Analyzing recreational angling and spearfishing for white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) in the north-eastern mediterranean using YouTube data

Abstract

In terms of sustainable fisheries management, there are serious problems in monitoring and collecting data on recreational fishing activities. Therefore, as a digital data source, the use of citizen science based on social media has become more important. This study aims to explore the harvest patterns of recreational angling and spearfishing of the white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) in the north-eastern Mediterranean using existing knowledge that is publicly available on YouTube. For this purpose, a total of 591 white grouper individuals were identified from 571 YouTube videos uploaded between 2018 and 2022. Results showed that most videos were uploaded from the Northern Levant Sea Region (62%). A significant portion (88%) were videos of angling activities. Additionally, the majority of these angling videos (90%) were recorded on boats. In angling activities, artificial bait was used significantly more often than natural bait (p < 0.05). The majority of videos were published during the autumn season. During angling activities, 25% of the individuals were released back to the sea. The results of this study highlights the potential of YouTube as a complementary data source to monitor recreational fishing activities.