An Overview Of Our Solution
How big coastal tourism and small-scale fishing can prosper – together
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Océanos/Costas
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: América del norte
Problem
Describe the problem
The solution addresses the social, environmental, and economic problems facing coastal community members in developing nations. These include politics that promote the large-scale unsustainable extraction of marine resources, tourism development efforts that displace coastal community members, and long chains of custody that inadequately compensate fishers for their efforts. The project is identifying sustainable extraction techniques, developing local markets that promote the direct sale of seafood between small-scale fishers and tourism operators, and empowering fishers through small-medium enterprise (SME) development. This model not only values a quality, sustainably produced product, but it also values the traditions, and economic development of fishing communities.
Biodiversity Impact
The solution is creating a sustainable bottom longline snapper fishery by incorporating environmental protection and socioeconomic development strategies into its business plan. Fishery data is being used to calculate the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and to develop sustainability indicators and biological reference points that will determine the permissible fishing effort. Bycatch information, along with a bottom longline ecosystem impact assessment, is also contributing to the fishery’s environmental protection strategy. From a political perspective, fishery data contributed to the Costa Rican Environmental Ministry’s decision to establish two 19,000 hectare marine protected areas (MPA) within the local fishing grounds. Bejuco’s two MPAs carry a “multi-use†designation and prohibit the use of shrimp trawls and gill nets while allowing small-scale responsible techniques such as hand lines and bottom demersal longlines. The increase in earnings/Kg procured by these fishers through the direct sale of snappers to local hotels and resorts serves as an economic incentive for sustainability. But in order to avoid a “tragedy of the commons†scenario, the participating fishing associations must self govern their actions. While challenging, the project recognizes these needs and is involved in fisher capacity building efforts to see this process through.
Solution
For decades, Costa Rican economic policies have catered to the interests of powerful, large-scale destructive fisheries, including those of its national shrimp trawl fishery. While the project is lobbing for the implementation of nationally supported marine spatial planning and ecosystem management strategies, policies and laws are not enough to protect marine resources in Costa Rica. This is evident in Bejuco where shrimp trawls illegally fish the districtƒ??s two MPAs without repercussion for their actions. Because of this political climate, getting the government to recognize the potential that small-scale fishers have to solving development problems through business can only be done by aligning them with economically influential partners like the tourism industry. The project is also applying for a Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification (fishery underwent a pre-assessment in May, 2011) as a way of leveraging the fishersƒ?? political strength and desire to create a co management system for the areaƒ??s coastal resources. This idea is taken from Mexico where an international certification resulted in fishing community members being placed on local advisory boards. Project members hope an MSC certification and strong economic fishery-tourism partnerships will garner the industry the political respect it deserves. // The Bejuco fishing grounds are located within the near coastal portions of both area MPAs (19,000 hectares each) and portions of a 10,000 hectare unprotected area between them. Estimated total fishing area is 9,000 hectares. The district of Bejuco where local snapper sales are taking place is 26,200 hectares.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 4 years // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? Yes // A fisheries environmental protection strategy is being developed between fishers and project biologists that will ensure the fishery’s capability of maintaining itself within the established sustainability guidelines while also staying within the Costa Rican government’s legal framework. The strategy will also include long term goals and objectives as a way of guiding the fishers’ management decisions. The MSC pre certification process has identified which fishery aspects are well developed and which ones are data deficient at this time. The project’s overall business plan covers the project’s social and economic components. While the economic relationships between fishers and hotels are in their beginning stages and still require confidence building and better defined management mechanisms between both parties, a market redesign is occurring. Meetings between fishers, hotel managers, and representatives from international development firms are defining the needs of all parties. The project’s business management aspect will take into account the sustainability needs of the fishery and the tourism industry’s guest service needs. These agreements will require professionalism and a high level of commitment by all stakeholders.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
Visitors to developing nations have a growing notion of travelers’ philanthropy. Many tourists not only want to experience local traditions and cultures, but they want to contribute to the preservation and sustainable development of these cultures as well. In Bejuco, hotels/resorts are responding to their guests’ changing desires by encouraging them to eat freshly caught snappers purchased directly from local bottom longline fishers. These hotels are also developing artisanal fishing tours that promote interaction and knowledge sharing between guests and fisher folk. Antiquated chains of custody that once undervalued fishers’ efforts and had hotels buying seafood from sellers located in distant inland cities, are ending. The restructured market design not only results in increased earnings/Kg for the community, but also creates a cultural exchange between fishers, business owners and national/international travelers. This is changing the way hotels view their place in the community and how community members view the tourism industry. Conflict and alienation are giving way to partnerships and progress. Bejuco’s snapper fishery is made up of 100 official members, their spouses, and their families, all of whom work together for the industry’s survival. // PRETOMA became involved in the project in 2008 at the communities’ invitation. This means that before all the data taking and talk of direct markets, these fishers had a sense that they needed to better conserve the areas resources – they just needed some help with their initiative. Today, both fishing associations involved in this project are legally formed and operate under the auspices of an elected board of managers. An omnipresent notion throughout this project is that a sustainable fishery is one that’s managed by the fishers themselves. All decision making ultimately rests with the fishers. The question now is how to better empower them so they can fully accomplish the project’s objectives. One of these ways is through the development of SMEs – something that will give fishers further financial independence and a sense of project ownership/stewardship. This has been a difficult task because the modern banking system loans money to those with money and has no way of placing a monitory value on an industry’s sustainability, even though this guarantees its continued profitability. While difficult, the initiative is seeing progress as local resorts have begun to cosign National Bank loans to fishers. Project replication reference: Southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua (initial fact finding) Sarah M. Otterstrom Paso PacÃfico sarah@pasopacifico.org