Mapping mugilid fishes migratory routes by applying fishers’ local ecological knowledge: implications for co-management in protected areas of northeastern Brazil

The relationship between sociocultural and biological diversity in local communities is well recognized, motivating the incorporation of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) into alternative management models to improve the effectiveness of socioecological systems. This study aims to understand and spatially analyze fishers’ LEK of the spatiotemporal migration patterns of mugilid species using participatory mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (i.e. ethnomapping). For this, mugilid-specialist fishers were interviewed between July 2023 and June 2024 across two sustainable-use protected areas in northeastern Brazil, where information on fishing practices, spatiotemporal distribution and socioeconomic characteristics was collected. To explore patterns of fishers’ LEK regarding spatiotemporal migration and habitat use of mugilid species, we used a Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Our results show that fishers’ LEK is robust and diverse, revealing distinct spatiotemporal migratory patterns among five mugilid species ( Mugil liza , M. brevirostris , M. curvidens , M. curema , and M. rubrioculus ). A total of 72 migration sites associated with the reproduction and capture of these mugilid species were identified by fishers, including mangroves, riverine areas, sandbanks, coral reef habitats, and beaches, where some temporal patterns were also elucidated by Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) is essential for understanding estuarine-coastal connectivity and the completion of mugilid life cycles. Integrating structured interviews, participatory mapping, and in situ validation of species distribution based on fishers’ LEK can support co-management strategies and help ensure species persistence across estuarine and coastal environments.