Fisheries Mapping in Mexico to Improve Sustainability

Between 50 and 70 percent of fishery production in Mexico occurs in northwestern Mexico, in the provinces of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit. Across this large area, fisheries are all managed the same way—like large-scale, industrial fisheries.

But fishery scientists are hoping a new map of fishing regions will change the way fisheries are managed, ultimately leading to improved conservation and sustainability of the fishing industry. In a study published in the Journal of Marine Science, researchers from Scripps Institute of Oceanography identified five unique fishery environments in northwest Mexico based on the species that are fished, geography, and ecosystem characteristics. Each of the five defined regions was also unique in that they all contained small-scale fisheries, and none of the large, industrial landings. The researchers hope that their new regions will lead to ecosystem-specific management styles, ultimately benefiting the livelihoods of the many small-scale fishermen across the region.