Artisanal Opportunities
Members of coastal communities â including members of small-scale fishing communities and pueblos originarios â have access to marine resources that allow them to thrive. This includes legal and regulated access to marine resources, knowledge-based use rules, clear boundaries, clear decision-making spaces, and reliable follow-through to ensure access, sustainability, and equity long-term.
This definition was defined by the Goalkeeper Group during Meeting #3. See the Meeting #3 tab below for more details.
Previous working definition (as of Meeting #2): The objective of the AO goal is to evaluate the conditions which allow members of small-scale fishing communities and pueblos originarios to thrive - including legal, regulated access to marine resources, knowledge-based use rules, clear boundaries, clear decision-making spaces, and reliable follow-through to ensure access, sustainability, and equity long-term.
Typically, this goal measures whether people who need to fish on a small, local scale have the opportunity to do so. In the GoC, this goal may be redefined to include artisanal opportunities more broadly.
Artisanal fishing, often also called small-scale fishing, provides a critical source of food, nutrition, poverty alleviation and livelihood opportunities for many people around the world, especially in developing nations. Small-scale fishing is an important component of cultural identity and heritage. Half the worldâs fish harvest is captured by artisanal fishing families.
GOAL FOCUS
- Focus: Typically measures access to artisanal (small-scale) fishing for local communities who rely on it for food, livelihood, and cultural identity.
- Not about: This goal does not measure amount of food or money / livelihoods generated by artisanal fisheries (these are covered under the Food Provisioning and Livelihoods and Economies goals). Recreational fishing or fishing for sport may be included here or in the Tourism and Recreation goal. This goal does not include commercial fisheries.
Key Questions
What is the ideal sustainable state of the artisanal opportunities goal?
Who should have access to marine resources?
How can peopleâs access to marine resources be limited?
- Are coastlines accessible to locals?
- Is dock and road infrastructure adequate?
- Is permitting for fish harvest readily available?
- Are there programs that foster artisanal fishing opportunities?
- Are artisanal fish stocks managed sustainably and are they are actually available for harvest?
- Do people have the economic ability to access these resources?
What percentage of fishing activities in the region are commercial versus artisanal?
Goalkeeper Meetings
Resources shared during our meetings can be accessed in the groupâs shared google drive here.
Meeting Access
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3255055973
Team Members
Names of team members listed in alphabetical order
- Octavio Aburto
- Michelle MarĂa Early CapistrĂĄn
- Maria Jose Espinosa
- Francisco Fernandez
- Ana Luisa Figueroa
- Mar Mancha-Cisneros
- Hem Nalini Morzaria-Luna
- VĂctor Ricardez
- Jorge Torre
- Amy Hudson Weaver
Meeting Schedule (Tuesday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PDT)
| Meeting | Date | Specific Date | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July/August | July 22, 2025 | Group introductions, OHI platform overview, goal calculations |
| 2 | August | August 19, 2025 | Model and reference point discussion |
| 3 | September | September 23, 2025 | Model, reference point, and data sources |
| 4 | October | October 21, 2025 | Preliminary results and pressure/resilience |
| 5 | November | November 18, 2025 | Final analysis plan review |
| 6 | Tentative |
Google Calendar
Add the shared calendar to your Google Calendar account using the provided link. It will appear under âOther calendarsâ and provide access to all scheduled meetings with updated Zoom links.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to working on this initiative with you!
Please stay tuned for more information and updates to the meeting schedule.
Meeting #1 introduced participants and their research backgrounds related to the Gulf of California, with Erica facilitating and providing an overview of the Ocean Health Index. The group discussed the indexâs methodology and application to the Gulf of California region, including its assessment of various ocean health goals and the teamâs need to define âartisanal opportunitiesâ beyond fishing. The conversation ended with participants agreeing to further explore concepts like resource access and sustainable livelihoods.
Resources shared during AO Meeting #1
- Meeting #1 Presentation Slides
- learn more about Ocean Health Index, the goals of this project in the Gulf of California, and objectives for the Goalkeeper Group.
- Meeting #1 Summary & General Notes
- catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your quick thoughts offline.
The main focus of Meeting #2 was to solidify the goal definition before selecting model indicators. In this context, our âmodelâ will be a series of indicators intended to capture the definition of the goal; it will probably not be very mathematically complicated. Erica outlined the goal workflow â a six-step process from step 1 (defining the goal) to step 6 (verifying model outputs). The team discussed various aspects of AO including social and economic importance of fishing access, access to other resources, and access to important spaces. Victor presented current work related to this topic, including measures of food sovereignty and community well-being. The group came closer to solidifying the definition of AO, which will include some measure of community resource access. Participants agreed to finalize the goalâs definition at the next meeting, where we will also try to select indicators. Please come to the next meeting prepared to settle the AO definition and suggest relevant indicators.
Resources shared during AO Meeting #2
- Meeting #2 Presentation Slides
- slides to guide our discussion. We discussed workflow, terminology, and the definition of âArtisanal Opportunitiesâ.
- Meeting #2 Summary & General Notes
- catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your thoughts offline.
- Powerpoint presentation shared by VĂctor
- please review VĂctorâs presentation on the importance of fishing (including artisanal fishing) in the region! It is incredibly helpful.
Homework for AO Meeting #3: Think about what indicators (variables) we should include in our model for AO. Come prepared to discuss indicators and possible data sources.
