Obituaries and Rebirths in Small-Scale Fisheries: Lessons from Sandy Beach Ecosystems

Defeo, O., 2026. Obituaries and rebirths in small-scale fisheries: Lessons from sandy beach ecosystems. Journal of Coastal Research, 42(1), 138–141. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Small-scale fisheries in sandy beach ecosystems face increasing ecological and social pressures that threaten both biodiversity and human well-being. Using the metaphor of obituaries, this editorial reflects on the recurrent collapses of sandy beach invertebrate fisheries and the systemic governance failures behind them. These obituaries are not merely records of loss but diagnostic tools that reveal how short-term exploitation, weak institutions, and climate change converge to erode resilience. Yet, amid decline, there are stories of renewal. Evidence from South America, Australia, and beyond demonstrates that collective action, participatory governance, and adaptive management can catalyze positive tipping points, allowing ecosystems and societies to recover. Viewing these fisheries as sentinels of coastal change highlights their planetary relevance: they signal both the fragility and the potential for transformation. Turning obituaries into rebirths requires inclusive governance grounded in ecological and social realities, transforming endings into beginnings.