Fishermen's perception on the sustainability of small-scale fisheries and dolphin–fisheries interactions in two increasingly fragile coastal ecosystems in western Greece

摘要: Despite their geographic proximity, the Gulf of Ambracia and Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago are remarkably different in terms environmental features, human activities, dolphin species composition densities. Interviews small-scale professional fishermen (n = 100) showed that younger generations do not see any future fisheries traditionally-oriented fishing community is rapidly changing. Fish captures have reportedly decreased dramatically during last 20 years. The main factors having an adverse impact on sustainability differed significantly between areas. Net damage as a consequence predation was almost unanimously reported. Hence, seemed genuinely interested collaborating research initiatives to evaluate caused by dolphins explore potential mitigation strategies. Dolphins were only animals held responsible for net damage, nor those causing largest economic loss fisheries, which attributed either sea turtles or critically endangered monk seal, depending area. The advocated introduction measures curtail habitat degradation top priority, while colleagues identified management effective law enforcement most urgently needed actions. Given high dependency local communities ensuring crucial providing fishers with sufficient income. perfectly match priorities set out within Natura 2000 network, achievable through ecosystem-based approach. Failure take action timely manner may lead irreversible coupled need harsher regulatory measures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.