Develop participatory stock management for the Egyptian Artisanal Red Sea fisheries

Face-to-face interviews conducted at the main Red Sea ports captured fishers’ knowledge and perspectives on management effectiveness, revealing widespread perceptions of declining catches, dissatisfaction with seasonal closures, and significant economic vulnerability. These insights highlight the urgent need for participatory management and institutional support. The evaluation of multiple DLMs—including LBSPR, LIME, LBB, and CMSY++—demonstrates that no single approach performs universally well; instead, method selection should reflect species life history and data context.

Using an MSE framework informed by both ecological and social data, the research projected future stock trajectories under alternative management strategies. The simulations indicate that current management is unlikely to ensure long-term sustainability, with Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) values consistently below 0.4, while combined effort and length restrictions offer the greatest rebuilding potential. <br><br>This work contributes a context-aware framework for managing data-limited fisheries, highlighting the value of integrating fishers’ knowledge, simulation-based evaluation, and adaptive policy design.

Without urgent reforms, the risk of collapse and loss of local food security will persist.<br><br><i>Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2026.</i><br>