Fishers’ local ecological knowledge provides valuable insights into the impacts of environmental changes on coastal fishing resources

Global changes driven by pollution, overexploitation and climate change are altering coastal systems worldwide, with significant impacts on socioecological systems, especially in fishing communities reliant on marine resources. Using local ecological knowledge from two fishing communities in Brazil’s Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area, we assessed the effects of these changes on fishing resources and livelihoods. Through semi-structured interviews, 113 fishermen and fisherwomen reported declines or local extinctions of key species, such as shellfish ( Tivela mactroides and Anomalocardia brasiliana ) and fish ( Albula vulpes , Caranx hippos , Epinephelus marginatus and Mycteroperca bonaci ). These declines vary by species and are linked to their commercial value and trophic level, with higher trophic levels and commercial value associated with stronger perceptions of decline. The study highlights the broad, multidirectional impacts of global changes on fishing activities and underscores the value of local ecological knowledge in understanding these effects. Such insights are crucial for developing effective, context-specific public policies and adaptation strategies to support vulnerable coastal communities.