Local ecological knowledge and attitude toward the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) among the fishermen's community at Beni Haroun Dam, Algeria

Incorporating the perspectives of local fishing communities and their ecological knowledge (LEK) can enhance policymaking and improve wildlife and economic management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the local ecological knowledge of fishermen at Beni Haroun Dam regarding the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) a species legally protected under Algerian law, and to reveal their conservation attitudes toward this species. We qualitatively evaluated and analyzed the respondents' local ecological knowledge, while their attitudes were quantitatively assessed by correlation with factors from the sociological and fishing profiles. Fishermen successfully identified the ecological properties of cormorants, including their habitats, prey types, and foraging behavior. They demonstrated a generally favorable attitude towards the conservation of Great Cormorants. Fishermen's reports were compared against published data on a topic-by-topic basis, showing a moderate to relatively high level of ecological knowledge overall, alongside some notable overestimations (e.g., in daily food intake and residency duration). No significant connections were identified between fishermen's attitudes and any socio-demographic or fishing-related variables. We therefore reiterate the significance of the current study as foundational knowledge about P. carbo in Beni Haroun Dam and the incorporation of Local Ecological Knowledge into conservation strategies and future ecological studies for Mediterranean inland freshwater habitats.

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