Fishing operations and adaptive strategies of small-scale fishers: insights for fisheries management in data-poor situations

Small-scale fisheries' management is complex given its multigear, multispecies nature; despite this, fishing effort has usually been controlled by nominal units, ignoring changes in effective fishing effort. This study aimed to understand the adaptive strategies of small-scale fishers in San Felipe, Yucatan, Mexico through an analysis of their fishing operations. Minor changes in trip numbers among three seasons were observed, but increases in fishing time, depth and travel costs from one season to another at the operational level were found. It was also evident that high value species at the beginning of the season were gradually replaced by low-value finfish as the season progresses. The results provide insights for new adaptive management strategies according to fisher's adaptive responses. For instance, using boats or fishing trips as fishing effort units in Yucatan may not be the most appropriated unit for management, as fishers adapt their strategies at different levels.