Organizational diversity and governance challenges in small-scale fisheries: insights from Southern Jalisco Coast, Mexico

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) are fundamental to coastal livelihoods worldwide, yet they continue to face persistent governance and management challenges. Because the adoption of responsible fishing practices depends heavily on the strength and functionality of local organizations, understanding how fishing cooperatives operate is essential. This study examines the organizational functionality of fishing cooperatives along the Southern Jalisco Coast (SJC), an understudied region of the Mexican Pacific, and provides the first systematic diagnosis of the area. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines participant observation and in-depth interviews, we assessed cooperatives across key institutional dimensions, including internal regulations and administration, transparency and participation, earnings and social responsibility, economy, infrastructure, and collaboration with external actors. Despite sharing similar ecological and geographical conditions, cooperatives exhibited substantial organizational heterogeneity. While some organizations demonstrated strong social responsibility, effective communication, and productive external partnerships, others faced challenges related to leadership, accountability, economic coordination, and regulatory compliance. Our findings indicate that these differences cannot be explained solely by internal organizational characteristics. Rather, they reflect the interaction of historical trajectories, institutional arrangements, informal norms, and local governance capacities that have shaped the development of fishing organizations over time. These results highlight the importance of incorporating social and organizational dimensions into fisheries management and policy design. We argue that context-sensitive public policies, leadership development, and sustained institutional support are essential for strengthening SSF organizations. More broadly, recognizing and assessing organizational diversity can contribute to more adaptive and effective governance strategies in Mexico and other coastal regions facing similar social and environmental challenges.