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The presence of invasive species can cause significant changes in native communities and ecosystem functions. Mexico is home to 6% of all known freshwater fish species on the planet, with a high rate of endemism. Due to heavy urbanization, the Mexican Central Plateau has become one of the most densely populated areas in the world, and its Tula River is considered one of the most polluted rivers in Mexico. Our objective was to investigate whether native fish species persist in such adverse conditions and to evaluate the seasonal and spatial distribution of both native and non-native species at three sites along the Tula River. We evaluated environmental characteristics and fish community structure. We found two native species, the black fin goodea (Goodea atripinnis) and the yellow shiner (Notropis calientis). However, their abundance was extremely low across all sites and seasons. In contrast, invasive poecilids dominated the communities, accounting for 99.4% of the total abundance. Our results indicate a clear relationship between river characteristics and fish community structure, highlighting the significance of river width, river velocity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The prevalence of invasive species underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts aimed to protect and restore native fish populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of fish assemblages in the Alvarado Lagoon System was updated with information collected between 1966 and 2008, divided into nine collection periods. A temporal analysis of the variation in species richness, species richness indices, rarity, and composition of ecological and trophic guilds was also carried out. A total of 113 species were recognized, 66 of which were present in most of the collection periods, forming a group with a constant presence in the lagoon system, in which marine and freshwater species predominated. This group showed the highest levels of similarity between collection periods; this was confirmed by the richness and rarity indices. Functionally, the composition of the ecological and trophic guilds did not show significant differences. The composition of the trophic guilds showed a prevalence of invertebrate consumers, macrocrustaceans, and small fish, supporting the fact that migratory marine species were the most numerous, with minor contributions from the other guilds. The contribution of marine or freshwater visitor species was not important in the characteristics of the assemblages. These results suggest that the environmental conditions of the Alvarado Lagoon System have remained without severe changes during the study period, thus allowing both the constancy of the fish community and that of the ecological and trophic guilds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many communities settled on the coastline of coastal lagoons, fishing is an important activity because of the income it generates. Objective: To analyze the community perspective of the fishing activity in the community of El Arenal, in Guerrero, Mexico. Methodology: The research is a mixed case study and its development consisted in seven stages, which were: description of the area where field immersion was carried out and identification of socioenvironmental problems, dialogues with the fishermen, information processing, data analysis through descriptive statistics, and deductive analysis of the discourse. Results: Overfishing is evident, and the breach of closed season and high levels of capture in live weight which was 1275 t in 2022. The 37 cooperatives do not have trade channels and brokers are in charge of trading the product. At the socioenvironmental level, the community of El Arenal does not have residue collection programs or for lagoon or mangrove care. Conclusions: The production model based on overfishing exhausts the natural resource because there is no planning for the fishing resource and it does not respect the closed season law, resulting in socioenvironmental problems for the community, overfishing, contamination of the lagoon, and social marginalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and its population has declined by over 80% in the last century. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the most threatened hawksbill populations globally. Western Mexico is the northern distribution limit for hawksbill sea turtles in the Eastern Pacific and recent research indicates that the Mexican Pacific portion of the population is a separate management unit because of the restricted movements of these turtles. Here we use the most complete database of sighting records in the north-west Pacific of Mexico to identify sites where hawksbill turtles are present. We also develop a conservation index to determine the conservation status of hawksbill turtle sites. Our results demonstrate the importance of this region for juveniles and the relevance of rocky reefs and mangrove estuaries as habitats for hawksbill turtles. We identified 52 sites with records of hawksbill turtles. Most of these sites (71%) are not protected; however, sites with high conservation value included islands and coastal sites along the Baja California peninsula that are established as marine protected areas. Reefs and mangrove estuaries relevant for hawksbill turtles are probably also significant fish nursery areas that are important for local fishing communities, creating opportunities for conservation strategies that combine science, local engagement and policy to benefit both local fishing communities and hawksbill sea turtle conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of trophic structure and feeding habits of the fish community can provide information on the complex biotic and abiotic interactions in lake ecosystems. Based on stomach content and δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analyses, we conducted a comprehensive study of the diet of the fish community and its trophic structure in subtropical Lake Zacapu in central Mexico. Overall, there was good agreement between the results based on the diet and the isotope analysis. Fish diets consisted mainly of aquatic macroinvertebrates, which were abundant in the lake. Most species were secondary consumers and trophic generalists across the four sites and two seasons. The food web structure did not differ significantly between the sites or seasons. Our results suggest a low trophic position of native species having a wide spatial trophic niche and niche width. Trophic diet overlap was greater between native species (especially between species from the same family) than between non-native species. Our study provides new information on the trophic interactions in a subtropical lake, rich in endemic species and an important resource for human communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the scientific literature on fisheries, the concept of community is often used broadly to indicate a place-based group whose members are dedicated to fisheries and have relatively homogeneous economic, social, and cultural interests. However, this categorical perspective to scope a "fishing community" is not necessarily an insightful approach to explore diverse social relationships with the marine environment, fishwork, and management in a practical context, and risks mismatches with science-based recommendations for management and policy. Drawing from ethnographic work, we highlight different historical and cultural dynamics from four case studies from fisheries in northwest Mexico. We identify key factors that help contextualize fishwork relationships, related to the importance of fishing practices on worldviews, daily routines, and income. These are used to derive three configurations (livelihood, way of life, and job) that describe and give analytical content to the notion of these fishing communities. Our use of a typology is not intended to generalize them or provide universal categories, but rather to convey to a broad range of fisheries scientists the importance of considering social contexts in the places in which we work and learn, and a set of guiding questions that may help in this regard. Contextualizing the importance of historical and cultural factors in scoping community units beyond occupational or geographical characteristics is essential for identifying and addressing (in)equitable processes and outcomes in fisheries sectors, research, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quaestio Iuris (QI) is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although the southeast region of the Gulf of California has a high fish diversity, due to the high biological productivity, the coastal area of Nayarit has few studies in this regard. The main objective of this work is to describe the variability of the structure of the ichthyofauna in the coastal zone of Nayarit during an annual cycle. Biological samples were collected at 10 stations during February, May, July, and December 2014. The temperature, depth, salinity, and organic material and carbonates in sediments were also recorded. The analysis of diversity includes three facets: ecological, taxonomic, and functional. A total of 82 species belonging to 56 genera, 31 families, 11 orders, and two classes were identified. The most abundant species included Selene peruviana, Stellifer wintersteenorum, Cathorops sp., and Larimus argenteus. Of the total of identified species, 62% were considered as rare according to their abundance and frequency. Although the environmental variables analyzed were variable, all diversity indices did not reveal an evident spatio-seasonal pattern. Likewise, most values of average taxonomic distinctness presented the expected values. However, some values showed a low taxonomic diversity. The indices of functional diversity showed a stable functional richness and redundancy in the attributes of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) around the world are increasingly facing pressures from a range of environmental, economic, and social sources. To sustain SSFs, it is imperative to understand how fishing communities adapt to these pressures. In particular, to manage economic risks fishers often catch many different species; diversifying harvest portfolios creates multiple income sources in case one species becomes less abundant, less valuable, or otherwise unavailable. Here, we apply fisheries connectivity network analysis to assess the portfolios and potential adaptive capacity of small-scale fishing communities in the Baja California Peninsula (BCP), Mexico. We found that network metrics like modularity and density varied by region and through time. The Pacific coast region of Baja California displayed increasingly modular fisheries connectivity networks, indicating fisheries landings became increasingly asynchronous with each other and the potential adaptive capacity increased. The remaining three regions of Baja California showed the opposite trend, where the temporal covariance between fisheries increased over time. Overall, this study shows that the potential adaptive capacity of fishing communities varies substantially throughout the BCP, and highlights how fisheries connectivity networks can offer a way to quantify and advance our understanding of adaptive capacity within small-scale fishing communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico has a great variety of aquatic ecosystems; however, most of them present significant contamination levels. Despite the efforts to monitor toxic and bioaccumulative persistent pollutants, they are still insufficient and outdated data from Mexican coasts, especially in polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), due to the number of aquatic bodies that have received little or no attention. In this regard, the Mexican Pacific's coastal zones and their aquatic ecosystems monitoring PCBs and PAHs in biota is critical because it allows us to estimate the potential risk to human health. This work aimed to determine the total concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (SPCBs) and total polyaromatic hydrocarbons (SPAHs) in the muscle of fish collected in two coastal lagoons of the central Mexican Pacific and to determine the noncarcinogenic risk ratio (HQ) based on the monthly per capita consumption of national fish and the consumption of fish associated with fishing communities in Mexico. It was found that the potential risk for fishing communities is considerably higher and correlates to the rate of fish consumption, highlighting their vulnerability to these contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English Abstract: How do societies value and interact with ecosystem services (ES) to favor their long-term conservation? Under the premise that sociocultural assessment of ES offers an expanded perspective for potential societal nature contributions, we present here the empirical results of a participative assessment of ES in the Laguna de Nuxco coastal wetland in 2019. The methodological design includes the combination of applied qualitative tools on site and quantitative methods for analysis of information. The results emphasize that the ES of the wetland support socioeconomic needs and important socio-cultural community traits, such as cultural heritage and identity as fishing communities. We identify emerging socio-ecological conflicts that promote the decrease of ES. We suggest conceptual and methodological adaptations for the participative assessment of ES on the local scale Spanish Abstract: ¿Cómo las sociedades valoran e interactúan con los servicios ecosistémicos (SE) que les rodean para favorecer su conservación a largo plazo? Bajo la premisa que la valoración sociocultural de SE ofrece una perspectiva ampliada para potenciales contribuciones sociedad-naturaleza, presentamos aquí los resultados empíricos de una valoración participativa de SE del humedal costero Laguna de Nuxco en 2019. El diseño metodológico incluyó la combinación de herramientas cualitativas aplicadas en sitio y cuantitativas para el análisis de información. Los resultados enfatizan que los SE del humedal sustentan necesidades socioeconómicas e importantes aspectos socioculturales como patrimonio cultural e identidad como comunidades pesqueras. Identificamos conflictos socioecológicos emergentes que promueven la disminución de SE. Sugerimos adecuaciones conceptuales y metodológicas para la valoración participativa de SE en la escala local. English Abstract: How do societies value and interact with ecosystem services (ES) to favor their long-term conservation? Under the premise that sociocultural assessment of ES offers an expanded perspective for potential societal nature contributions, we present here the empirical results of a participative assessment of ES in the Laguna de Nuxco coastal wetland in 2019. The methodological design includes the combination of applied qualitative tools on site and quantitative methods for analysis of information. The results emphasize that the ES of the wetland support socioeconomic needs and important socio-cultural community traits, such as cultural heritage and identity as fishing communities. We identify emerging socio-ecological conflicts that promote the decrease of ES. We suggest conceptual and methodological adaptations for the participative assessment of ES on the local scale Spanish Abstract: ¿Cómo las sociedades valoran e interactúan con los servicios ecosistémicos (SE) que les rodean para favorecer su conservación a largo plazo? Bajo la premisa que la valoración sociocultural de SE ofrece una perspectiva ampliada para potenciales contribuciones sociedad-naturaleza, presentamos aquí los resultados empíricos de una valoración participativa de SE del humedal costero Laguna de Nuxco en 2019. El diseño metodológico incluyó la combinación de herramientas cualitativas aplicadas en sitio y cuantitativas para el análisis de información. Los resultados enfatizan que los SE del humedal sustentan necesidades socioeconómicas e importantes aspectos socioculturales como patrimonio cultural e identidad como comunidades pesqueras. Identificamos conflictos socioecológicos emergentes que promueven la disminución de SE. Sugerimos adecuaciones conceptuales y metodológicas para la valoración participativa de SE en la escala local. French Abstract: Comment les sociétés valorisent-elles et interagissent-elles avec les services écosystémiques (SE) pour favoriser leur conservation à long terme? Le principe de l'évaluation socioculturelle des SE off re une perspective élargie des contributions potentielles société-nature, et est utilisé pour présenter les résultats empiriques d'une évaluation participative des SE réalisée en 2019 dans la zone humide côtière de Laguna de Nuxco, au Mexique. La méthodologie comprenait la combinaison d'outils qualitatifs sur site et d'outils quantitatifs pour l'analyse de l'information. Les résultats soulignent que les SE de la zone humide répondent aux besoins socio-économiques et à des aspects socioculturels tels que le patrimoine culturel et l'identité en tant que communautés de pêcheurs. Nous identifions les conflits socio-écologiques émergents qui favorisent la diminution des SE. Nous suggérons des adaptations conceptuelles et méthodologiques pour l'évaluation participative des SE à l'échelle locale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes the factors that influence the vulnerability to climate change of the population living in fishing communities in the municipality of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. For this, 34 indicators were used, distributed in the three components that constitute vulnerability to climate change, which are exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Subsequently, the factors that had the greatest influence on the vulnerability of the evaluated populations were identified and based on these results, some adaptation measures were proposed in order to reduce their vulnerability. As a result, it was found that 15 of the 34 indicators used were critical for the studied area, among them: fishing materials, technology used, experience, incomegenerating activities, elderly leadership, population without public health service, per capita income, cyclones, high tide, employment and activities from the primary sector. It is concluded that fishing communities are vulnerable to climate change, influenced by various factors; For