Data covering fishery-related catch and fishing production. 

fisheries

Fisheries

Data covering the marine environment, including fisheries, coral reef  health, ocean chemistry, and coastal zones.

oceans-seas-coasts

Oceans, Seas, & Coasts

### Overview  
  
The Coral Reef Fisheries Relative Catch dataset shows a basic estimate of the relative size of coral reef fisheries catch. This catch is determined as a function of estimated reef productivity and fishing effort. This global data set reflects the world's coral reefs as a 500 meter (m) grid, classified by a relative estimate of the annual fish harvest as of 2014. Reef areas are classified by decile of estimated fisheries catch by weight (biomass). The estimates do not account for variability in the economic or social value of these fisheries.

  
  
Coral reef fisheries are an important source of food for local populations. They also generate revenue and exports. Furthermore, while most fishing on reefs is artisanal, some coral reefs host a proportion of very high-value target species which attract distant-water fleets. The relative productivity and composition of different reef fisheries is thus both socially and economically significant, and a relevant input to marine management. These estimates represent an important aspect of coral reef value—the relative size and spatial distribution of catch coming from coral reef fisheries—and represent an important incentive for sustainable reef management. 

  
  
The dataset was created by researchers from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the University of Cambridge (Cambridge), and the World Resources Institute (WRI).
  
  
### Methodology  
  
Catch is determined as a function of estimated reef productivity and fishing effort. A minor modifier to this basic model makes allowance for no-take fishing areas: within these zones, fishing is not allowed and catches are presumed to be zero; in adjacent waters, a small buffer of enhanced fishery productivity reflects anticipated spillover from these protected areas. The authors do not account for variability in the economic or social value of these fisheries. The estimation of coral-reef associated fisheries involves 4 steps: 
  
  
1. Estimate the pristine potential maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of coral reefs—the potential sustainable production of fish on healthy reefs. This estimate was based on a review of numerous published estimates of fisheries yields or maximum sustainable yield per unit area world-wide. 
  
  
2. Estimate the realistic potential MSY on coral reefs, in light of current reef condition (degradation), which can reduce productivity. A proportional reduction was made based on the [Reefs at Risk](https://www.wri.org/publication/reefs-risk-revisited) model of integrated local threat to reefs, along with other studies.
  
  
3. Estimate catch based on the potential MSY, adjusted by nearby population and available fishing area, using a model adapted from previous field-based studies: reefs are recorded as reaching maximum fishing effort at population levels greater than 600 persons within reach of each square kilometre of reef.
  
  
4. This catch layer was modified for strictly protected no-take zones. Catch values were reduced to zero (no catch) in the no-take zones, while the potential catch in a surrounding 1 km buffer was raised to the maximum value, reflecting anticipated spillover.

  
  
For more information, please see the source [methodology](https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/Atlas-of-Ocean-Wealth.pdf).  
  
### Additional Information  
  
Resource Watch shows only a subset of the dataset. For access to the full dataset and additional information, click on the “Learn more” button.  
  
### Visualizing the Data  
  
Our team reformatted this dataset before displaying it on Resource Watch. See the documentation on how Resource Watch processed the data on [Github](https://github.com/resource-watch/data-pre-processing/blob/master/ocn_013_coral_reef_fisheries_relative_catch/).  
  
### Disclaimer  
  
Excerpts of this description page were taken from the source metadata.

Estimated relative coral reef-associated fisheries catch

ocn-013-coral-reef-fisheries-relative-catch-rw

ocean-watch

Ocean Watch

2014 Coral Reef Fisheries Relative Catch

Estimated size of local coral reef fishery catch, relative to other reef fisheries