Stefan Gelcich

As the coverage of area‐based conservation increases across the globe, it is critical to improve understanding of the social and ecological outcomes of such measures and the pathways to their outcomes. A social–ecological systems approach to monitoring and evaluation is increasingly advocated; yet, applications remain scarce. We sought to facilitate operationalization of this approach through prioritization of indicators when resources are scarce and to improve capture of social–ecological interactions. We convened a working group of practitioners and academics to explore linked social and ecological interactions through a case study of marine protected areas (MPAs). We used causal models (implemented through causal loop diagrams) in participatory and future‐oriented approaches to identify interactions among key nodes of the system that can be a focus of monitoring. These nodes and their interactions provided insight into linked indicators of key system components, for example, biomass, compliance, perceived legitimacy, catches, and perceived fairness. We called these indicator bundles . Indicator bundles can be applied to analyze causal modeling diagrams, identify essential elements to monitor, and inform analytical and reporting protocols. The bundles can also help identify key leverage points for adaptive management to improve outcomes of existing interventions. This approach can inform monitoring and evaluation and, ultimately, the design and adaptive management of conservation areas that maximize social and ecological benefits and minimize negative trade‐offs.

Physical disturbances, especially those that reduce or remove foundation species, have complex effects on ecosystem functioning. Evaluating resilience to predict these impacts requires long‐term research over large temporal and spatial scales. This study investigates the recovery of the subtidal kelp ( Lessonia trabeculata ) to simulated kelp harvesting in areas under different fisheries management regimes (Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries (TURF) vs. Open Access (OA) sites) along the Northern–Central Chilean coast. The managed TURF sites demonstrated significantly faster recovery of adult kelp densities following harvesting, while OA sites exhibited consistently lower kelp densities and delayed recovery. However, the generality of this pattern varied across regions. Morphological traits such as holdfast diameter were larger at TURF sites, where kelp exhibited larger size. Delayed size recovery was evidenced at OA sites. Herbivore densities were higher in OA than in TURF sites, potentially contributing to differences in kelp density, size and recovery. These patterns highlight the interaction between herbivory and management efficacy. Synthesis and applications . Our findings highlight the critical role of local fisheries management in enhancing kelp recovery after harvesting. The faster recovery of kelp at most TURF sites demonstrates how spatially explicit management can buffer ecological impacts of herbivore density and promote kelp recovery. To improve outcomes, managers should prioritize the implementation and enforcement of management plans in the TURF to promote herbivore control measures and invest in long‐term monitoring programmes to support adaptive strategies that sustain kelp forest ecosystems and the valuable services they provide to coastal communities.

This review analyses 73 peer‐reviewed publications using a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to examine how inequality in small‐scale fisheries is conceptualised, which drivers are most frequently identified, how they manifest, and how proposed interventions address them. The literature shows some conceptual overlap among terms such as ‘inequality’, ‘inequity’, ‘unfairness’ or ‘injustice’, which may reflect both interdisciplinary diversity and the fact that inequality is often addressed indirectly through broader frameworks (e.g., poverty; governance). Social and regulatory dimensions of inequality—particularly sex/gender exclusion and policy implementation—were the most frequently studied, while technological, environmental and conservation‐related dimensions were addressed less frequently. Most studies focused on the extraction stage, with fewer addressing inequalities along downstream segments of the value chain. The results reveal that inequality drivers co‐occur in patterned configurations reflecting broader structural dynamics (e.g., the interplay between gender exclusion, market barriers and inequitable policy implementation in coastal fisheries) and intersectionality (e.g., indigenous women fishers facing simultaneous exclusion based on gender, ethnicity and lack of access to formal governance or financial systems). However, proposed interventions to address the problem seem insufficiently aligned with the specific drivers they aim to address. These patterns reflect the complexity of addressing inequality in SSF: while the issue is widely acknowledged, it is often approached through fragmented terms and disconnected responses. Making progress may require not more consensus, but more precision—in how inequality is described, situated and acted upon.

