, climate variability and anthropogenic climate change may seriously impact small-scale fisheries by altering the abundance and distribution of target species. Social relationships between fishery users, such as fish traders, can determine how each individual responds and is affected by changes in fisheries. These informal cooperative and competitive relationships provide access, support, and incentives for fishing and affect the distribution of benefits. Yet, individuals' actions and impacts on individuals are often the primary focus of the economic analyses informing small-scale fisheries' formal management. This focus dismisses relevant social relationships. We argue that this leads to a disconnect between reality and its model representation used in formal management, which may reduce formal fisheries management's efficiency and efficacy and potentially trigger adverse consequences. Here, we examine this argument by comparing the predictions of a simple bioeconomic fishery model with those of a social-ecological model that incorporates the dynamics of cooperative relationships between fish traders. We illustrate model outcomes using an empirical case study in the Mexican Humboldt squid fishery. We find that (1) the social-ecological model with relationship dynamics substantially improves accuracy in predicting observed fishery variables to the simple bioeconomic model. (2) Income inequality outcomes are associated with changes in cooperative trade relationships. When environmental temperature is included in the model as a driver of species production dynamics, we find that climate-driven temperature variability drives a decline in catch that, in turn, reduce fishers' income. We observe an offset of this loss in income by including cooperative relationships between fish traders (oligopoly) in the model. These relationships break down following species distribution changes and result in an increase in prices fishers receive. Finally, (3) our social-ecological model simulations show that the current fishery development program, which seeks to increase fishers' income through an increase in domestic market demand, is supported by predictions from the simple bioeconomic model, may increase income inequality between fishers and traders. Our findings highlight the real and urgent need to re-think fisheries management models in the context of small-scale fisheries and climate change worldwide to encompass social relationship dynamics.
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| 9. |
- Elsler, Laura G., et al.
(författare)
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Social relationship dynamics mediate climatic impacts on income inequality : evidence from the Mexican Humboldt squid fishery
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Small-scale fisheries are ubiquitous and critically important around the world, but they are under serious threat from climatic changes and variability. Climate-driven redistribution of maximum fisheries catch potential is expected to be most severe across tropical regions where small-scale fisheries are widely governed through relationships between fishery users, i.e. fishers and traders. These informal cooperative and competitive relationships provide access, support, and incentives for fishing and affect benefit distribution in fisheries. Yet, their formal management is often informed by economic analyses that focus primarily on the actions of and impacts on individuals. We argue this leads to a disconnect between reality and its model representation, which may reduce the efficiency and efficacy of formal fisheries management and potentially trigger adverse consequences. Here, we examine this argument by comparing the predictions of a simple bioeconomic fishery model with those of a social-ecological model that incorporates the dynamics of cooperative and competitive trade relations in an illustrative, empirical showcase in the Mexican Humboldt squid fishery.We find that (1) the social-ecological model substantially improves accuracy in predicting observed fishery variables compared to the simple bioeconomic model, (2) climate-driven changes in cooperative trade relationships affect fishers’ income and income inequality, and (3) the current fishery development program, that is supported by the predictions of the simple bioeconomic model, may increase income inequality between fishers and traders. Our findings highlight the real and urgent need to re-think the current analytical boundaries of models in the context of small-scale fisheries and climate change worldwide to encompass social relationship dynamics.
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| 10. |
- Elsler, Laura G.
(författare)
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The complexity of seafood trade relations across scales
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There is growing concern about the unprecedented rise in international seafood trade that relies on increasingly overused and climate-driven fisheries. Seafood trade relations, the multi-dimensional relations between fishers, traders, and countries for seafood exchange and other interactions, are central in the process of globalization. Despite empirical evidence of their importance, (bio-)economic models that inform fisheries management usually reduce trade relations to price dynamics. Here, I aim to understand better the role of seafood trade relations for models that guide the sustainable and equitable management of globalizing fisheries. I studied traders' collusion in Mexico (Paper I), fisher-trader relations in Indonesia (Paper II), countries trade relations in a global network study (Paper III), and fisher-market relations in a theoretical model (Paper IV). I demonstrate that seafood trade relations are affected by social-ecological change (SEC), such as climate change. Their responses, in turn, influence how other fishery actors, such as fishers, are affected. Together these interactions shape the importance of seafood trade relations to SEC. These insights suggest that seafood trade emerges from, interacts, and co-evolves with seafood trade relations across scales, which needs to be represented in management models that analyze the 'interplay of seafood trade relations with globalizing fisheries'.
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