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Email the author (Login required) Economic diversification and vulnerability in fishing communities of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
Submited: 2023-01-17 17:02:51 | Published: 2023-10-31 21:22:21
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol51-issue5-fulltext-3044
Abstract
Where timely information and governance schemes were incorporated, fishery resources were more responsibly used. However, the situation in fisheries remains critical, and new challenges include climate change, pandemic effects, and social conflicts. Planning instruments for productive activities encourage the relevant role of diversification as a mechanism to generate balances between sectors to generate sustainable economic alternatives that contribute to reducing vulnerability in fishing communities and the biological sustainability of resource populations in use. This research analyzes local knowledge and socioeconomic indicators to determine the levels of income dependence on fishing activities and alternative options, such as whale, and bird watching, and sport fishing, according to their potential resources. The selected methods included a primary study through surveys of a representative sample of fishers to understand aspects of their well-being and diversification indices in two selected locations of the Baja California Peninsula. Significant differences in income levels and aspects of social cohesion were found. The locations studied also showed a high concentration rate of fishing activity measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschmann index for economic diversity. This low diversification increases vulnerability and occurs mainly in locations with lower incomes and lacking infrastructure, which shows the need to promote joint work between policymakers, communities, and academies so that they include other productive, feasible, and sustainable activities such as tourist packages, food processing, aquaculture, among others that improve income, as well as fishing that provides them with food security.
