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Despite regulations aimed at curbing shark finning and bycatch, shark fishing mortality rates continue to escalate, partly due to unintended consequences of these policies which, along with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and ghost fishing, undermine conservation efforts. The ineffectiveness of current regulations to curb shark mortality highlights the pressing need for reevaluating shark conservation strategies, especially in ecologically sensitive areas. In this context, the debate on enforcing longlining bans in multiple-use marine protected areas, including shark sanctuaries, is intensifying. Some argue for total bans to minimize incidental shark mortalities, while others highlight the socioeconomic importance of longlining, advocating for alternative conservation measures. In 2000, longline fishing was banned in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) as a precautionary measure to prevent illegal fishing of sharks and bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected species. After 24 years of enforcement, official and anecdotal evidence indicate that illegal small-scale tuna longlining and ghost fishing are increasing threats across the reserve. This paper provides an overview of the longline fishing controversy within the GMR, incorporating scientific evidence, legal and socioeconomic considerations, and perceptions from the Galapagos small-scale fishing community. We offer novel insights and recommendations for the development of the Galapagos small-scale tuna fishery within an ecosystem approach to fisheries. This approach aims to reconcile conservation goals with the needs of local communities, while also proposing innovative solutions to address the longstanding debate surrounding longlining in the GMR.

Longlining represents a cost-effective fishing modality for catching tuna, but its use is contentious due to the unintended catch of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species. In 2000, longlining was banned in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador. Since then, local small-scale fishers have contested this decision. In contrast, longlining ban supporters argue that this regulation is fundamental for conserving ETP species, despite scientific and anecdotal evidence indicating that its effective implementation is unfeasible. We conducted an online survey to investigate Galapagos residents’ perceptions concerning longlining, its ecological impact, and diverse potential management strategies. Our findings revealed misconceptions about longline fishing, which highlight the need for improved public awareness and education regarding longline fishing practices, their impact on ETP species, and possible solutions to this complex social-ecological problem. Our study also highlights Galapagos residents’ openness to find a solution that addresses both fishers’ livelihoods and the conservation of ETP species. Galapagos residents are receptive to implementing evidence-based solutions, including testing new bycatch mitigation methods and more selective fishing gears, enhancing monitoring and enforcement, and creating market-based incentives that encourage progressive and adaptive improvements in fishing practices. To solve the Galapagos longline controversy, we recommend a holistic, adaptive, and evidence-based approach that encourages stakeholders to engage in open dialogue, fosters cross-sector collaboration, and promotes research, communication, and educational initiatives. By raising awareness through comprehensive, rigorous, and unbiased scientific information, this ecosystem-based management approach aims to ensure the sustainable development of the small-scale tuna fishery, while conserving the Galapagos’ invaluable and unique marine biodiversity.

Marine ecosystems are in decline. New transformational changes in governance are urgently required to cope with overfishing, pollution, global changes, and other drivers of degradation. Here we explore social, political, and ecological aspects of a transformation in governance of Chile's coastal marine resources, from 1980 to today. Critical elements in the initial preparatory phase of the transformation were (i) recognition of the depletion of resource stocks, (ii) scientific knowledge on the ecology and resilience of targeted species and their role in ecosystem dynamics, and (iii) demonstration-scale experimental trials, building on smaller-scale scientific experiments, which identified new management pathways. The trials improved cooperation among scientists and fishers, integrating knowledge and establishing trust. Political turbulence and resource stock collapse provided a window of opportunity that triggered the transformation, supported by new enabling legislation. Essential elements to navigate this transformation were the ability to network knowledge from the local level to influence the decision-making processes at the national level, and a preexisting social network of fishers that provided political leverage through a national confederation of artisanal fishing collectives. The resultant governance scheme includes a revolutionary national system of marine tenure that allocates user rights and responsibilities to fisher collectives. Although fine tuning is necessary to build resilience of this new regime, this transformation has improved the sustainability of the interconnected social—ecological system. Our analysis of how this transformation unfolded provides insights into how the Chilean system could be further developed and identifies generalized pathways for improved governance of marine resources around the world.

