Coastal and marine social-ecological systems are among the most productive yet vulnerable on Earth. They provide critical resources and ecosystem services, with fisheries serving as a primary driver of the economy, food security, and cultural identity for countless communities worldwide.

However, these systems face unprecedented pressures from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation. These challenges expose the intricate and often fragile interdependencies between marine biodiversity, ecological processes, fishery stocks, and human well-being.

Achieving sustainability in this complex context requires a holistic understanding that moves beyond siloed approaches. This Research Topic aims to integrate research on marine biology, ecology, fishery science, and social sciences to explore the pathways toward resilient and sustainable governance of these vital blue systems.

This special issue is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research on marine habitats and ecosystems across all latitudes and depth zones, with the goal of deepening our understanding of the functioning of natural marine systems. It seeks to consolidate original contributions from diverse disciplines, including marine ecology, fisheries science, social sciences, and policy studies.

Submissions may take the form of experimental research, field investigations, meta-analyses, and review articles.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that advance the interdisciplinary understanding of marine social-ecological systems. We encourage submissions that address the following specific themes:
• The interplay between fishery dynamics, marine biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.
• Assessing the vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity of coastal communities and marine ecosystems to global change.
• Development and evaluation of innovative governance and policy frameworks for sustainable marine resource management.
• Studies on the ecological and societal impacts of conservation and management interventions, such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and rights-based fisheries.

This special issue is dedicated to publishing Original Research and Review articles. We particularly welcome empirical studies, field investigations, and meta-analyses.

By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, this special issue aims to establish a scientific foundation for building a sustainable marine future and to provide the global community of ecologists with findings of broad interest and significance.

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The Blue Nexus: Linking Fisheries, Marine Ecology, and Human Societies