{"id":{"repo_id":"cape-town","oai_identifier":"oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42342"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cape-town/oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42342","repository":{"repo_id":"cape-town","name":"University of Cape Town","base_url":"https://open.uct.ac.za/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"From conceptual diagrams to semi-quantitative models of social-ecological systems: exploring fuzzy cognitive mapping for a coastal fisheries system in the Southern Cape, South Africa","abstract":"The world's oceans face growing threats, necessitating immediate and sustainable action. Disadvantaged coastal communities are especially vulnerable to global change and ongoing human pressures. Strengthening the resilience and adaptability of marine social-ecological systems is crucial for achieving long-term conservation success, necessitating systems-based, inclusive, and communicable approaches. Qualitative modelling, particularly fuzzy-logic cognitive mapping (FCM), offers a promising toolset in support of strategic decision-making. This study builds on causal maps co-created with small-scale fishers from South Africa's southern Cape, integrating expert views and local knowledge through the use of FCM and a rapid prototyping approach. Iterative FCM application involved testing software suitability, refining prototypes, and co-creating scenarios to simulate outcomes and understand key drivers of change. Modifications to the ‘fcm' RStudio package addressed a critical limitation, enhancing the tool's capacity to analyse diverse scenarios effectively and reliably. Findings highlight the significant vulnerabilities of small-scale fishing communities in the southern Cape, driven by economic, policy, and environmental stressors. The study highlights the importance of participatory approaches in identifying vulnerability drivers and enhancing understanding of system dynamics. By integrating local knowledge with FCM, this research advances tools for exploring resilience and vulnerability in these communities.","abstract_html":"The world's oceans face growing threats, necessitating immediate and sustainable action. Disadvantaged coastal communities are especially vulnerable to global change and ongoing human pressures. Strengthening the resilience and adaptability of marine social-ecological systems is crucial for achieving long-term conservation success, necessitating systems-based, inclusive, and communicable approaches. Qualitative modelling, particularly fuzzy-logic cognitive mapping (FCM), offers a promising toolset in support of strategic decision-making. This study builds on causal maps co-created with small-scale fishers from South Africa's southern Cape, integrating expert views and local knowledge through the use of FCM and a rapid prototyping approach. Iterative FCM application involved testing software suitability, refining prototypes, and co-creating scenarios to simulate outcomes and understand key drivers of change. Modifications to the ‘fcm' RStudio package addressed a critical limitation, enhancing the tool's capacity to analyse diverse scenarios effectively and reliably. Findings highlight the significant vulnerabilities of small-scale fishing communities in the southern Cape, driven by economic, policy, and environmental stressors. The study highlights the importance of participatory approaches in identifying vulnerability drivers and enhancing understanding of system dynamics. By integrating local knowledge with FCM, this research advances tools for exploring resilience and vulnerability in these communities.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Le Roux, Natalie Anne"],"institution":"Department of Biological Sciences","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Ortega-Cisneros, Kelly","Jarre, Astrid"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025","date_published":"2025","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:54Z","subjects":["Fisheries system","Southern Cape","South Africa"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42342","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Ortega-Cisneros, Kelly","Jarre, Astrid"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Le Roux, Natalie Anne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-11-26T08:25:09Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-11-26T08:25:09Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Department of Biological Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cape Town"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis / Dissertation"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Masters","MSc"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Fisheries system","Southern Cape","South Africa"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42342"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The world's oceans face growing threats, necessitating immediate and sustainable action. 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Findings highlight the significant vulnerabilities of small-scale fishing communities in the southern Cape, driven by economic, policy, and environmental stressors. The study highlights the importance of participatory approaches in identifying vulnerability drivers and enhancing understanding of system dynamics. By integrating local knowledge with FCM, this research advances tools for exploring resilience and vulnerability in these communities."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["From conceptual diagrams to semi-quantitative models of social-ecological systems: exploring fuzzy cognitive mapping for a coastal fisheries system in the Southern Cape, South Africa"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Ortega-Cisneros, Kelly","Jarre, Astrid"],"dc:creator":["Le Roux, Natalie Anne"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-11-26T08:25:09Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-11-26T08:25:09Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025"],"dc:description.abstract":["The world's oceans face growing threats, necessitating immediate and sustainable action. Disadvantaged coastal communities are especially vulnerable to global change and ongoing human pressures. 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