Propelling drones as an avenue for sustainable governance among vulnerable coastal Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) communities: an evidence-based study

Abstract The importance of small-scale fisheries (SSF) for sustainable livelihoods and fish supply chains, especially in the global south, cannot be underestimated. However, in fisheries management, the role of small-scale fisherfolk is increasingly sidelined compared to that of commercial fisherfolk. With the increasing environmental shocks and human-induced pressures that have led to stock declines, novel approaches toward sustainable fisheries practices are needed. Emerging technologies, such as drones, are being proposed as a bridge to this in several regions. However, among SSF, drone applications, legal acceptability, and knowledge are still limited. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of 2485 documents and participant interactions with 48 fisherfolk in Alappad in Kerala, India, were conducted to: (i) identify the state of SSF, including the sustainable practices or technologies, (ii) address the challenges limiting the sustainable shift toward sustainable practices and technologies such as drones, (iii) document the relevance of drones in sustainability transformations, and (iv) develop components that can aid the development and operationalizations of drones among SSF. The findings revealed that SSF crucially drives the coastal communities’ food chain and sustains livelihoods. However, SSF are increasingly experiencing sustainability concerns, which are worsened by legal bottlenecks toward the use of drones. In areas where drones are utilized, they provide innumerable sustainability benefits. However, among artisanal fisherfolk in Alappad, drone use has not been leveraged. Nevertheless, artisanal fisherfolk's perceptions towards the use of drones for sustainability are becoming more positive. To tap into and sustain the emerging transformational capabilities and possibilities of using drones, we developed a roadmap consisting of fourteen components that can guide the suitable drone designs and operational needs for use among SSF. As positive attitudes and possibilities toward drone use are emerging, drone technological innovations that consider the abilities, potential, and capacities of small-scale fisherfolk should be emphasized.