Reconnecting with the past and anticipating the future: A review of fisheries‐derived cultural ecosystem services in pre‐Hispanic Peru

A deep-rooted, reciprocal relationship between coastal Peruvians and marine ecosystems predating 13,000 BCE underpinned social transformation and cultural identity formation. Fisheries were not merely a subsistence activity but a cornerstone of early Peruvian civilizations, fostering identities, beliefs, and adaptive capabilities that evolved alongside environmental changes. This review synthesizes archaeological evidence to reveal how fisheries-derived cultural ecosystem services—such as heritage values and social cohesion—shaped pre-Hispanic societies over millennia. The findings underscore the transformative potential of reconnecting with historical ecological interactions for modern marine resource management, advocating for a holistic approach that integrates cultural practices into sustainable seascape governance.

López de la Lama, R., de la Puente, S., Sueiro, J. C., & Chan, K. M. A. (2020). Reconnecting with the past and anticipating the future: A review of fisheries‐derived cultural ecosystem services in pre‐Hispanic Peru. People and Nature, 3(1), 129–147. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10153