this reason, adaptation proposals are proposed such as: the development of environmental education campaigns, the program for young people building the future, programs for entrepreneurship, the program for the well-being of older adults; which can decrease your vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying fish communities in extreme habitats is important to better understand the variation in their ranges under climatic scenarios or anthropogenic pressure. In particular, the mangroves in Baja California Sur occupy the northernmost distribution range under two extreme conditions (temperate waters and arid weather). In this context, the aim of the presently reported study was to analyze the functional characteristics of ichthyofauna in two localities, La Paz Bay (BP) and Almejas Bay (BA), which are also located in different ecoregions. For both bays, the composition and frequency values were compiled from monthly samples and the literature. Eleven functional traits were assessed from the morphology of every fish species. Functional indices (Richness, Evenness, Divergence, and Originality) were used to evaluate different aspects of the community structure. A total of 83 species were found at both sites, with 54 in BP and 50 in BA. In BP, six species were residents, eight were temporal visitors, and 36 were occasional visitors. In BA, six species were residents, 15 species were temporal visitors, and 33 were occasional visitors. At both sites, 12% of the species were permanent residents; BA had a higher percentage of temporal residents (27%), while BP had a higher percentage of occasional visitors (72%). The functional analysis detected communities with specialized traits, but in comparison to BP, BA had higher evenness in the community structure. Although greater structural complexity was expected in the community during the warm months, because of the increase in richness and attributes, BA had higher values during the cold months, which was probably because the area is a transition zone and the fish communities are adapted to colder climates. In comparison to BA, BP had higher originality values, and colder months presented higher values than warmer months. Although the mangrove sites had the same northern most latitudinal limits and both had extreme conditions compared to those in mangroves in tropical environments, the fish communities differed in their composition, frequency, and functionality with more extreme functional traits in colder weather than in warmer weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the sustainability movement that opposed the construction of the Las Cruces hydroelectric project in the San Pedro River watershed in Nayarit, Mexico. It focuses on the movement's theoretical framework and general orientation in order to show how the various and distinct frameworks that emerged throughout the evolution of the movement were selected, adjusted and creatively reworked within the movement. This allowed these frameworks to adapt to changing local social, cultural, and environmental conditions through a process that also enriched them and imbued them with new meanings through contact with the perspectives of coastal agricultural and fishing communities, as well as with indigenous Naayeri communities in the mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile white sharks distribute in coastal nursery areas, which are essential for population growth. Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno (BSV), Mexico, is a white shark nursery area in the north‐eastern Pacific. Despite existing regulations forbidding the capture of white sharks, incidental catches still occur in some areas.Artisanal fisheries constitute one of the most important economic activities in BSV, yet no formal description of either these fisheries or the incidental catch of juvenile white sharks exists due to the poor data reporting system, thus preventing a clear understanding of the implications of these catches for the white shark population of the north‐eastern Pacific.Artisanal fishing activities and their interactions with juvenile white sharks in BSV are described based on fishermen's knowledge. Artisanal fisheries in BSV are multi‐specific, targeting mostly bottom‐related species (e.g. white seabass and California halibut) that are also common prey for juvenile white sharks. These activities are the only source of income for the majority of fishermen in BSV and are conducted throughout the year, with gillnets being the main fishing gear.White sharks are incidentally caught in bottom gillnets mainly during the summer, although another peak in incidental catch was recorded during winter, possibly related to the presence of juvenile white sharks from California, USA. The most common size of juvenile white sharks incidentally caught was <2 m in the nearshore areas close to the mouth of the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon; larger juveniles (~3 m) were caught in areas near Cedros, Natividad, and San Benito Islands.The multi‐specific nature of BSV artisanal fisheries and their socio‐economic value, and the high post‐release survival of juvenile white sharks suggest that future regulatory actions should focus on the release of incidentally caught live juvenile white sharks and the involvement of the BSV fishing community to increase the effectiveness of management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, overexploitation of fishery stocks is a complex problem aggravated by climate change's effects. The green abalone in Mexico is an overexploited fishery, resulting in stakeholders committing to its recovery. Part of a comprehensive co-management strategy was to implement a fishing closure in some fishing areas. Now they are exploring reopening the fishery and gradually increasing fishing efforts. This research evaluates compatible management strategies with stock rebuilding under climate uncertainty. An age-structured bioeconomic model for the green abalone fishery was parameterized, which considered the impact of SST anomalies on population dynamics (i.e., recruitment, mortality, and growth). Three management strategies