# Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) Can Guide Decision-Making in Inland Fisheries Management
## 4 Discussion
### Fisher's Perspectives  
Most local professional fishers in the Polyphytos Reservoir expressed criticism of fisheries management, effectively highlighting the main issues affecting inland fisheries throughout Europe (see [27]). Specifically, their concerns revolved around the effectiveness of existing regulations and the urgent need for improved enforcement mechanisms, the lack of sufficient monitoring, limited conservation attention, isolation in traditional management practices, intersectoral conflicts, and conflicts with environmental concerns, alongside financial challenges. They were also dissatisfied due to a perceived lack of decision-making power, while distrust of scientific advice was documented. In contrast, the acknowledgment of fish stock overexploitation, with 67.6% of fishers attributing the decline in catches to overfishing, signifies their recognition of the need to address the mismanagement of fish stocks.  
The above underscores the importance of researching and uncovering fishers' perceptions of management and sustainability, as it becomes crucial to assess their willingness to support conservation or management actions [15]. In light of this, effective fisheries control enforcement should be rooted in social participation, with the potential for small-scale commercial fishers to serve as custodians of traditional fisheries [29].  
The fishers have requested the implementation of yearly stockings. In addition, they voiced concerns about fish stocks being impacted by various issues including fluctuations in water levels, especially during fish egg deposition, and changes in water temperature and discharge quantities due to the construction of the Ilarionas Dam and climate change. Unfortunately, these concerns have not yet been acknowledged by the scientific community, primarily because monitoring programs are absent. Anthropogenic perturbations, such as pollution, eutrophication, hydropower development, water abstractions, and even overexploitation of stocks have been widely identified as contributors to declining yields [16; 27]. This underscores the need to continue stocking efforts to sustain the fishery's profit. However, for a fishery to remain sustainable, it is crucial to identify the underlying causes of the general decline in fish stocks and implement appropriate actions to address them.  
Considering the complete absence of educational programs at a national level aimed at fishers regarding sustainable fisheries management, the observations outlined above demonstrate that fishers possess the ability to identify and articulate deficiencies in managerial practices. Their capacity to highlight key issues affecting inland fisheries throughout Europe, despite the lack of formal education on the subject, underscores the value of their long-term occupation and intimate connection with the natural environment and resources. This suggests that fishers can contribute meaningfully to discussions on fisheries management, offering insights and proposals grounded in their practical experiences and deep familiarity with the ecosystems they operate within [16; 30]. The absence of formal education does not diminish their role as key stakeholders and potential contributors to the sustainable management of fisheries.