Abstract
Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) sustain Mediterranean coastal livelihoods, yet their interaction with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) remains poorly quantified, particularly in Albania. We aimed to compare catch composition, size structure, undersized catch, and catch, revenue and income per unit effort of trammel-net SSFs inside and outside the Karaburun–Sazani Marine National Park. Between April 2019 and September 2021, landings were photo-sampled at 484 sampling events (243 inside, 241 outside), measuring 11,747 individuals from 100 taxa and estimating biomass from length–weight relationships. Landed biomass and species composition were similar between zones. Catch per unit effort standardised by net length was 16% higher inside (ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.05–1.29), with higher revenue (+5.0 EUR per 1000 m of net) and income (+7.4 EUR). Individuals were slightly longer inside (0.5 cm, 95% CI 0.01–1.09; p = 0.046), but no species differed after Holm correction. Against EU Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRSs), 61–75% of landed Diplodus sargus, D. annularis and Pagellus acarne were undersized, similarly, in both strata (odds ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.45–1.02). Higher catch rates and slightly larger fish inside are consistent with, but do not demonstrate, a protection effect; undersized catch persists on both sides, calling for stronger enforcement, co-management and monitoring.
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