Transformation of small-scale fisheries — critical transdisciplinary challenges and possibilities

•Political ecology and Real Utopias are linked to radically transform small-scale fisheries.•Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries offers promise to transform small-scale fisheries.•Transformational pathways need to be contextualised.•Small-scale fishers have the potential to be a key force for coastal sustainability.•Long-term collaboration is essential for transdisciplinary research cooperation. One way to confront the global marginalisation of small-scale fisheries (SSF) is to support a sustainable transformation of these coastal communities. In 2014/15, a network of researchers and SSF communities from four countries cooperated in a transdisciplinary research approach to examine governance shifts, fish stock collapses, power structures, future visions and transformation strategies. We combined a political ecology approach with transformation theory to: (i) consider how local context is affected by structural changes and (ii) identify place-based transformational strategies for each case. The global emergence of large-scale fisheries and associated free markets appeared as key factors negatively affecting SSF and coastal sustainability. Through envisioning exercises and context dependent analysis, SSF communities articulated possible and actual strategies towards sustainability that will require ongoing support.