Do participatory governance models in fisheries lead to ecosystem-based fisheries management?

Abstract

International fisheries agreements, including the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995), have prompted co-management and Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) as pathways to achieving sustainable fishing practices. These agreements suggest that participatory governance models are more likely to implement comprehensive management strategies that address the multiple interactions occurring within a fishery's social-ecological system. In Mexico, fishing committees have been established to tackle the most pressing issues in fisheries through a participatory model. However, their effectiveness in adopting EBFM remains uncertain. This analysis assesses the implementation of an EBFM approach in two distinct regions with different fisheries but highly participatory fishing committees: the Yucatan Grouper Fishery Advisory Committee and the Technical Committee for the Study of Small Pelagic Fishery. The concepts of 'good governance' and the implementation of 'ecosystem-based fishery management' were examined through semi-structured interviews with committee members and a review of internal documents. While both committees received moderate to high ratings of good governance due to their strong inclusion and representativeness, their influence on fisheries management is limited, and the implementation of an EBFM approach is partial. This limitation is attributed to institutional design flaws, weak legal frameworks, a lack of administrative capabilities, and a lack of clearly defined EBFM-oriented objectives, indicators, and goals.