Comanagement of small‐scale fisheries and ecosystem services

Stefan Gelcich,Felipe Vasquez‐Lavin,Maria José Martínez‐Harms,Cristina Ruano‐Chamorro,Sebastián Tapia‐Lewin

doi:10.1111/conl.12637

Abstract

AbstractMarine ecosystem services are in global decline, which requires new transformational changes in governance to cope with multiple anthropogenic stressors. We perform a systematic literature review of the biodiversity and ecosystem services outcomes of a governance transformation toward comanagement through the allocation of territorial user rights to artisanal fisher associations (TURFs) in Chile. We synthesize the implications of more than 25 years of establishing a TURF policy over ecosystem services. Results show TURFs sustain biodiversity and all typologies of ecosystem services when they are well enforced. Research on provisioning services is most prevalent, however cultural services have been gaining traction with studies assessing the role of leadership, sanctions, and social capital in determining TURF outcomes. The results suggest that TURFs can play an important role in creating social and ecological enabling conditions for local stewardship. While this is encouraging, there is a bias toward positive results and few studies address negative consequences of TURFs aimed at identifying constraints for further development. The review shows that there has been a continuous transition toward interdisciplinary social–ecological research. Research on TURFs faced with drivers of global change and uncertainty are urgently needed, in order to anticipate unintended outcomes and adapt accordingly.

Highlights

Marine ecosystems provide multiple benefits, or ecosystem services, to people including food provision, carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and recreation opportunities (Liquete et al, 2013; Worm et al, 2006)
For the identification of marine ecosystem services, we defined ecosystem services as the benefits people obtain from coastal social–ecological systems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005) and identified the category of the ecosystem services addressed in the papers
This synthesis shows that territorial user rights for fisheries (TURFs) policy has enhanced attitudes and behaviors of fishers engaged in this comanagement scheme

Summary

Introduction

Marine ecosystems provide multiple benefits, or ecosystem services, to people including food provision, carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and recreation opportunities (Liquete et al, 2013; Worm et al, 2006). Comanagement approaches that grant territorial user rights for fisheries (TURFs) are one of various policy alternatives that are being promoted to. Transform marine governance and enhance the sustainability of small-scale fisheries. TURFs are currently being promoted by NGOs, governments, and philanthropic foundations across the globe (Gelcich et al, 2017). Evidence-based social–ecological assessments of marine governance transformation outcomes are scarce. That jeopardizes the monitoring of costs, benefits, and unexpected outcomes

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Discussion

Conclusion