Small-scale Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Services: Adaptation and Transformation to Secure Human Wellbeing (#SeAdapta)

The #SeAdapta project investigates the adaptive capacity of small-scale fisheries in Latin America, specifically focusing on Yellow Clam, Spiny Lobster, and Sea Cucumber. In Uruguay, the project emphasizes the value of combining conventional science with local ecological knowledge. In Argentina, research on yellow and wedge clams shows that shell properties and population abundance are negatively impacted by El Niño and low-salinity waters. In the Galapagos Islands, the project found that while the seafood system is vulnerable to global shocks like COVID-19, small-scale fisheries are critical for food security, leading to recommendations for systemic transformation through local consumption, entrepreneurial support, technology against illegal fishing, and circular economy practices.

• Research in Uruguay indicates that the management of small-scale fisheries would be improved by integrating traditional scientific methods with local ecological knowledge.
• In Argentina, studies on the yellow clam (Mesodesma mactroides) revealed a negative correlation between the Oceanic Niño Index and the shell mass condition index, suggesting that populations in Santa Teresita may be more vulnerable to climate change as El Niño events increase in frequency and intensity.
• Analysis of the wedge clam (Donax hanleyanus) in Argentina shows that its abundance is positively correlated with primary production and negatively correlated with maximum salinity, indicating that low-salinity waters from continental discharges—modulated by wind patterns and climate oscillations—negatively impact the species.
• In the Galapagos Islands, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the high vulnerability of the local economy and seafood system to global shocks, yet highlighted the essential role of small-scale fisheries in maintaining food security and the economy during crises.
• To increase resilience in the Galapagos seafood system against future pandemics and climate change, four transformation pathways are proposed: promoting local pelagic fish consumption, improving fishers' market access through entrepreneurial capacity, using technology to combat illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing, and implementing a circular economy to reduce waste.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (n.d.). Small-scale Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Services: Adaptation and Transformation to Secure Human Wellbeing (#SeAdapta). https://iai.int/pdf/en/SGP-HW 017_merged.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Small-scale Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Services: Adaptation and Transformation to Secure Human Wellbeing (#SeAdapta). n.d. https://iai.int/pdf/en/SGP-HW 017_merged.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Small-scale Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Services: Adaptation and Transformation to Secure Human Wellbeing (#SeAdapta) |url=https://iai.int/pdf/en/SGP-HW 017_merged.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearchndsmallscale, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Small-scale Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Services: Adaptation and Transformation to Secure Human Wellbeing (\#SeAdapta)}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {https://iai.int/pdf/en/SGP-HW 017_merged.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }