Atlantic Blue Crab Invasion and Fisher Adaptation: Unraveling Socioeconomic Ripples in Algarve's Fishing Communities – Pls-Sem Approach

Abstract

The rapid invasion of the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) in the Algarve region raises urgent ecological and socioeconomic concern. This study aims to analyze how socioeconomic and operational disruptions from the invasion influence fishers’ behavioral adaptation. A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to analyze data from a survey of 89 local fishers, allowing to explore complex relationships between the invasion and community-level impacts. Results show that the Atlantic blue crab's invasion has direct and indirect effects on the local fishing industry's socioeconomic stability and operational efficiency. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted management strategies and policy interventions to mitigate these impacts and support the resilience of affected fishing communities. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the socioeconomic effects of invasive species and offers valuable insights that are crucial for formulating policies that safeguard the economic stability of fishing communities in the face of ecological disruptions.

Keywords: Callinectes sapidus, socio-economic assessment, aquatic non-indigenous species, biological invasions, local ecological knowledge