One of the most relevant information gaps in worldwide fisheries is related to the origin and consequences of the gender gap. Recreational fisheries show a remarkable gender gap, which has been especially poorly addressed in the scientific literature. In 2021, the Spanish Working Group on Marine Recreational Fishing (MRF) developed a broad diagnosis on the participation of women in MRF and agreed on a roadmap to address negative impacts derived from the gender gap. The network experts concluded that there is an urgent need to include the gender gap in the agendas of scientists, fishery managers, policy-makers, stakeholder organizations, and civil society. There is a need to better understand the gender-related socio-ecological impacts of MRF to improve fisheries governance and to develop policies and initiatives that facilitate the full access of women to the benefits derived from the practice of MRF. Establishing economic incentives, increasing the visibility of female success references, developing fishing-related programs specifically designed for girls, and promoting the perception of MRF as a family leisure activity in contact with nature will increase women’s engagement.

Small and medium pelagic fish (SMPF, i.e. Scomber colias, Trachurus spp, Sardina pilchardus, and Sardinella spp) in the Canary Islands are mainly targeted by the artisanal purse-seine fleet. The waters in the archipelago (located in the coastal transition zone of the Canary Current Eastern Boundary Upwelling System) are monitored since the late nineties by a hydrographic section (RAPROCAN) designed to study the temporal variability of the eastern subtropical gyre. In this study we analyse the relationship between the SMPF abundance assumed from official sale notes (reported since 2007) and several oceanographic parameters obtained for the outermost water layer (Sea Surface Temperature, SST, and concentration of chlorophyll a, Chla) and from the 200–800 m depth waters (Sea Temperature, ST_200–800, and salinity, Salinity_200–800). Except for SST, statistically significant correlations occur between environmental variables and SMPF landings when one-year time-lag is considered, matching with the time period necessary for these species to attain legal catchable sizes and, hence, being catchable by the fishery. However, in the GLM only Chla resulted a significant explaining variable for the SMPF landings during the following year, probably because this strong correlation overshadows the ST_200–800 influence. Keeping the monitoring systems is crucial to understand, foresee and anticipate potential variations in the fishery resources and to aim the sustainable exploitation of the SMPF populations, even more challenging in the current climate change scenario.

According to the data collection framework (DFC, Regulation (EU) 2017/1004) for marine recreational fisheries (MRF), the compilation of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data is essential. However, the MRF in the Canary Islands does not have official catch statistics even though there are around 90,000 recreational fishers unequally distributed among the eight islands along 1500 km of coastline. Nevertheless, this has not been an obstacle for the research groups that have made notable efforts to infer the role of MRF in Canary Island fishery. We found 54 research references (2000–2021) in this regard. The studies were classified according to Pita et al. (2020). Most of the references (22) corresponded to peer-reviewed articles. The key results were mainly related to catch and effort estimates (26) and there were few publications referring to dissemination (3) and legislation (1). The data collection techniques included: face to face interviews, on-site data gathering and telephonic and online surveys. Is noteworthy that the catch/effort data is directly taken from fishers in only three publications (peer-reviewed). On a regional basis, only one work considers all modalities (coast, boat and spearfishing) and the other two are about spearfishing with significant differences regarding total catch estimates. As many authors have pointed out, most or all these methodologies are based on non-probabilistic samples or are specific to one island. Consequently, inferences must be taken with caution. The research carried out so far has been opportunistic (research groups) and with a short-term vision (administrations) to respond to specific needs. However, as in any fishery assessment, a long-term vision is necessary. Since January 2021 an MRF working group was created to contribute to the development of DFC at the national level. It would be a big step if the research groups could detail a roadmap with unified methodologies. In this way, the management of public resources would be more efficient. This effort should be led by the two fishing administrations (national and regional) of the Canary Islands. This work was developed within the framework of the PLASMAR+ Project (MAC2/1.1a/347), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (EDRF) and INTERREG V-A Spain-Portugal MAC 2014-2020.