were evaluated under future climate scenarios (RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5, and a scenario without climate change). Results indicate that an effort level that aims to generate Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) based on historical fishery data may lead to overexploitation under warming scenarios. Instead, applying the minimum acceptable effort for the fishing community can support biomass recovery and is a strategy more resilient to climate change. This finding highlights the risk of overexploitation by assuming stock productivity stability under favorable climatic conditions when designing rebuilding plans. A stock rebuilding strategy will be more likely to succeed if it is cautious, recognizes uncertainties, and is flexible in considering stock productivity changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of neoliberalization on the opportunities and constraints that fishing cooperatives face in Yucatán, Mexico. Cooperatives have the potential to enhance small-scale fishing livelihoods and participate in sustainable resource governance. However, promoting cooperatives’ success entails developing a realistic understanding of the political and economic contexts in which they operate. Drawing on interview and census data, the analysis employs the theory of club goods to examine how the neoliberalization of Mexican fisheries policies in the 1980s and 1990s has affected cooperatives’ ability to provide members with collective benefits, and thus the success and failure of fishing cooperatives in the region. In general, neoliberalization has reduced support to fishing cooperatives and generated greater challenges for their success in Yucatán. The results of this study are likely relevant to many other small-scale fisheries in the South that have undergone similar processes of neoliberalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries learning exchanges (FLEs) bring together fisher communities to exchange knowledge and experiences, with the goal of building social capital and disseminating management techniques. In 2015 two groups of octopus fishers from Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico and Sarodrano, Madagascar travelled to Andavadoaka, southwest Madagascar to learn about the temporary fishing closures for octopus used in the region. Octopus fisheries in Madagascar and Mexico differ in several respects, particularly harvesting techniques. The FLE was qualitatively evaluated through participant observation and semi-structured key informant (KI) interviews. Thirty before-and-after interviews were carried out with 16 KIs including visitors, hosts and organisers. Informants suggested that holding the FLE at the same time as the closure openings allowed for learning benefits but carried an important opportunity cost for organisers and host participants, and that shortcomings of planning and translation capacity limited learning opportunities. Several KIs were concerned about the applicability of the Malagasy management model to the Mexican context concerned, and the FLE may have had unforeseen consequences since Malagasy fishers were excited to learn a new fishing method (trapping) from the visitors: if effective, trapping could negatively impact Malagasy octopus stocks. The exchange of knowledge in the FLE was primarily one-way, from host to visitor, and most organisers did not view themselves as participants. Recommendations to improve the effectiveness of future FLEs include: (i) improving facilitation and translation capacity to promote dialogue, (ii) focusing on key messages, (iii) selecting appropriate participants and (iv) recruiting a specialist to organise and lead exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of rural communities is a key element in understanding economic activities and conserving successful methods of resource management and social organisation. The conceptual and operational research axes were interdisciplinary environmental geography and integrative concept landscape. A participatory geographic information system (PGIS) was built to incorporate scientific and local knowledge. Regional landscape changes were analysed in fishing communities of the Mexican North Pacific, based on three historical maps. The main land- and seascape changes were: extensive stockbreeding disappeared; intensive agriculture increased; human settlements expanded; and fishing zones were created, divided and expanded seawards. Marine environment was the most changeable territory, reflecting the dominance of fishing activities. The PGIS proved to be a useful tool for identifying and understanding the changes in fishery management and the resulting dynamics of marine landscape zoning in the various communities, and in future projects would be equally applicable to coastal management and territorial organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing global fisheries overexploitation requires better understanding of how small-scale fishing communities in developing countries limit access to fishing grounds. We analyze the performance of a system based on individual licenses and a common property-rights regime in their ability to generate incentives for self-governance and conservation of fishery resources. Using a qualitative before-after-control-impact approach, we compare two neighbouring fishing communities in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Both were initially governed by the same permit system, are situated in the same ecosystem, use similar harvesting technology, and have overharvested similar species. One community changed to a common property-right regime, enabling the emergence of access controls and avoiding overexploitation of benthic resources, while the other community, still relies on the permit system. We discuss the roles played by power, institutions, socio-historic, and biophysical factors to develop access controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fishers’ knowledge collected through a rapid appraisal process that involved semi-structured interviews in 17 fishing communities in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico, was used to understand the spatial and temporal scales at which small-scale fisheries operate. This study identifies 43 main target species and group of species and the fishing gear preference(s) for the harvest of each. The reported spatial and temporal patterns associated with the target species were used to evaluate use of existing marine protected areas (MPAs), the distance traveled to reach fishing areas, and the timing and locations of fishing activities. MPAs were found to be important fishing areas for multiple communities with 79% of the total area within MPAs being actively utilized. Five communities stand out in their capacity to travel up to 200 km to reach their fishing grounds. The results also show a clear a seasonal differentiation in species and areas targeted as well as fishing gear and methods used. A systematic incorporation of information related to spatial and temporal scales in fishing activities provides additional opportunities for the sustainable management of fisheries, both for the Mexican government and local interests. The incorporation of local knowledge helped building a source of information that can provide insights for regulatory agencies in the development of spatially explicit management measures in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigated the interpretation and level of support of government regulations in Bahía de Kino, Sonora, one of the most important fishing communities in terms of diving extraction of benthic resources in the Northern Gulf of California. Research was conducted from April to August 2007, focusing on the small-scale fisheries sector of commercial divers. Information on fishers’ awareness of current policies, fishers’ attitudes concerning different aspects of fisheries regulation, and fishers'' suggestions on how their fisheries should be managed, was gathered through structured interviews (including open and closed-ended questions), informal talks and participant observation. Results provide further evidence supporting the need for formally recognizing the fishers as key stakeholders in local fisheries, and for working cooperatively towards the design of management strategies and regulations that provide better stimulus for resource stewardship and discourage overfishing. Very importantly, this study suggests that there is strong support from resource users for implementing regulatory measures for local fisheries. Results could be used as a preliminary baseline to initiate the discussion among fishery stakeholders towards the development of species-specific management plans for the area, as required by the recently enacted fisheries act in Mexico, the “Ley General de Pesca y Acuacultura Sustentables”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marine protected areas are designed to protect natural resources within their limits. The National Park Veracruz Reef System was declared a protected area in 1992, however in the ensuing 17 years only limited measures have been taken to reduce harvesting within the area. This study was conducted as a base line to evaluate the sustainability of the park area in the present open access regime. Indicators were selected based upon sustainability attributes and criteria previously defined, patterned after a method used to evaluate sustainability in agricultural systems. To evaluate the selected indicators questionnaires were applied to the inhabitants of three fishing communities surrounding the park. Results show a precarious sustainability index for the reef system of 45.87%. We observed differences in the sustainability indices for the three communities when a classification and ordination analysis were applied. Also, applying this analysis to the indices, we found differences between social and economic criteria. The application of this kind of evaluation for the management of the area is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses an approach to utilizing the local knowledge of fishers as part of the formulation process to create sound management guidelines. Participatory interviews and mapping were conducted, with emphasis on the spatial distribution of fishing activities from 17 communities in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. The study exhibits the incorporation and corroboration of key local knowledge in the data-collection process with fishing communities and activities.

Abstract: This study investigates the local social and fisheries impact of formal fisheries policies in Bahía de Kino, one of the most important fishing villages in terms of extraction of benthic resources in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico. The paper focuses on cross-scale institutional interactions, describing how existing formal policies are functioning on the ground, how these policies interact with local arrangements, and how this interaction may affect the incentives of different actors towards sustainable fisheries. Besides providing lessons on how the performance of a local fishery could be improved, this paper addresses the question of whether the formal institutional structure of Mexican fishing regulations is effective in promoting responsible behavior by small-scale fishery stakeholders. It is argued that the design of the most widely used management tool to regulate access to marine resources throughout Mexico -the permit (licensing) system- provides the wrong incentives for sustainable-use. Granting secure rights to resources to those actively involved in the fishery is a necessary step for promoting sustainable fishing practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents research notes on the history of the Mexican town of Puerto Peñasco. Details are given highlighting the rapid growth of the village from a relatively isolated fishing community in the 1940s to a popular tourist venue in the early 21st century. Discussion is given describing the geography of the town with analysis of its features and their social implications. Research methodology notes on repeat photography as a technique to chart historical geography are also provided, with particular examples of its use on Puerto Peñasco.

