L. in 2006 and 2008 [28]. To explore the seasonality of the co-management system selleck chemical daily records for landings in 233 fishing zones within 6 plans were analyzed for the 1994–1995 to 2010–2011 fishing seasons. The Luarca plan was excluded due to gaps in the datasets. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test for differences in landings

among months. Information on the yearly management of the fishing zones was obtained through the Boletín Oficial del Principado de Asturias. The type of ban applied to each zone for the 2000–2001 to 2010–2011 fishing campaigns was recorded. These were divided in 3 categories: total, partial or no ban. Linear regression analysis was used to test the effect of bans on next year׳s landings. Landings were standardized [29] by zone to make comparisons among zones. All linear regression assumptions were tested. Gooseneck barnacles sales were analyzed to detect a potential effect of the co-management system. Data on all sales carried out in the 17 major fish markets within Asturian territory from January 1st 2001 to December 31st 2011 were examined. The effect of a seasonal Selleckchem Sirolimus component or the known market cycles (high, mid and low) on the mean daily price/kg was determined by one-way ANOVAs. The high

market period for gooseneck barnacles occurs during the month of December, mid sales period includes October, November and January–April and the low season goes from May to September. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with gooseneck barnacle fishers, government officials and key members of the cofradías (n=12) as a way to understand the general perception of the co-management system and its implementation. With the information obtained from the interviews, focus groups were performed in the 7 co-management plans from October to December 2012. Focus group sizes were around 5 persons and aimed to assess fishers׳ participation in the Tangeritin management system, adaptability of the system and the way fishers׳

knowledge and scientific information were incorporated. In each focus group there was at least one representative of the resource users and one of the government officials. Before the early 1990s gooseneck barnacles in Asturias were only harvested sporadically by a few fishers. In 1994, the Asturian government through the Dirección General de Pesca Marítima del Principado de Asturias (DGPM) saw the opportunity to exploit this previously under-marketed resource in the area. They approached a number of cofradías with a proposal for a pilot gooseneck barnacle exploitation program. The program consisted in collaborative management of the resource between DGPM and the cofradía. The pilot program was carried out in the Ortiguera cofradía that same year ( Fig. 1).