Improving Fishery Refuge Zones in Mexico through a comparative analysis of spatial fisheries management tools in the Americas

In Mexico, Fishery Refuge Zones (FRZs) are a spatial fisheries management tool grounded in Marine Spatial Planning principles, with a particular focus on small-scale fisheries. This study evaluates the implementation of FRZs through a comparative analysis with spatial fisheries management tools applied across continental American countries. We analyzed their features, legal frameworks, and implementation processes to assess alignment with key social dimensions of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM), including stakeholder participation, governance structures, and monitoring systems. Our results indicate that, although FRZs in Mexico incorporate several EBFM principles, their effectiveness is constrained by limitations in monitoring and surveillance, uneven stakeholder participation, and reliance on external actors. Comparative insights reveal opportunities to strengthen FRZ implementation by promoting permanent refuge zones, integrating FRZs within broader ecosystem-based spatial planning frameworks, and combining spatial and non-spatial management measures (e.g., catch quotas and fishing closures). Additionally, enhancing the involvement of NGOs, academic institutions, and research centers, as well as strengthening local capacity through training and education programs, is critical for improving governance and self-organized monitoring systems. The incorporation of high-resolution sociodemographic data, including value chains and community perceptions, is also essential to support adaptive and context-specific management. Overall, improving transparency, institutional support, and data integration is fundamental to advancing FRZs as an effective and scalable management instrument, contributing to sustainable fisheries and the resilience of coastal communities in Mexico.