Bottom‐Trawling Footprint Changed as Fishery Shifted From Hake to Shrimp

ABSTRACT

Crustacean fisheries have increased worldwide, leading to changes in fishing practices. In San Matias Gulf, Argentina, the Patagonian red shrimp replaced Argentine hake as the main target since 2012. We analyzed this shift from 2004 to 2020 using vessel monitoring systems and landings. Fishing positions were identified using the speed rule. Gravitational centers of fishing intensity were used to assess seasonal spatial changes of the fleet, and bottom‐trawling footprint was used to quantify the area of the seabed affected. Landings were pooled monthly to assess multivariate changes in landing composition. Previously concentrated around a frontal system, the fleet moved northward between 2014 and 2020, while reducing hake landings but increasing shrimp landings. The total area trawled did not change significantly, but the footprint nearly doubled. Our results can be used for fishery management by increasing understanding of spatial and temporal changes in fishing strategies for policymakers.