Pandemic-driven changes in the nearshore non-commercial fishery in Hawai'i: Catch photos posted to social media capture changes in fisher behavior

PeerJ
By: , and 

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Abstract

Using social media, we collect evidence for how nearshore fisheries are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai’i. We later confirm our social media findings and obtain a more complete understanding of the changes in nearshore non-commercial fisheries in Hawai’i through a more conventional approach—speaking directly with fishers. Resource users posted photographs to social media nearly three times as often during the pandemic with nearly double the number of fishes pictured per post. Individuals who fished for subsistence were more likely to increase the amount of time spent fishing and relied more on their catch for food security. Furthermore, individuals fishing exclusively for subsistence were more likely to fish for different species during the pandemic than individuals fishing recreationally. Traditional data collection methods are resource-intensive and this study shows that during times of rapid changes, be it ecological or societal, social media can more quickly identify how near shore marine resource use adapts. As climate change threatens additional economic and societal disturbances, it will be necessary for resource managers to collect reliable data efficiently to better target monitoring and management efforts.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Pandemic-driven changes in the nearshore non-commercial fishery in Hawai'i: Catch photos posted to social media capture changes in fisher behavior
Series title PeerJ
DOI 10.7717/peerj.14994
Volume 11
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher PeerJ Inc
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description e14994, 18 p.
Country United States
State Hawaii
Other Geospatial Hilo Bay
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