Abstract
Functionally connected marine conservation areas are widely recognized as a cornerstone for successful biodiversity conservation outcomes and small-scale fisheries livelihoods. Incorporating fish species movement into fisheries community-based managed areas can catalyse greater conservation and socioeconomic benefits. However, significant gaps exist in aligning small-scale fisheries management with fish connectivity or movement patterns, which can optimize benefits along coral reef systems and associated coastal small-scale fisheries. Here we describe a translational framework that integrates evidence-based connectivity conservation into small-scale fisheries in community-based managed area settings while considering cumulative benefits over time and space to ensure long-term socioeconomic and environmental benefits across such systems.
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Acknowledgements
L.F. was supported by a Macquarie University Research Fellowship (MQRF0001183-2022). V.H. was supported through a co-funded fellowship with Macquarie University and The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association. Ooid Scientific helped with the graphical design of Fig. 1.
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L.F., J.M., A.T., B.S., V.H. and A.S. conceptualized the paper. L.F. and J.M. wrote and revised the first draft and created conceptual frameworks. L.F. designed and edited the figures.
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Fontoura, L., Maina, J., Stow, A. et al. Mainstreaming connectivity science in community-based fisheries management. Nat Sustain 7, 1566–1573 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01443-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01443-2