Defeo, O., 2026. Obituaries and rebirths in small-scale fisheries: Lessons from sandy beach ecosystems. Journal of Coastal Research, 42(1), 138–141. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Small-scale fisheries in sandy beach ecosystems face increasing ecological and social pressures that threaten both biodiversity and human well-being. Using the metaphor of obituaries, this editorial reflects on the recurrent collapses of sandy beach invertebrate fisheries and the systemic governance failures behind them. These obituaries are not merely records of loss but diagnostic tools that reveal how short-term exploitation, weak institutions, and climate change converge to erode resilience. Yet, amid decline, there are stories of renewal. Evidence from South America, Australia, and beyond demonstrates that collective action, participatory governance, and adaptive management can catalyze positive tipping points, allowing ecosystems and societies to recover. Viewing these fisheries as sentinels of coastal change highlights their planetary relevance: they signal both the fragility and the potential for transformation. Turning obituaries into rebirths requires inclusive governance grounded in ecological and social realities, transforming endings into beginnings.

Beach erosion is a complex process influenced by multiple factors operating at different spatial scales. Local (e.g., waves, tides, grain size, beach width and coastal development) and regional (e.g., sea level rise and mean sea level pressure) factors both shape erosion processes. A comprehensive understanding of how these drivers collectively impact sandy beach erosion is needed. To address this on a global-scale we assembled a database with in-situ information on key physical variables from 315 sandy beaches covering a wide morphodynamic range and complemented by satellite data on regional variables. Our results revealed the combined influence of local and regional factors on beach erosion rates. Primary drivers were regional anomalies in mean sea level pressure and variations in mean sea level, and local factors such as tide range, beach slope and width, and Dean’s parameter. By analyzing morphodynamic characteristics, we identified five distinct clusters of sandy beaches ranging from wave-dominated microtidal reflective beaches to tide-modified ultradissipative beaches. This energy dissipation gradient emerged as a critical factor, with erosion rates increasing with beach width and dissipativeness. Our study also highlighted the tangible impact of climate change on beach erosion patterns. Hotspots were identified, where intensification of regional anomalies in mean sea level pressure, increasing onshore winds and warming rates, and rising sea levels synergistically accelerated erosion rates. However, local variables were found to either amplify the effects of regional factors on erosion or enhance a beach’s resistance, mitigating erosive trends initiated by regional drivers. Our analysis showed that more than one-fifth of the analyzed beaches are experiencing intense, extreme, or severe erosion rates, and highlighted the significant role of human activities in explaining erosion trends, particularly in microtidal reflective and intermediate beaches. This underscores the long-term threat of coastal squeeze faced by sandy beaches worldwide and emphasizes the need to consider both local and regional drivers in order to understand erosion processes. Integrating localized measurements with broader satellite observations is required for a comprehensive understanding of the main drivers behind coastal evolution, which in turn is needed to manage and preserve these fragile ecosystems that are at risk.

We present an interdisciplinary review of the observed and projected variations in atmospheric and oceanic circulation within the southwestern South Atlantic focused on basin-scale processes driven by climate change, and their potential impact on the regional fisheries. The observed patterns of atmospheric circulation anomalies are consistent with anthropogenic climate change. There is strong scientific evidence suggesting that the Brazil Current is intensifying and shifting southwards during the past decades in response to changes in near-surface wind patterns, leading to intense ocean warming along the path of the Brazil Current, the South Brazil Bight, and in the Río de la Plata. These changes are presumably responsible for the poleward shift of commercially important pelagic species in the region and the long-term shift from cold-water to warm-water species in industrial fisheries of Uruguay. Scientific and traditional knowledge shows that climate change is also affecting small-scale fisheries. Long-term records suggest that mass mortalities decimated harvested clam populations along coastal ecosystems of the region, leading to prolonged shellfishery closures. More frequent and intense harmful algal blooms together with unfavorable environmental conditions driven by climate change stressors affect coastal shellfisheries, impact economic revenues, and damage the livelihood of local communities. We identify future modelling needs to reduce uncertainty in the expected effects of climate change on marine fisheries. However, the paucity of fisheries data prevents a more effective assessment of the impact of climate change on fisheries and hampers the ability of governments and communities to adapt to these changes.

Castrejón and Defeo et al. (2024) analyzed the challenges of illegal longlining and ghost fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) and proposed strategies to develop a local small-scale tuna fishery within an ecosystem-based fisheries management framework, as a sustainable alternative to overexploited coastal fisheries. Their approach aims to harmonize conservation goals with the socioeconomic needs of local communities, while presenting innovative solutions to address the ongoing debate on small-scale longlining in the GMR.In this context, Hearn and Bucaram (2025) advocated for strict conservation measures in the GMR, including maintaining the longline ban and transitioning fishers into non-extractive livelihoods. While their focus on conservation is commendable, their analysis overlooks the socioeconomic realities of Galapagos artisanal fishers, the unintended consequences of rigid policies, and the potential of adaptive fisheries co-management to improve marine conservation. This response aims to clarify misconceptions, provide a more comprehensive perspective on longlining, and highlight the importance of pragmatic, science-based conservation strategies that balance ecological and socioeconomic priorities for the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries in the GMR, ensuring marine biodiversity conservation while improving the livelihoods of fishing communities.The Galapagos tuna fishery: an unfulfilled promise Hearn and Bucaram (2025) argue that developing an offshore tuna fishery would reactivate latent fishing capacity, but this oversimplifies the issue. Our proposal focuses on redistributing, rather than expanding, fishing effort through strict regulations, monitoring, research, and adaptive comanagement. The redistribution began in the mid-2000s when fishers began to transition from illegal shark fishing to longline tuna fishing, a more stable and less risky alternative (Castrejón et al., 2021). This transition may have contributed to the stabilization of blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) populations, which declined by approximately 25% from the 1980s to the 2010s but later showed signs of recovery (Peñaherrera-Palma et al., 2018). In contrast, hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) experienced a 50% decline with no clear signs of recovery (Peñaherrera-Palma et al., 2018), likely due to continued fishing pressure outside the GMR from national and foreign fleets (Hearn et al., 2021).Contrary to Hearn and Bucaram's assertion, the offshore tuna fishery has operated for decades. When the GMR was established in 1998, fishers supported its creation with the expectation of gaining exclusive access to seamounts within Galapagos waters, where tunas are abundant. The first GMR management plan prioritized developing a sustainable tuna fishery as a strategy to reinforce conservation commitments and reduce fishing pressure on coastal zone (DPNG, 1999) -the archipelago's most biodiverse and ecologically valuable areas, where ecosystem-based adaptation measures should be a priority (Escobar-Camacho et al., 2021). However, despite the 2003 fishing regulations supported this objective, restrictive policies and a persistent lack of political will have hindered progress, fueling frustration and a growing sense of betrayal among fishers.The Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) exemplifies a well-managed transition from nearshore reef fishing to offshore tuna fisheries, redirecting fishing effort to benefit both conservation and livelihoods (Dacks et al., 2020;Filous et al., 2020). This transition was driven by policies that reduced reef fishing pressure while supporting fishers through investments in Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), alongside regulations requiring all tuna caught within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to be landed and processed domestically (MNRET, 2019;Filous et al., 2020). However, challenges such as limited local fishing capacity, high operational costs, and competition with foreign fleets, have hindered the full realization of these benefits (Dacks et al., 2020). Palau promotes selective methods like pole-and-line, handline, and trolling as alternatives to FAD-based purse seine or longline operations. However, small-scale longlining is allowed in the Domestic Fishing Zone of the PNMS (20% of the EEZ) under strict regulations, prohibiting shark targeting, wire leaders, and FAD use, and requiring onboard observers or electronic monitoring (MNRET, 2019). Compliance is enforced through Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and patrols. Thus, longlining in Palau is tightly controlled to balance domestic food security and economic benefits with conservation goals. The cases of the PNMS and GMR highlight the need to strengthen local small-scale fishing capacity to sustainably access offshore tuna resources as an alternative to nearshore fishing.Hearn and Bucaram criticize longlining for its bycatch risks, but the ban has not eradicated the practice-it has merely driven it underground, making it unregulated and harder to control (Castrejón et al., 2021;Montaño, 2022). Legal, institutional, and socioeconomic factors prevent the ban from fully eliminating illegal longlining and ghost-fishing (Castrejón and Defeo, 2024). Scientific advancements in bycatch mitigation techniques, such as circle hooks, non-wire leaders, and mid-water longlining, have reduced bycatch of protected species from a maximum of 77.5% (Murillo et al., 2004) to a minimum of 6% (CTI, 2018) within the GMR. Yet, these improvements are often overlooked in policy discussions. A rigid ban that disregards scientific and technological progress undermines conservation goals.We propose an ecosystem approach to fisheries to enhance the sustainability of longlining by integrating bycatch mitigation techniques, dynamic spatial management, and market incentives through a decision-support tool designed for the holistic management of bycatch. A regulated tuna fishery, rather than an ineffective total ban, would improve monitoring and reduce environmental impacts through gear modifications, electronic surveillance, and traceability. Conservation policies should prioritize science-based solutions over maintaining the illusion of a longline-free Galapagos, which have failed to address illegal fishing, probably exacerbating threats like ghost fishing.Misusing the precautionary principle to justify ineffective policies Hearn and Bucaram (2025) invoke the precautionary principle to justify the longline ban. However, its application must be proportional to the risk of irreversible harm to vulnerable and endangered species while also allowing for adaptive co-management. They dismiss longlining without conducting an ecological risk assessment, as we have recommended, or acknowledging advancements in bycatch mitigation techniques. A growing body of research demonstrates that circle hooks, weighted lines, operational adjustments, bycatch limits, emerging technologies, and time-area restrictions significantly reduce bycatch (Gillett, 2011;Clarke et al., 2014;Hall et al., 2017;Swimmer et al., 2020;Doherty et al., 2022;Shea et al., 2023). Rather than outright rejection, pilot programs should be implemented to assess whether a small-scale, well-regulated longline fishery could operate sustainably within the GMR.The precautionary principle should not be used to justify indefinite bans in the absence of updated ecological risk assessments. Instead, it should be applied dynamically, fostering innovation and adaptive co-management. A rigid, permanent prohibition disregards scientific advancements and overlooks the potential for sustainable longlining under strict regulatory oversight.A concerning issue is the suppression of research on longlining, often justified by the claim that this fishing gear is inherently incompatible with multiple-use MPAs or shark sanctuaries. This perspective is not supported by scientific literature or global fisheries management practices (Simpfendorfer and Dulvy, 2017;Filous et al., 2020;Shea et al., 2023). However, more than 80% of Galapagos residents share the perception that longlining is destructive, while 26% oppose it even if bycatch were reduced to zero (Castrejón and Defeo, 2023). These misconceptions prevent an objective evaluation of controlled longlining's sustainability. Scientific transparency should take precedence over ideological biases or public perception. Authorities and NGOs should support pilot programs to rigorously assess the environmental, economic, and social impacts of longlining under strict, continuous monitoring, in collaboration with fishers. Conservation efforts should be driven by robust, evidence-based research rather than political narratives or branding.Hearn and Bucaram's \"Blue Vision\" proposes shifting fishers to non-extractive roles, such as plastic collectors, research service providers, and marine educators. While this approach aligns with conservation goals, it overlooks the cultural significance of fishing and the deep social and economic ties that sustain small-scale fishing communities (El-Shayeb et al., 2025). Research on the human dimensions of MPAs shows that alternative livelihoods often fail when they do not align with local values, economic realities, and social capital (Pollnac et al., 2001;Charles and Wilson, 2009;Christie et al., 2017). Displacing fishers into unfamiliar livelihoods without considering their existing adaptive strategies, social networks, and economic realities can undermine their resilience, increasing vulnerability, loss of identity, and distrust in conservation initiatives (Allison and Ellis, 2001). The failure of recreational fishing (pesca artesanal vivencial) highlights these risks. Promoted since 2005 as a sustainable alternative, it has primarily benefited tourism agencies and non-fishers, sidelining local full-time fishers, while sport fishing has become more prevalent, failing to provide a sustainable livelihood alternative for the fishing sector (Schu