International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 287-297 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 291 for managers (Aguzzi et al., 2019; Kaidarova et al., 2023). Meanwhile, digital compliance tools (such as automatic analysis systems and visual dashboards) have also made data reporting and regulation more efficient (Tilley and Wilkinson, 2020). When these technological means work in concert, the "black box" areas in the fishery industry will become fewer and fewer, and governance will gradually shift from "post-event control" to "full visibility throughout the process". 5 The Socio-Economic Dimension of The Fishery Industry 5.1 Issues of livelihoods and equity in coastal communities In many coastal areas, especially in tropical developing countries, the significance of fishery to the local people is far more than just making a living. It is related not only to three meals a day but also to social status and dignity (Gibson et al., 2020). Millions of small-scale and artisan fishermen earn their income and food from the ocean, but their earnings do not solely depend on the number of fish they catch; they are also influenced by multiple factors such as market prices, gender division of labor, information channels, and supply chain efficiency. Take Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and New Caledonia as examples. Women engaged in sea cucumber fishing there are often forced to sell at low prices due to the small size of the individuals they catch or the lack of market information, and their income has long been lower than that of male fishermen. It should be noted that fishing families often do not merely rely on fishing for a living. They also grow crops, dry coconuts or catch other Marine resources to diversify economic risks. However, due to backward infrastructure, weak market connections, and high dependence on resources, these communities are particularly vulnerable when facing resource decline or climate change (Cinner et al., 2022). If the efficiency of the supply chain is not improved or social equity issues persist, the sustainability of the fishery industry will also be affected. In other words, enhancing community resilience, broadening livelihood options, and strengthening social equity are the keys to achieving truly sustainable fisheries. 5.2 The role of women and indigenous groups in fishery management When it comes to fishing, people often think of fishermen at sea, but they frequently overlook the women and indigenous groups that also support the entire system. Data shows that approximately 2.1 million women worldwide are directly involved in small-scale Marine fishing operations, accounting for 11% of the total number of practitioners. They contribute about 10% of the global small-scale fishery catch and are an important pillar of the economies of many families and communities (Harper et al., 2020). Women are mostly active in nearshore, low-tech fishing activities, catching fish for their own use at home and selling the products to the market. However, the value of their labor has long been underestimated, and due to the lack of gender-disaggregated data, policies often fail to accurately respond to their needs. Similarly, indigenous communities rely on Marine resources for their livelihoods and cultural heritage. Their per capita consumption of seafood is much higher than that of the general population, and they also possess unique traditional ecological knowledge. In resource conservation and community management, these traditional knowledge often play irreplaceable roles that modern institutions cannot (Reeder-Myers et al., 2022). Regrettably, both women and indigenous people still have a weak say in policy-making and benefit distribution. Truly involving them in the governance process is not only necessary for achieving social justice, but also concerns whether the ecology and society can achieve a win-win situation. 5.3 Diversification of the fishery economy and social sustainability As the saying goes, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." This statement is most appropriate in the fishery economy. Many studies have found that diversified fishing communities are better able to withstand the shocks brought about by climate or market fluctuations. For instance, in places like Alaska and Monterey Bay in California, fishermen do not engage in a single type of fishery. Instead, they combine different types of fisheries or seasonal activities to form a "fishery investment portfolio". In this way, when there are policy changes or resource shortages, their income can still remain relatively stable. Such diversified operations not only disperse economic risks but also alleviate social tensions caused by uneven resource distribution. Meanwhile, measures such as community participatory management, collective property rights, and collaborative governance are constantly enhancing social capital, making communities more cohesive and resilient in the face of external
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