Socioeconomic Context and Environmental Problems Related to Fishing in the Alvarado Lake System, Veracruz, from the Inhabitants' Perspective

Abstract

Problems related to fishing in the Alvarado Lake System, concerning environmental aspects have been studied particularly in the context of natural sciences, but little has been addressed from an interdisciplinary socio-environmental perspective that takes into account the opinion of fishermen. The objective of this research was to analyze the environmental problems related to fishing, from the perspective of the inhabitants of three areas of the Alvarado Lake System, by applying a survey. Principally, results indicate that fishermen are aware that the causes of environmental problems that affect this activity are not only related to external factors such as pollution, but that they themselves contribute to the detriment of the environment. In conclusion, the villagers mainly identify those environmental problems that are reflected in the visual deterioration of the landscape or short-term economic losses, while other problems with long-term effects that are scarcely visible in the lagoon, such as metal pollution, are not perceived, despite the serious implications for the environment and human health.