Abstract

Artisanal coral reef fisheries are representative of many small-scale fisheries: tightly coupled social-ecological systems (SES) with dynamic two-way interactions between environmental and human well-being. Systems thinking is a transdisciplinary field of inquiry which can tell the story of the interrelations and change in coral reef social-ecological fishery systems, hereafter referred to as coral reef SES. Advancing understanding of how conservation and climate change affect coral reef fisheries is crucial for policy entry points, as the causal relationships behind these processes can help explain important heterogeneities in both the impacts of conservation and the effectiveness of policy. However, the application of systems thinking to coral reef SES is limited. In this work, we use systems thinking to advance understanding, prediction, and management of coral reef SES. We draw on theories and approaches from evidence synthesis and systems mapping to answer critical questions for coral reef conservation.