Abstract

An important human population on coastal zones of Campeche State in the Gulf of México practice fishery as main activity. Artisanal fisheries on coral reefs have depleted in the last years with the consequent reduction of fishermen incomes and the quality of life of their families. What should we measure to have a good description of the ecological condition of fish communities on fishing sites and about the socio-economical wellbeing of the people in these sites? The objective of the study was to analyze the existing frameworks, methods and indicators to measure sustainability on coastal fishing regions and to propose a quantitative indicator obtained by the relationship of ecological metrics of reef fish community and socioeconomic variables at fishermen communities. Among the fish community metrics employed consistently and efficiently we found mean weight, mean biomass, size structure, trophic structure and diversity. Among the socioeconomical variables applicable to sustainability evaluation we found per capita income, investment and some other included in the general indices like human wellbeing for the least developed countries. Non parametric multiple regression, redundancy analysis and anova were used to relate variable data matrices of two reef sites of the costal zone. Results evidenced a significant relationship (P<0.05) between mean biomass and income variables of fishermen, among other relationships. Significant relationships were employed to describe the present condition of artisanal fisheries on Campeche State coral reefs and to model sustainability for coastal zones.

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