Using local ecological knowledge of Fishers to infer the impact of climate variability in Galápagos’ small-scale fisheries

Fishers’ Local Ecological Knowledge to Support Mangrove Research in the Galapagos

“…In such regard, we obtained new insights about mangrove nursery role and other mechanisms associated to habitat dependence, complex species interactions occurring in mangroves in response to trophic interactions, and spatial and biotic-abiotic relationship across mangroves of the archipelago -aspects that have been understudied in the Galapagos. The advantage of relying on a qualitative LEK rather than quantitative SMK approach to investigate these research questions, can derive from the fact that fishing communities are more likely to comprehend complex relationships among species and the environment and to track long-term changes in the ecosystem (Cavole et al, 2020). However, if qualitative data from fishing communities and other marine users shall be used in the future to answer hypothesis-driven questions about the marine ecosystem, the use of probabilistic qualitative methods should be considered (e.g., surveys), as well as other ethnographic methodologies in which the relationship between the researcher and the fishers is much more profound (as opposed to the ephemeral relationship in interviews and workshops).…”

“…We used a non-probabilistic sampling design, in which a chain referral system with snowball sampling was applied (Goodman, 1961). This method allowed us to find potential new respondents and has been proved effective in small islands, like the Galapagos (e.g., Burbano et al, 2014;Cavole et al, 2020). Further details about methods for interviews, including questionnaire questions (Table S1), are presented in Supplementary Material Section 1.1.2.…”

“…The integration of local knowledge in GMR decision-making, as well, as the promotion of mutual respect and collective learning among different knowledge owners, constitute some of the strategies that have been applied to improve governance in the marine reserve (Jones, 2013). However, despite the implementation of participatory monitoring surveys along with the fishing sector (Castrejoń and Charles, 2013;Jones, 2013), there are few examples in which fishers' LEK was integrated with SMK in marine sciences (see Burbano et al, 2014;Rodrıǵuez-Jacome et al, 2019;Cavole et al, 2020). Concerning mangrove ecosystems, although SMK has contributed to highlight the ecological and economic importance of the habitat for several highly commercial species (e.g., Galapagos sailfin grouper -Mycteroperca olfax, snappers, mullets; Tanner et al, 2019;Fierro-Arcos et al, 2021;Plumlee et al, 2022), there are, to date, multiple information gaps that can be potentially tackled by addressing a fishers' LEK approach.…”

Indicators of vulnerability to climate change of fishing communities: a global review, 2012 - 2022

“…Por otro lado, diversos estudios realizados en el sector pesca, reportan que el principal efecto del cambio climático consiste en la alteración de distribución de los recursos hidrobiológicos, reflejado en la disminución de capturas y por ende una reducción de ingresos, que repercute sobre la calidad de vida de las poblaciones que dependen de ellos (Allison et al, 2009;Cavole et al, 2020;Cheung et al, 2009;Gianelli et al, 2021;Kainge et al, 2020;Mendenhall et al, 2020;Silas et al, 2020). Por lo tanto, muchos pescadores se han visto obligados a buscar nuevos caladeros alejados de sus comunidades (Macusi, et al, 2020), otros a modificar los métodos de pesca utilizados o a migrar a zonas con disponibilidad de recursos (Kalikoski et al, 2018).…”

The Missing Layers: Integrating Sociocultural Values Into Marine Spatial Planning

“…is a source of different points of view, solutions and knowledge base and can greatly contribute to improve creativity and problem-solving skills in otherwise homogenous groups (van Knippenberg et al, 2004). Additionally, the inclusion of different types of knowledge, such as those held by traditional and indigenous societies (Armitage et al, 2011), can not only point to overlooked problems and solutions, but it can also fill important scientific gaps (e.g., from species occurrence to changes in food webs) (Lopes et al, 2019;Cavole et al, 2020).…”