Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure
Small-scale fishing (SSF) stands as a cornerstone of economic activity along Guatemala's coastlines. Fisheries products, including those derived from elasmobranchs, serve as vital sources of income for fishers and dealers. Despite their significance, there remains a paucity of economically char...
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124001670 |
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| author | María de los Angeles Rosales-Melgar Omar Santana-Morales Marian Rodríguez-Fuentes José Alberto Zepeda-Domínguez Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez Elisa Areano-Barillas |
| author_facet | María de los Angeles Rosales-Melgar Omar Santana-Morales Marian Rodríguez-Fuentes José Alberto Zepeda-Domínguez Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez Elisa Areano-Barillas |
| author_sort | María de los Angeles Rosales-Melgar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small-scale fishing (SSF) stands as a cornerstone of economic activity along Guatemala's coastlines. Fisheries products, including those derived from elasmobranchs, serve as vital sources of income for fishers and dealers. Despite their significance, there remains a paucity of economically characterizing information regarding this fishery. This study provides an overview of the socioeconomic facets and value chain of Guatemala's small-scale elasmobranch fishery, and the country's role in the international market for elasmobranchs listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Data were collected through surveys involving fishing actors from 10 coastal communities in the Caribbean and Pacific, and 32 fishing distribution centers and traditional markets across eight departments in Guatemala. CITES statistics were analyzed to assess the country's role in the international market. Fishers cited fishing as their primary source of employment, with an average tenure of 24 years in the activity. The study found that 25% of fishing actors economically depend on elasmobranchs, while 65% indicated that their income relies on finfish, shrimp, and lobster. The value chain was identified to encompass various actors and processes, spanning from capture and distribution (intermediaries) to marketing and retail sites. The average price increase of elasmobranchs along the value chain was USD 1.66/kg, with the highest increase observed for dried salted sharks (USD 2.65/kg) and the lowest for fresh rays (USD 1.12/kg). Guatemala accounts for 2.76% of CITES species exports from Central American countries, exporting skins (55 tons), fins (47.5 tons), and live specimens (1.9 tons) of Carcharhinus falciformis and Alopias pelagicus between 2018 and 2022, while also being the primary meat importer (65.1 tons), representing 99.78% of total imports in Central America. This suggests that sharks caught in Guatemala do not adequately meet the national demand for shark meat and that special attention is needed to avoid a potential increase in fishing pressure on elasmobranchs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-04903423f90f4034b76a83b2060f045e |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-04903423f90f4034b76a83b2060f045e2024-11-21T06:05:36ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112024-01-0110100970Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structureMaría de los Angeles Rosales-Melgar0Omar Santana-Morales1Marian Rodríguez-Fuentes2José Alberto Zepeda-Domínguez3Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez4Elisa Areano-Barillas5Fundación Mundo Azul, Boulevard Rafael Landívar 10-05 Paseo Cayalá, Zona 16, Edificio D1, Oficina 202, Guatemala; Corresponding author.Fundación Mundo Azul, Boulevard Rafael Landívar 10-05 Paseo Cayalá, Zona 16, Edificio D1, Oficina 202, Guatemala; Ecología Cielo, Mar y Tierra AC, Ensenada, Baja California, MexicoInstituto Politécnico Nacional – Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Av. IPN S/N Col. Playa Palo Santa Rita, 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, MexicoUniversidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Carretera Transpeninsular Ensenada, Tijuana No. 3917, Colonia Playitas, C.P. 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, MexicoFundación Mundo Azul, Boulevard Rafael Landívar 10-05 Paseo Cayalá, Zona 16, Edificio D1, Oficina 202, Guatemala; El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Rancho Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial, CP. 24500, Lerma, Campeche, Mexico; Corresponding author. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Rancho Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial, CP. 24500, Lerma, Campeche, Mexico.Fundación Mundo Azul, Boulevard Rafael Landívar 10-05 Paseo Cayalá, Zona 16, Edificio D1, Oficina 202, GuatemalaSmall-scale fishing (SSF) stands as a cornerstone of economic activity along Guatemala's coastlines. Fisheries products, including those derived from elasmobranchs, serve as vital sources of income for fishers and dealers. Despite their significance, there remains a paucity of economically characterizing information regarding this fishery. This study provides an overview of the socioeconomic facets and value chain of Guatemala's small-scale elasmobranch fishery, and the country's role in the international market for elasmobranchs listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Data were collected through surveys involving fishing actors from 10 coastal communities in the Caribbean and Pacific, and 32 fishing distribution centers and traditional markets across eight departments in Guatemala. CITES statistics were analyzed to assess the country's role in the international market. Fishers cited fishing as their primary source of employment, with an average tenure of 24 years in the activity. The study found that 25% of fishing actors economically depend on elasmobranchs, while 65% indicated that their income relies on finfish, shrimp, and lobster. The value chain was identified to encompass various actors and processes, spanning from capture and distribution (intermediaries) to marketing and retail sites. The average price increase of elasmobranchs along the value chain was USD 1.66/kg, with the highest increase observed for dried salted sharks (USD 2.65/kg) and the lowest for fresh rays (USD 1.12/kg). Guatemala accounts for 2.76% of CITES species exports from Central American countries, exporting skins (55 tons), fins (47.5 tons), and live specimens (1.9 tons) of Carcharhinus falciformis and Alopias pelagicus between 2018 and 2022, while also being the primary meat importer (65.1 tons), representing 99.78% of total imports in Central America. This suggests that sharks caught in Guatemala do not adequately meet the national demand for shark meat and that special attention is needed to avoid a potential increase in fishing pressure on elasmobranchs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124001670Socioeconomic activitiesSharks and raysSmall-scale fisheriesFishing managementCentral America |
| spellingShingle | María de los Angeles Rosales-Melgar Omar Santana-Morales Marian Rodríguez-Fuentes José Alberto Zepeda-Domínguez Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez Elisa Areano-Barillas Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure Social Sciences and Humanities Open Socioeconomic activities Sharks and rays Small-scale fisheries Fishing management Central America |
| title | Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| title_full | Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| title_fullStr | Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| title_short | Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| title_sort | elasmobranchs small scale fishery in guatemala socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure |
| topic | Socioeconomic activities Sharks and rays Small-scale fisheries Fishing management Central America |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291124001670 |
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