Abstract

Despite the significant contribution to food security, jobs, and foreign exchange, small-scale fisheries (SSF) receive less attention than industrial fisheries. SSF capture multiple species, use a diversity of gears, and land their catch all along the coasts. Under these conditions, the collection of information, monitoring, and management are difficult. This study illustrates how to characterize such complexity, using a case of small-scale fisheries of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, and discusses the importance of such characterization for management. This is in order to generate a baseline that can support management decisions in the region. Analyzed data came from monthly official records of landings that cover 23 fishing communities of the area from 2006 to 2014. The frameworks used for the analysis define three subsystems: natural, human, and management. Therefore compiled data included landings of target species, catch value, fishing gears, the number of fishers, among other. These variables were contrasted between states and communities. Results show that the small-scale fishing fleet captures 18 target species groups, around 150 species, using 12 fishing gears. A total 25,917 fishers hold 3,758 permits, associated with 14,060 boats, however, the permits hold by fishers or organizations are unbalanced among stakeholders and communities. For instance, Yucatan and Campeche hold a higher number of permits, but more species are targeted in Campeche. Significant differences were observed among communities regarding target groups, total catch, and catch value. The results of this study show that the current management plans based on a single species approach do not account for the complexity of these fisheries and hence its viability is limited.

PDF Preview