Stakeholders’ perception on consumption, fishing, and conservation of Red grouper, Epinephelus morio, off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

The fishery of Red grouper, Epinephelus morio, is one of the most commercially important in Yucatan, Mexico. However, catch trends declined from more than 14,000 t in 1970 to less than 6500 t in 2019. Consequently, the fishery authority (CONAPESCA) declared this fishery overexploited. Stakeholders may play a fundamental role regulating catch trends of Red grouper adopting responsible fishing and consumption. This work aimed to evaluate perceptions of stakeholders (fishers and fish consumers) on consumption, fishing status, and conservation of Red grouper in Yucatan using interviews and web-based questionnaires. Results revealed stakeholders regularly consume Red grouper, with fishing and consumption influenced by economic, social, and cultural factors. Stakeholders were aware of the fishery management in place, such as a seasonal, fishing ban and the minimum catch size, established by the federal government for Red grouper. Differences emerged regarding perception on fishery management between fishers and fish consumers. All stakeholders showed a willingness to follow regulations and responsible consumption during the ban, and proposed alternatives for protection through enhancing fishery regulatory measures, updating the ban and establishing spatial restrictions, such as zones for fishery protection (no-take zones). Understanding stakeholder perceptions is utmost because identifying this knowledge could provide a clearer scenario and more focused fishery management approaches for managers to promote the recovery of the Red grouper fishery. We recommend implementing a precautionary management scheme based on a combination of a management strategic evaluation and a renovated fishery strategy, along with other community-based approaches, for the Red grouper fishery in Yucatan