Challenges and Opportunities in the Artisanal Fishing of Anadara mazatlanica for Its Conservation from a Circular Economy Perspective: Socioeconomic and Environmental Perceptions

The artisanal harvesting of Anadara mazatlanica is of fundamental importance to the sociocultural identity and economic livelihood of the coastal communities located in the San Ignacio–Navachiste–Macapule (SINM) lagoon system in Mexico; its conservation depends on the sustainable use of the species and its habitat, which is considered vulnerable to multiple socioeconomic and environmental pressures. The circular economy (CE) emerges as a potential approach to integrate resource exploitation, waste reduction, and community-oriented conservation management. This study analyzed the perceptions of A. mazatlanica harvesters, covering social, economic, environmental, and recycling dimensions (theoretical approach) and corroborated by exploratory factor analysis, thereby identifying the main challenges and areas of opportunity for the transition to sustainable development models. A quantitative (exploratory–descriptive) approach was used, employing a structured questionnaire that included a sociodemographic section and 23 items on a Likert scale. The findings revealed a high sociocultural appreciation of artisanal fishing and community cohesion (x¯ = 4.55). In contrast, economic perceptions showed a moderately negative level (x¯ = 2.48), indicating a dependence on intermediaries, limited added value, and institutional support. The CE dimension (x¯ = 1.55) suggested an underutilization of shells. In addition, the mean value of 3.44 for environmental perceptions highlighted awareness of ecosystem deterioration and regulatory deficiencies. These results highlight the need to enhance fisheries governance, diversify value chains, and integrate circular innovations to ensure the sustainability of this fishery.