Reconstructing the spatial and temporal dynamics of Ecuador's artisanal small-scale fisheries from fishers' perspective.

ABSTRACT: Despite their crucial role in livelihoods and commercial activities in coastal communities, numerous artisanal fisheries are often underreported and underestimated because of the absence of proper monitoring programs since they started. This lack of data hinders the assessment of the spatial dynamics and status of the resources these fisheries have targeted over time. This is especially concerning, considering the severe overexploitation faced by many coastal resources. Using tools to assess local ecological knowledge, the present study summarizes the perceptions of artisanal fishers regarding spatial and temporal changes in their fishing grounds across nearshore and offshore coastal environments in Ecuador, South America. From April to September 2023, 1,366 fishers from 22 fishing village

SUBMITTER: Penaherrera-Palma CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12725673 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature