Context and purpose
Fishing for small gear is part of the social and economic fabric of the Balearic coastal communities. This sector contributes to the provision of local seafood products and the livelihood of local households and markets. Climate change and pressure on marine resources raise questions about the sector’s ability to maintain its productivity and ensure healthy and sustainable food.
The purpose of ReFISH-Food is to assess the capacity of the fisheries system to absorb climate disturbances and maintain essential food services. The project considers the ecological vulnerability of stocks, economic dynamics and consumption patterns along the fisheries value chain. The results will guide adaptation proposals contextualised to the Balearic Islands.
Methodology and approach
The project integrates three sources of evidence: ecological data on marine resources, socio-economic analyses of the fisheries sector and governance studies that have an impact on the management of artisanal fisheries. These sources are enriched with contributions from the local knowledge of fishermen and end consumers to reflect the specific realities of the island environment.
ReFISH-Food addresses aspects such as current seafood production, local consumption patterns, and the decision-making structure that affects fishing practices and their sustainability. The joint analysis of these dimensions seeks to identify critical resilience factors and possible climate change adaptation measures to strengthen Balearic food security.
The principal investigator of ReFISH-Food is Marta Albo Puigserver, a postdoctoral fellow at the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC). She has worked in research institutions in Spain and Portugal and collaborates with agents in the marine production chain to integrate scientific and practical perspectives in the generation of useful knowledge for fisheries policies and management. Its approach combines quantitative evidence with direct experiences of local actors.
Expected results
ReFISH-Food will generate evidence on the ecological and socio-economic resilience of small-gear fisheries in the Balearic Islands and estimate the food security they can provide under different climate change scenarios. The project seeks to identify constraints and opportunities to strengthen the sector’s adaptive capacity without compromising environmental sustainability. The findings can serve as a basis for designing targeted management and adaptation measures that help balance the conservation of marine resources with the provision of local food. Methodological expertise can also be useful in addressing similar challenges in other coastal contexts with comparable characteristics.