In Meeting #3, the team solidified the AO goal definition: Members of coastal communities â including members of small-scale fishing communities and pueblos originarios â have access to marine resources that allow them to thrive. This includes legal and regulated access to marine resources, knowledge-based use rules, clear boundaries, clear decision-making spaces, and reliable follow-through to ensure access, sustainability, and equity long-term.
Next the team explored various indicators for measuring AO, including artisanal fishing opportunities, Indigenous use opportunities, and coastal access, while considering cultural, legal, and socioeconomic factors that affect use. They discussed challenges in selecting appropriate indicators for measuring Indigenous use and artisanal fishing opportunities, with plans to further investigate data sources and develop a preliminary model for review at the next meeting.
Resources shared during AO Meeting #3
- Meeting #3 Presentation Slides
- slides to guide our discussion.
- Meeting #3 Summary & General Notes
- catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your thoughts offline.
- Group Activity - Identifying Indicators & Data Sources
- review the group activity shared during the meeting, wherein participants were asked to help identify potential indicators and data sources.
Plan for AO Meeting #4: We will continue our discussion of AO indicators and technical reference points, and Erica will propose an AO model that we can critique as a group. Please come prepared to share your perspective on the proposed model and appropriate indicators. In doing so, please also keep in mind that we will need to select an appropriate technical reference point for each indicator â a âbaselineâ. The closer or further away we are from the technical reference point according to some indicator X, the higher or lower the AO score will be. If an indicator does not have a technical reference point associated with it, it will be difficult if not impossible for us to parameterize it within the goal model.
In Meeting 4, the OHI Core team presented an initial dummy model for the group to discuss and critique. The group explored the proposed components of the Artisanal Opportunities goal model, including indicators for the sub-goals of Local Coastal Access (LCA) and Artisanal Fishing Opportunities (AFO). As part of this process, they discussed various aspects of Mexican artisanal fisheries, including transportation infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that promote or restrict fishing and coastal access.The OHI Core Team had proposed using subsidy dollars as one type of indicator for AFO and LCA. However âexcept for the BIENPESCA Program (que brinda apoyo a los pescadores a travĂ©s de lo que es esencialmente una forma de ingreso bĂĄsico universal) (which provides support to fishers through what is essentially a type of universal basic income)â fishing subsidies are no longer in use in Mexico as of 2018 and 2019. The meeting ended with a discussion about alternative indicators, particularly those that will capture small-scale fishery access and stock sustainability.
Resources shared during AO Meeting #4
- Meeting #4 Presentation Slides
- slides to guide our discussion.
- Meeting #4 Summary & General Notes
- catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your thoughts offline.
In Meeting 5, the group focused on the âbiologicalâ component of artisanal fishing opportunities and discussed the types of information we can gain from reviewing the CONAPESCA database and Mexicoâs Carta Nacional Pesquera. Erica presented a plan for evaluating the stock status of locally important artisanal stocks using either the CONAPESCA or CNP data. Mar presented information on how we might classify or assess the âsmall-scaleâ versus âlarge-scaleâ nature of fishing operations in the region. The group reviewed taxa that were identified as important in the 2023 Carta Nacional Pesquera. In the new year, Erica will present data on other aspects of the AO goal model, including the types of data layers that can be used to evaluate physical, legal, and regulatory access to artisanal fishing and coastal opportunities.
There is no âhomeworkâ for the next meeting. Enjoy the holidays and we look forward to seeing you again in the new year!
Resources shared during AO Meeting #5
- Meeting #5 Presentation Slides
- slides to guide our discussion.
- Meeting #5 Group Activity - Reviewing Important Artisanal Taxa from the C.N.P.
- taxa listed within the 2023 Carta Nacional Pesquera.
- Meeting #5 Summary & General Notes
- catch up on meetings you missed and review meeting summaries; keep track of resources and data bases shared during our meetings, and write down your thoughts offline.
Please keep an eye on your email for details regarding AO Meeting #6!
Expert Working Group (EWG) Meetings
These are some of the points discussed by the Expert Working Group.
Permitting
- In Mexico, artisanal fishers generally need permits unless fishing from the shore.
- Obtaining permits is bureaucratically complex, expensive, and limited â new permits are hard to get.
- A black market for permits exists due to the difficulty of legal access.
Coastal Access and Gentrification
Legal Access vs. Physical Reality
- The high tide line and 10 meters inland are federally protected maritime zones; hotels and condos do not legally own beachfront. Public access is guaranteed.
- However, gentrification, foreign property ownership, and tourism development restrict physical access to beaches and shorelines.
- In some regions crime and safety concerns restrict coastal access.
- Rising tourism prices (e.g., diving in Cabo Pulmo) exclude locals economically.
- Social movements in places like Sinaloa are actively resisting the loss of access.
- Overall, coastal access points are decreasing due to fencing and development â even as political efforts claim to support access rights.
Specific Fisheries Issues
- The mahi mahi fishery is essential for local livelihoods but is often illegal unless classified as sportfishing, creating a conflict.
- No increase in legal fishing effort is allowed. Permit numbers are capped.
- Represent legal and physical access restrictions explicitly
- Track and distinguish impacts of gentrification vs. tourism development, but consider their interactions
- Consider security and crime as key barriers
- Assess to economic affordability of fishing and coastal activities, not just physical access
- Evaluate the complexity of the permit system and prevalence of IUU fishing
- Explore ways to measure access in terms of:
- Kilometers of accessible coastline (not fenced or restricted)
- Socioeconomic demographics of those with/without access
- Highlight resilience and local social movements defending access rights
- Consider expanding this goal to include scientific research access which can be limited by permit bureaucracy and security concerns.