This case study examines the link between marine resource management, and the universal contraceptive use among married couples in the lobster-fishing village of Punta Allen, located in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Several reasons appear to contribute to small desired and actual family sizes. Some of these include a medical clinic staff effective in promoting family planning, cooperative and private resource ownership, changing cultural attitudes, geographical limitations to population and economic growth, and a desire to conserve the environment for aesthetic and economic motives. Lastly, families desired to preserve a sustained balance between benefiting from lobster harvests today and safeguarding this marine resource for their children in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seri people, a self-governed community of small-scale fishermen in the Gulf of California, Mexico, have ownership rights to fishing grounds where they harvest highly valuable commercial species of bivalves. Outsiders are eager to gain access, and the community has devised a set of rules to allow them in. Because Seri government officials keep all the economic benefits generated from granting this access for themselves, community members create alternative entry mechanisms to divert those benefits to themselves. Under Hardin's model of the tragedy of the commons, this situation would eventually lead to the overexploitation of the fishery. The Seri people, however, are able to simultaneously maintain access and use controls for the continuing sustainability of their .fishing grounds. Using insights from common-pool resources theory, I discuss how Seri community characteristics help mediate the conflict between collective action dilemmas and access and use controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anthropologica is the property of CASCA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

San Benito Archipelago is internationally important for the conservation of 13 species of seabirds. San Benito Oeste, the largest and only inhabited island, was declared mammal-free in 2000 after a series of eradications conducted in collaboration between the fishing cooperative Pescadores Nacionales de Abulón, the Mexican conservation organization, Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C., and the Mexican Government. The archipelago remained mammal-free until 2006, when an unusual invader, the Cedros island cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus cedrosensis), was accidentally introduced to San Benito Oeste island. The same collaboration scheme involving locals, conservationists, and authorities was once again put in motion, delivering tangible results. Research informed the mouse eradication strategy, the local community supported the operation, and the mouse eradication was successfully implemented in December 2013. To date (8 years later), no mammals have been recorded in the archipelago, which suggests community-led island biosecurity is working. In addition, this collaborative restoration work contributed to the creation of the Baja California Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, protecting 21 islands, including the San Benito Archipelago, and 97 islets in the Mexican Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study on the behaviour of the collectively-managed spiny lobster fishery of Punta Allen, Mexico, using the context structure-performance paradigm of the neoinstitutional school of economics. Information on the fishing community called Vigia Chico; Main features of the lobster fishery in the area; Explanation on the temporary or permanent transfer of individual rights to fishing grounds.

The article presents a travel guide to Majahual, Xcalak, and the Chinchorro Reef in Mexico. Xcalak is a depopulated, weather-beaten fishing village with a few comfortable places to stay and a couple of restaurants. The Chinchorro Reef Underwater National Park lies some 19 miles offshore. Locals claim it is the last virgin reef system in the Caribbean. It also offers information on hotels and restaurants where tourists can visit.

The transition of artisanal fishing communities to alternative livelihoods is a pressing issue around the world –due to either overexploitation of the fishing stock or climate change related impacts or biodiversity loss associated with by-catch. Learning the factors that increase the probability of a successful transition is useful for policy design purposes. In this context, this paper studies the factors associated with the probability that a fisher in transition to an alternative livelihood remains in such livelihood. We analyze data gathered in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico, where a government program (PACE-Vaquita) was launched in 2008 to incentivize the transition to alternative livelihoods to avoid by-catch of the Vaquita Marina –an endangered species. We model the probability of a successful transition (measured as remaining in the alternative livelihood by 2012) as depending on fisher's characteristics, and alternative livelihood features. We find that a successful transition was more likely to happen if the fisher i) was a woman; ii) lived in the community of San Felipe; and iii) the alternative livelihood was initially funded not only using the money from PACE-Vaquita but also through a loan from another (not necessarily institutional, formal) source. These results point to the relevance of providing financial services that target women in the context of artisanal fisheries. • Usually, a proportion of artisanal fishers transitioning to alternative livelihoods do not complete such transition. • We explore factors associated with a successful transition in two fishing communities targeted by PACE-Vaquita. • Women were more likely to remain in their alternative livelihood. • Fishers who acquired non-PACE-Vaquita loans more likely remained in their alternative livelihood. • Both results suggest the relevance of providing financial services that target women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]