An ecosystem approach to small-scale co-managed fisheries: the yellow clam fishery in Uruguay

This research paper evaluates the implementation and performance of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries combined with co-management (EAF/Co-M) in the yellow clam small-scale fishery in Uruguay between 2007 and 2015.

• The implementation of EAF/Co-M in the yellow clam fishery from 2007 to 2015 resulted in positive biological and economic indicators, including increased abundance and biomass of harvestable stock, stabilization of individual sizes above the minimum landing size limit, and a constant exploitation rate remaining below 25%. Additionally, unit prices and revenues per unit of effort increased following implementation, while catch per unit effort (CPUE) values remained relatively constant.
• The EAF/Co-M framework led to social improvements in the fishery, specifically the consolidation of a stable group of fishers—evidenced by an increasing number of licenses allocated twice consecutively—and a significant increase in the direct involvement of women in fishing activities.
• The study concludes that combining the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries with co-management as a formal governance mode improves the social-ecological conditions of small-scale fisheries, enhancing social empowerment, power sharing, and market diversification.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). An ecosystem approach to small-scale co-managed fisheries: the yellow clam fishery in Uruguay. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/an-ecosystem-approach-to-small-scale-co-managed-fisheries-the-yellow-clam-fishery-in-uruguay/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. An ecosystem approach to small-scale co-managed fisheries: the yellow clam fishery in Uruguay. 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/an-ecosystem-approach-to-small-scale-co-managed-fisheries-the-yellow-clam-fishery-in-uruguay/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=An ecosystem approach to small-scale co-managed fisheries: the yellow clam fishery in Uruguay |date=15 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/an-ecosystem-approach-to-small-scale-co-managed-fisheries-the-yellow-clam-fishery-in-uruguay/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025ecosystem, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{An ecosystem approach to small-scale co-managed fisheries: the yellow clam fishery in Uruguay}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/an-ecosystem-approach-to-small-scale-co-managed-fisheries-the-yellow-clam-fishery-in-uruguay/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }