A “photo” album you have not seen; ﬁsheries and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico

We all have an album with old photos, a collection of newer digital images and in the future surely we will have many others in more innovative formats. When comparing old photos with recent ones, we can observe how people, society and the environment change over time. Something similar happens with our experiences. We have old images of crucial moments in our history that we store in our album of memories, and we dream of how we want the future to be. From here on, let's imagine that taking a photo at a certain moment in time is similar to collecting information of society and environment for a baseline study.   Years ago, we began to be distant spectators of the relationship between two critical economic activities: fisheries and oil extraction. These two activities take place in the Gulf of Mexico, which includes the coasts of the state of Tabasco. The interaction between both activities is certainly not a voluntary one, but somewhat circumstantial. This fortuitous relationship between fisheries and oil extraction was originated due to the natural wealth specifically concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the interaction between these two activities, certain concerns have arisen as to how we can maintain the sustainability of oil extraction and fisheries. To observe the evolution and interaction of such economic activities, we interviewed fishers to obtain valuable historical information stored in their memories and experiences. All fishers recognize that one of the main protagonists implicated in oil extraction has always been the Mexican government, under the name of Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). However, law reforms in 2013 allowed private companies to open new areas of exploitation in the Gulf of Mexico \cite{espinoza-tenorio2019}. The recollected images or historical information gave us an insight as to how different actors modified fisheries and oil extraction. On the other hand, the most recent information collected were similar to "panoramic digital photos" showing all actors that coexist on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico. Historical and current information were like old and new "photos" taken with the highest possible resolution to observe in detail how both activities modify the landscape. From this information or "photos" we obtained, we could extract relevant data to improve the sustainability of both coastal activities.

1 Affiliation not available 2 Journal of Sketching Science June 15, 2020 We all have an album with old photos, a collection of newer digital images and in the future surely we will have many others in more innovative formats.When comparing old photos with recent ones, we can observe how people, society and the environment change over time.Something similar happens with our experiences.We have old images of crucial moments in our history that we store in our album of memories, and we dream of how we want the future to be.From here on, let's imagine that taking a photo at a certain moment in time is similar to collecting information of society and environment for a baseline study.
Years ago, we began to be distant spectators of the relationship between two critical economic activities: fisheries and oil extraction.These two activities take place in the Gulf of Mexico, which includes the coasts of the state of Tabasco.The interaction between both activities is certainly not a voluntary one, but somewhat circumstantial.This fortuitous relationship between fisheries and oil extraction was originated due to the natural wealth specifically concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico.
Through the interaction between these two activities, certain concerns have arisen as to how we can maintain the sustainability of oil extraction and fisheries.To observe the evolution and interaction of such economic activities, we interviewed fishers to obtain valuable historical information stored in their memories and experiences.All fishers recognize that one of the main protagonists implicated in oil extraction has always been the Mexican government, under the name of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX).However, law reforms in 2013 allowed private companies to open new areas of exploitation in the Gulf of Mexico (Espinoza-Tenorio, 2019).The recollected images or historical information gave us an insight as to how different actors modified fisheries and oil extraction.On the other hand, the most recent information collected were similar to "panoramic digital photos" showing all actors that coexist on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico.Historical and current information were like old and new "photos" taken with the highest possible resolution to observe in detail how both activities modify the landscape.From this information or "photos" we obtained, we could extract relevant data to improve the sustainability of both coastal activities.

Who took the "photos"?
Twenty-five academics from five different research institutions formed a multidisciplinary team that, for two years (2017-2019), took and collected like "photos" alongside the local population.We selected older and more recent "photos" which showed a wide vision of the richness of marine nature, and relevant historical elements.The most relevant "photos" showed the complex scenario where fisheries and oil extraction were competing and affecting the coastal communities.
How did people take or recollect the "photos"?
Project participants used different approaches like photographers use different equipment like cameras, tripods, and lenses to capture how they perceive fisheries and oil extraction.Some "photos" however, were obtained from historical collections, academic research or government institutions.
What did we find in the "photos"?
In general, this information or "photos" captured the relationship between fishers and oil workers over the years.Such a relationship has gone from formal to informal, and from encounters to disagreements.We have identified more than 50 social visible actors, such as PEMEX, fisheries cooperatives, authorities, universities, civil society organisations, and women and children [who are affected].In this governance network some "rules of the game" have been created which allow both activities to coexist in an unequal and changing game (Salazar-de l a C ruzetal., 2020).
We found that fishers receive financial compensation for the impacts of oil extraction, but feel that their vocation is not taken into account and are being dispossessed of their produce (Ramos-Muñoz 2019).Fishers also feel that they work in a context of insecurity and distrust, where they have been gradually excluded and abandoned.
We were also able to identify which species of fish had more economic relevance.Moreover, we found that there are about 32 fisheries in the Tabasco and Campeche coasts, where mussel farming and red snapper fishing have potential to meet sustainable goals shortly, but more research is needed.Importantly, we also analyzed the role of women in fisheries, an activity traditionally dominated by men.
Another significant finding is that fishing provides food to fishers homes, representing 30% of their total income (Palacios-Hernández, 2019).
Finally, in order to improve the sustainability of both activities, we must pay special attention to some "photos" captured in the communities: 1) the majority of young people and women in these coastal communities show willingness to expand their productive activities; an example is aquaculture; 2) the revival of the oil industry creates an atmosphere of optimism, but communities would like to be better informed; 3) it is urgent to build links with the communities to improve communication and reach agreements with a capacity for consensus, under clear and transparent rules.
Who do we give the "photos" to?
At the end of the project, the "photos" were distributed amongst the participants so they could recognize themselves and their neighbors.The "photos" are also for those who could not participate, but wanted to meet us; know who we are, what we wanted and what we aspired to do.Therefore, together we can decide what we want to achieve and, in the future, check if what we decided upon took us where we wanted to go.More "photos" and information in www.pescaypetroleo.info

Here is a video about fisheries and oil extraction
If you want more information about fisheries and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico, take a look to the next video (Spanish, with English subtitles).
Ernesto Llamas edited the article and made the illustrations.He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at CECAD in Cologne, Germany.He obtained his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Universitat de Barcelona doing his research at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics.Creator, editor, and illustrator of Sketching Science.(Twitter @neto flames; Instagram @eellamas).
Alejandro Espinoza-Tenorio wrote the article.He is a professor and researcher of El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.He obtained his PhD from the University of Bremen, Germany and his experience has led him to develop and test methodologies on holistic management in coastal areas.(Twitter @espinatenorio).