Ecosystem service (ES) trade-offs are central to informed decision-making, often requiring the prioritization of some ES over others. This comprehensive review synthesizes insights from over 3000 studies, identifying global patterns and research gaps across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. We highlight significant biases, including a predominant focus on terrestrial ecosystems and provisioning and habitat services, while cultural ES remain critically underrepresented. Regulating ES exhibit notable gaps in marine and freshwater contexts. Research is concentrated in Europe, Asia, and North America, whereas Africa exhibits a more balanced ES approach but remains underrepresented. A key insight is the limited integration of multiple ES categories, with most studies focusing on individual or paired services. Our dataset identifies underrepresented regions and emphasizes the need for region-specific approaches, particularly in marine and freshwater ecosystems. We advocate for interdisciplinary research, methodological transparency, and decision-support frameworks to bridge research gaps and foster equitable ES management. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Stefan Gelcich, C. Josh Donlan, Benjamin Lagos, Rodrigo Sanchez Grez, and Rodrigo A. Estévez, present the case for voluntary marine conservation programs in which local fishers are granted property rights to manage their local fisheries. This case is classic in marine conservation and related to TURF-Reserves in Chile. Territorial Use Rights Fisheries grant local fishing communities rights to assess and manage their own fisheries and to benefit from more sustainable management decisions. This case and other like cases around the globe have been most often applied to relatively sedentary benthic resources like mollusks and crustaceans. This and other cases show the power of Elinor Ostrom’s theories and the flaws in Garrett Hardin’s tragedy of the commons.

Flight initiation distance (FID), the distance at which an organism begins to flee from an approaching threat, is a major component of antipredator escape behavior and a potential indicator of threat perception in fishes. In this study, we analyzed the FID of three important rocky‐reef fish species targeted by spearfishers, which are of commercial and recreational importance. We tested predictions that FID to a diver threat increases with the following factors: (1) fish body size, (2) less restricted access regimes, and (3) increased historical fishing pressure. We studied three size ranges of three rocky‐reef fish species, in three different access regimes (i.e., open access, territorial user rights for fishery areas, no‐take marine protected areas), and in two regions (northern and central region with different levels of fishing pressure depending on the species). We conducted an ANOVA to analyze pairwise interactions. We used the mean square criterion to select the models that best explained the variation of our response variable. Our findings indicate that FID can be distinctly elucidated by factors such as individual size, species, access regimes, and regions. Additionally, our models show that interactions involving regions and either species or size further contribute to explain FID variability. FID was higher in larger fishes and those of higher commercial value, outside marine reserves and in the region with the highest historical fishing pressures (based on landings data). This study supports the predictions that increased FID is associated with the threat posed by spearfishing activities. Furthermore, our findings indicate that spearfishing may already be altering the behavior of rocky‐reef fishes on the north‐central coast of Chile.

Chile has a relatively long history of monitoring and managing large-scale commercial fish stocks. However, many other small-scale fisheries, particularly those operating in estuaries, usually lack basic fisheries and biological information. International experience indicates that a monitoring system designed for large-scale stocks cannot simply be resized to address the complexity, relatively low total economic value, and the large number of actors and supply chains in small-scale fisheries. This article proposes a strategy to monitor data-poor fisheries operating in estuaries. The striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), locally known as “lisa”, in the Rapel River, central Chile, was selected to establish a pilot monitoring program for small-scale fish resources. From May 2022 to May 2023, fisheries information, including fleet description, catch and effort data, and fish biological attributes such as length and weight, were collected and described for the first time in the region. Drawing insights from this case study, we propose developing a generic monitoring system tailored specifically for monitoring fish stocks in estuaries. This conceptualization is based on: i) change agents, who are individuals trained to work with both the social and biological dimensions of each coastal fish stock; ii) experienced fisheries scientists outside government agencies; and iii) local fishers' knowledge to provide constant feedback for adapting temporal and spatial scales for monitoring. This monitoring scheme is cost-effective and can be efficiently replicated in other estuarine fisheries in Chile.

Coastal communities who depend on natural resources are vulnerable to negative social-ecological changes in terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Bunce et al. 2010). A decrease of resources or shifts ...