Social-ecological networks and connectivity within and between two communities of small-scale fishers in Mexico

Abstract

Aligning the ecological and social dimensions of the connections present between users that harvest a shared natural resource is a necessary step toward sustainable management. However, contrasting estimates of connectivity across disciplines is a challenging task and few empirical studies have focused on population dynamics within fish species with a complex life history. We used a collaborative approach merging citizen science, population genetics, oceanographic modeling, and interviews to collect empirical connectivity data of individual fish, fishing sites, and fishers. We integrated the data within a multilevel social-ecological network framework describing the interactions between two communities of small-scale fishers (Bahia Kino and Puerto Libertad, Sonora, Mexico) targeting leopard grouper (Mycteroperca rosacea). We identified two types of social-ecological links, including the use of specific fishing sites by individual fishers and the harvest of individual fish by individual fishers. Despite their fishing zones not overlapping, the ecological links between two communities located ~150 km apart were consistent and reciprocal where fishing grounds from each community acted as a source of fish to the other during the larval or juvenile/adult stages, respectively. As a result, fishers from the two communities frequently captured fish that were second-degree relatives. In contrast, the probability of social ties among fishers changed significantly depending on the type of connection and was considerably low for leadership and kinship although some communication was present. Our study highlighted how local actions (e.g., recovery from marine reserves or overfishing) are likely to impact the neighboring community as much as locally. The geographic scale and strength of key ecological process supporting fish stocks through the fish life cycle seem to be larger than those of social connections among fishers. Fishers and managers could benefit from a broader regional perspective that strengthens connections between communities about shared goals and activities. We examine some insights learned on the constraints of connectivity given different attributes of each ecological and social component and methodological challenges identified. We also discuss ways to improve collaborative management between the two communities.

Integral Management Zones: A novel strategy for marine bivalve production in the Gulf of California, Mexico

“…The selection of an inappropriate site for the IMZ (with heavy vessel traffic), insufficient surveillance and the lack of hookah‐diving skills of the cooperative members, which meant that they had to rely on external help to carry out most of the tasks, were the main limitations. In addition, the fishers from Puerto Libertad, a smaller and less accessible town than Bahía de Kino , still have diverse fishery resources in good condition for their livelihoods (Espinoza‐Tenorio et al, 2022; Fernández‐Rivera Melo et al, 2018a; Munguía‐Vega et al, 2022) and therefore have less urgency than Bahía de Kino 's fishers to engage in alternative economic activities.…”

“…Connectivity patterns prompt managers, researchers and fishing communities to conceive their studies, decisions and use practices as interconnected. The ecological dependency due to larval dispersal among distinct fishing communities in the case of other fishery resources has been documented in the GC (e.g., Munguía‐Vega et al, 2022; Soria et al, 2014). In the GC, there are successful cases of fishing communities that have enhanced their skills through formal training and have the technical capabilities to lead innovative initiatives and management efforts (e.g., networks of fishing refuge zones) (Espinosa‐Romero et al, 2017; Suárez‐Castillo et al, 2016).…”

“…In the case of Cooperative 1, primary enabling conditions included the salience of the target species to the cooperative and its scarcity in the natural environment due to overfishing, together with the lack of alternative employment opportunities in town. Most fishery resources are scarce in the Bahía de Kino area, forcing fishers to travel long distances to find resources (Fernández‐Rivera Melo et al, 2018a; Munguía‐Vega et al, 2022). The small‐scale fishing sector is also socially vulnerable in this region compared to other economic activities.…”