Mexico is among the world’s leading countries with respect to the interest and the effort in promoting sustainable and viable small-scale fisheries. It has all the essential elements, such as a well-structured governing system, strong fishers’ organizations, active community-based and environmental organizations, and an extensive network of scientists from academic and research institutions. The wealth of knowledge and the history of collaboration among researchers, government and non-governmental stakeholders, both within the country and in the region, is another key feature that positions Mexico well in contributing to achieving global goals like implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is not an easy task, however, given the size of the country and the diversity, complexity and dynamics of the small-scale fisheries and their value chain.

The commendable effort of TBTI Mexico in bringing together researchers and practitioners across the country for the production of the e-book, Un Mar de Retos y Oportunidades en la Pesca Artesanal Mexicana, is therefore timely. The book builds on a strong foundation of scientific, local and Indigenous knowledge and collective experiences of researchers from across disciplines. Drawing from members’ inputs, the first chapter provides rationale and motivation for TBTI Mexico, along with the vision and the impact that it aims to create. It reinforces the global call for a transdisciplinary and a holistic perspective in looking at the entire small-scale fisheries chain, while emphasizing values that are beyond economics.

Like elsewhere, small-scale fisheries in Mexico face numerous challenges caused by factors such as gear and technological intensification, unsustainable coastal development, climate change, as well as major disruption like the COVID-19 pandemic and the sargassum bloom. Even if fisheries are time-tested practices, with knowledge that has been passed on from generation to generation, concerted effort is imperative to deal with the increased vulnerability in small-scale fisheries and the communities. The e-book is an important step in that direction since it helps enhance the visibility and the understanding of small-scale fisheries in their entirety, not only in certain aspects as has been done in the past. The book also offers some solutions and prospects, related for instance to policy and institutional reform. While not easy, the network like TBTI Mexico can help facilitate the discussion and the development of a plan of actions, and mobilize support to execute it. We have seen it done before in Mexico, especially with the work of Drs. Silvia Salas, Francisco Arreguín-Sánchez and Ana Minerva Arce-Ibarra, who are the members of TBTI Global since its foundation, and who have been collaborating on various activities, including in the organization of major conferences like the World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress series. Their collaboration has organically led to the establishment of the TBTI Mexico hub, and in the publication of this e-book. While the e-book is about challenges and opportunities, to us, it is the ‘sea of hope.’ As pledged by TBTI Mexico coordinators, the hub members and the book authors, it is just a matter of time when the well-being and the prosperity of coastal communities and the viability and the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in the entire country will be achieved.