Fisheries Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystems

Coastal fisheries represent dynamic systems in which biological, physical and socio-economic factors converge to shape fish populations and the communities that depend on them. Primary productivity in littoral habitats—seagrass meadows, mangroves and saltmarshes—underpins trophic subsidies that fuel juvenile and adult fish biomass. Nursery habitats within estuaries and shallow bays promote recruitment by offering shelter and abundant food resources, while oceanographic processes such as upwelling and seasonal currents mediate larval dispersal and connectivity among subpopulations. Anthropogenic pressures including coastal development, pollution, overfishing and climate-driven disturbances alter habitat quality and availability, often leading to shifts in species composition and catch rates. Social-ecological governance frameworks seek to balance exploitation and conservation by integrating ecological indicators, stakeholder participation and adaptive management. Economic valuation of ecosystem services has emerged as a tool for prioritising habitat protection and restoration, linking expenditure on recreational and commercial fishing to habitat condition. Advances in spatial modelling, stable isotope techniques and integrated stock assessments are enhancing predictive capacity and informing policy. The global significance of coastal fisheries extends from food security in low-income regions to livelihoods and cultural heritage worldwide, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary approaches that address ecological resilience, sustainable harvest and equitable governance.

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Fisheries Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystems publication trend

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Technical terms

Trophic subsidy: The transfer of energy or nutrients from primary producers (e.g. seagrass) to consumers in adjacent habitats.

Nursery habitat: Shallow or sheltered areas that enhance survival and growth of juvenile fish before they enter the adult population.

Stable isotope analysis: A method using ratios of isotopes (e.g. carbon-13/carbon-12) to trace sources of organic matter in food webs.

Fishery recruitment: The addition of new individuals to the exploitable stock, typically through larval settlement or juvenile growth.

Ecosystem services: The benefits humans derive from natural ecosystems, including provisioning (fish supply), regulating (water filtration) and cultural (recreation) services.

References

1. Recreational fishing expenditure as an indicator of coastal wetland habitat value. Environmental Science Advances (2024).
2. Spatial analysis of carbon isotopes reveals seagrass contribution to fishery food web. Ecosphere (2015).
3. Estimating the value of tropical coastal wetland habitats to fisheries: Caveats and assumptions. PLOS ONE (2019).