Characterization of masculinity expressions and their influence on the participation of women in Mexican small-scale fisheries

The objective of this study was to document and characterize the different expressions of masculinity and their influence on the participation of women in three small-scale fisheries. The fisheries operate in three priority regions for marine conservation: the northern Mexican Pacific, Gulf of California, and Mexican Caribbean. A qualitative investigation and virtual interviews with participants were conducted due to the lockdown measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Information from 16 interviews (nine women and seven men) were integrated to this study. An analysis of the thematic content of the information was conducted. The results showed a relationship between being a man, being a fisher, and being a member of a fishing cooperative while maintaining a family. Four characterizations of masculinity emerged. In reluctant traditional masculinity, older men believed that their point of view was what mattered, and they did not accept the participation of women in fisheries. Men who fell under the category of flexible traditional masculinity accepted the participation of women in the working areas of the fisheries. Men associated with transitional masculinity were those who incorporated notions of gender equality and who were open to the participation of women in fisheries. Men connected with apprentice masculinity were mostly young people who depended on their supervisors to guide them. Apprentice masculinity may develop into traditional masculinity or move towards gender equality. The discussion incorporates an analysis of the benefits of changing masculinities regarding health, avoiding risks, and accepting the participation of women in fisheries.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40152-022-00276-z.

An interdisciplinary evaluation of community-based TURF-reserves

Coastal marine ecosystems provide livelihoods for small-scale fishers and coastal communities around the world. Small-scale fisheries face great challenges since they are difficult to monitor, enforce, and manage, which may lead to overexploitation. Combining territorial use rights for fisheries (TURF) with no-take marine reserves to create TURF-reserves can improve the performance of small-scale fisheries by buffering fisheries from environmental variability and management errors, while ensuring that fishers reap the benefits of conservation investments. Since 2012, 18 old and new community-based Mexican TURF-reserves gained legal recognition thanks to a regulation passed in 2012; their effectiveness has not been formally evaluated. We combine causal inference techniques and the Social-Ecological Systems framework to provide a holistic evaluation of community-based TURF-reserves in three coastal communities in Mexico. We find that, overall, reserves have not yet achieved their stated goals of increasing the density of lobster and other benthic invertebrates, nor increasing lobster catches. A lack of clear ecological and socioeconomic effects likely results from a combination of factors. First, some of these reserves might be too young for the effects to show (reserves were 6-10 years old). Second, the reserves are not large enough to protect mobile species, like lobster. Third, variable and extreme oceanographic conditions have impacted harvested populations. Fourth, local fisheries are already well managed, and while reserves may protect populations within its boundaries, it is unlikely that reserves might have a detectable effect in catches. However, even small reserves are expected to provide benefits for sedentary invertebrates over longer time frames, with continued protection. These reserves may provide a foundation for establishing additional, larger marine reserves needed to effectively conserve mobile species.

The Power of Three: Coral Reefs, Seagrasses and Mangroves Protect Coastal Regions and Increase Their Resilience

Natural habitats have the ability to protect coastal communities against the impacts of waves and storms, yet it is unclear how different habitats complement each other to reduce those impacts. Here, we investigate the individual and combined coastal protection services supplied by live corals on reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests during both non-storm and storm conditions, and under present and future sea-level conditions. Using idealized profiles of fringing and barrier reefs, we quantify the services supplied by these habitats using various metrics of inundation and erosion. We find that, together, live corals, seagrasses, and mangroves supply more protection services than any individual habitat or any combination of two habitats. Specifically, we find that, while mangroves are the most effective at protecting the coast under non-storm and storm conditions, live corals and seagrasses also moderate the impact of waves and storms, thereby further reducing the vulnerability of coastal regions. Also, in addition to structural differences, the amount of service supplied by habitats in our analysis is highly dependent on the geomorphic setting, habitat location and forcing conditions: live corals in the fringing reef profile supply more protection services than seagrasses; seagrasses in the barrier reef profile supply more protection services than live corals; and seagrasses, in our simulations, can even compensate for the long-term degradation of the barrier reef. Results of this study demonstrate the importance of taking integrated and place-based approaches when quantifying and managing for the coastal protection services supplied by ecosystems.