Weak governance, cumulative impacts, and socioeconomic factors driving vulnerability in coastal small-scale fisheries

Abstract This study analyzes the dynamics of vulnerability in coastal small-scale fisheries under high level of pressure from port-industrial complex in Baixada Santista, Brazil. We employed a socioeconomic survey ( n = 401), transdisciplinary focus-group workshops ( n = 6) with fishers ( n = 40), and stakeholder semi-structured interviews ( n = 5). Our results reveal that vulnerability is multifaceted and shaped by: (i) increased exposure and sensitivity driven by cumulative environmental impacts, particularly those associated with port activities; (ii) underlying socioeconomic conditions, including gender inequality, lack of professional documentation, and irregular housing; (iii) weak governance, characterized by the absence of a formal arenas for conflict resolution and fragmented environmental licensing processes with limited participation; and (iv) adaptive capacity, present in all communities but insufficient to transform the prevailing vulnerability scenario. In addition, local environmental knowledge reveals that socioenvironmental impacts accumulated over time have intensified vulnerability by eroding the foundations of fishing livelihoods through the loss of fishing grounds and the decline of fishery resources, thereby undermining fishing territories. We conclude that transforming vulnerability in coastal small-scale fisheries requires inclusive and multi-scalar maritime governance, strengthened environmental licensing practices, and the meaningful incorporation of local ecological knowledge into decision-making processes.