Elasmobranchs small-scale fishery in Guatemala: Socioeconomic aspects and value chain structure

Small-scale fishing (SSF) stands as a cornerstone of economic activity along Guatemala's coastlines. Fisheries products, including those derived from elasmobranchs, serve as vital sources of income for fishers and dealers. Despite their significance, there remains a paucity of economically characterizing information regarding this fishery. This study provides an overview of the socioeconomic facets and value chain of Guatemala's small-scale elasmobranch fishery, and the country's role in the international market for elasmobranchs listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Data were collected through surveys involving fishing actors from 10 coastal communities in the Caribbean and Pacific, and 32 fishing distribution centers and traditional markets across eight departments in Guatemala. CITES statistics were analyzed to assess the country's role in the international market. Fishers cited fishing as their primary source of employment, with an average tenure of 24 years in the activity. The study found that 25% of fishing actors economically depend on elasmobranchs, while 65% indicated that their income relies on finfish, shrimp, and lobster. The value chain was identified to encompass various actors and processes, spanning from capture and distribution (intermediaries) to marketing and retail sites. The average price increase of elasmobranchs along the value chain was USD 1.66/kg, with the highest increase observed for dried salted sharks (USD 2.65/kg) and the lowest for fresh rays (USD 1.12/kg). Guatemala accounts for 2.76% of CITES species exports from Central American countries, exporting skins (55 tons), fins (47.5 tons), and live specimens (1.9 tons) of Carcharhinus falciformis and Alopias pelagicus between 2018 and 2022, while also being the primary meat importer (65.1 tons), representing 99.78% of total imports in Central America. This suggests that sharks caught in Guatemala do not adequately meet the national demand for shark meat and that special attention is needed to avoid a potential increase in fishing pressure on elasmobranchs.