Spatial management of small-scale fisheries on the west coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

To understand small-scale fisheries in Mexico, the spatial and temporal distribution of the landed catchof several species was analyzed, including abalone, clams, snails, octopus, squids, lobsters, shrimps,blue crabs, sharks, rays and finfish along the 349 km of the Gulf of Ulloa coast. Data reported by fishersfrom 1998 to 2009 on catch volume and value per group of species and per fishing locality, togetherwith the number of landing events, were used to define fishing zones and the relative importance ofeach fishery. Finfish turned out the primary fishery in the region, but the other fisheries showedrelevant spatial changes that should be considered when establishing management goals and fishingregulations according to resource availability, fleet efficiency, processing capacity, commercialization offishing products and profit distribution.