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Local and regional trade networks in small-scale fisheries are important for food security and livelihoods across the world. Such networks consist of both economic flows and social relationships, which connect different production regions to different types of fish demand. The structure of such trade networks, and the actions that take place within them (e.g., people fishing, buying, selling), can influence the capacity of small-scale fisheries to provide sufficient fish in a changing social and ecological context. In this study, we aim to understand the importance of networks between different types of traders that access spatially-distinct fish stocks for the availability and variability of fish provision. We deployed a mixed-methods approach, combining agent-based modelling, network analysis and qualitative data from a small-scale fishery in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The empirical data allowed us to investigate the trade processes that occur within trade networks; and the generation of distinct, empirically-informed network structures. Formalized in an agent-based model, these network structures enable analysis of how different trade networks affect the dynamics of fish provision and the exploitation level of fish stocks. Model results reveal how trade strategies based on social relationships and species diversification can lead to spillover effects between fish species and fishing regions. We found that the proportion of different trader types and their spatial connectivity have the potential to increase fish provision. However, they can also increase overexploitation depending on the specific connectivity patterns and trader types. Moreover, increasing connectivity generally leads to positive outcomes for some individual traders, but this does not necessarily imply better outcomes at the system level. Overall, our model provides an empirically-grounded, stylized representation of a fisheries trading system, and reveals important trade-offs that should be considered when evaluating the potential effect of future changes in regional trade networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A social-ecological network model (panels a and b) allowed to map the diversification strategies of small-scale fisheries actors consisting on switching their target species within one region or between landing regions (i.e., spatial diversification, requiring the spatial displacement or mobility of fisheries actors). We analyzed changes in diversification strategies from 2008 to 2016 in Baja California Sur, Mexico, which included a moderate La Niña event characterized by colder sea surface temperatures (2011) and a strong El Niño characterized by warmer sea surface temperatures (2015). We found that even if species diversification within one region is more prevalent than spatial diversification, inter-anual changes in spatial diversification are, correlated with oceanographic changes. However, the diversification patterns differ between landing regions (e.g., panels c and d) and between species targeted. We investigate these differences in light of the characteristics of species groups and existing literature, and provide hypotheses regarding the environmental and institutional factors that may influence the observed diversification patterns. Overall, our novel social-ecological network model proved useful to understand multi-species diversification patterns across time and space. We shed light into the dynamics and structures of small-scale fisheries' diversification patterns that are increasingly important in the current era of global change. • We use social-ecological networks to analyze diversification strategies over time. • We analyze spatial and species diversification in tandem. • Changes in spatial diversification are correlated with oceanographic changes. • Institutional factors may constrain or enable spatial diversification. • Management needs to account for spatial diversification in a changing climate. Small-scale fisheries' actors increasingly face new challenges, including climate driven shifts in marine resource distribution and productivity. Diversification of target species and fishing locations is a key mechanism to adapt to such changes and maintain fisheries livelihoods. Here we explore environmental and institutional factors mediating how patterns of spatial diversification (i.e., utilization of alternative fishing grounds) and target species diversification change over time. Using small-scale fisheries in Baja California Sur (Mexico) as a case study, we adopt a social-ecological network approach to conduct a spatially explicit analysis of fisheries landings data (2008–2016). This approach quantifies relative patterns of diversification, and when combined with a qualitative analysis of existing literature, enables us to illuminate institutional and environmental factors that may influence diversification strategies. Our results indicate that interannual changes in spatial diversification are correlated with regional oceanographic change, while illustrating the heterogeneity and dynamism of diversification strategies. Rather than acting in isolation, we hypothesize that environmental drivers likely operate in combination with existing fisheries regulations and local socioeconomic context to mediate spatial diversification. We argue that small-scale fisheries policies need to better account such linkages as we move towards an increasingly variable environment. Overall, our results highlight spatial diversification as a dynamic process and constitute an important step towards understanding and managing the complex mechanisms through which environmental changes affect small-scale fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) contribute substantially to global food security, sustainable marine ecosystems and poverty alleviation. Yet many SSF face problems of overexploitation and poverty calling for novel governance approaches that enhance human-wellbeing, equity and ecological sustainability. External policies and interventions to support such governance transformations, however, need to take their often self-governed nature into account. Common practices based on informal arrangements between different fishery actors can make existing, mal-adapted structures very persistent and hence difficult to overcome. Here we combine multi-method empirical research on SSF in Mexico with agent-based modeling to analyze if and under which conditions interventions can shift ongoing self-organizing dynamics into directions that support the new governance form. We are particularly interested in the effectiveness of two different types of interventions, financial and social, and their performance under variable social and ecological conditions as commonly found in SSF. Our analysis reveals that a combination of financial and social support during extended periods of time is necessary to ensure persistence of new governance forms in face of competition with established forms, as well as environmental and social uncertainty. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the endogenous self-organizing dynamics created by the interplay between social (e.g. the dynamics of trust) and ecological (e.g. resource dynamics) processes in order to devise policies and measures to initiate a shift towards more sustainable pathways. • Combination of financial and social support needed for transforming governance. • Interventions need to be applied over extended periods of time. • Additional actions are needed to build resilience in uncertain world. • Combining empirical research with agent-based modelling allowed studying dynamic complexity. • Reinforcing feedbacks are particularly critical for overcoming lock-ins and accelerating adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]