Enlightening Mediterranean fishers’ adaptive capacity to major contemporary crises

This study examines the adaptive capacity of French Mediterranean fisheries as perceived by the fishers themselves. Recognizing the role of fisheries for food security and economic livelihoods, this research addresses the dual challenges of maintaining sustainable fisheries while adapting to environmental and socio-economic changes. The Mediterranean Sea, one of the world's most overexploited marine regions, faces significant pressures from overfishing, climate change, and socio-economic fluctuations among others. This study employs participatory workshops and semi-structured interviews with 48 fishers across the French Mediterranean coast to understand the adaptive responses of local fisheries to these challenges. Based on an existing framework, we decompose adaptive capacity into five domains: assets, flexibility, social organization, learning, and agency. The results show that flexibility is the most mobilized domain, indicating that the ability of fishers to switch between opportunities and adaptation options is crucial for sustainability. Short-term crises such as fuel price hikes and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the reliance on public subsidies and social organization, whereas long-term environmental changes emphasized the need for continuous learning and flexibility in fishing practices. By integrating local knowledge with scientific assessments, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of fisheries' adaptive capacity, emphasizing the value of interview methods in capturing the nuanced realities faced by fishers. These insights are critical for developing co-constructed adaptive strategies that align with both local and broader-scale management goals. The results of our interviews highlight empirical adaptation measures, based on fisher's lived experiences, that policy makers need to consider to promote sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean. We provide a robust framework to address the complex challenges facing Mediterranean fisheries, which could be replicated in other fisheries of the world and contribute to their long-term resilience and sustainability.