Compliance with rights-based fisheries management is associated with fishermen's perceptions of peer compliance and experience: A case study in the Upper Gulf of California

Abstract

Understanding social drivers behind fisheries regulation compliance, as well as the perceived benefits from different types of fisheries management, is necessary to optimize strategies intended to preserve fish stocks while allowing for the economic well-being of the communities that harvest them. We conducted a survey to capture fishermen's and community members' perceptions of the current rights based management of the gulf curvina (Cynoscion othonopterus) fishery in the Upper Gulf of California, their participation in decision-making, as well as their motivation to comply with regulations and their own assessment of their quality of life. We designed a questionnaire that was used in structured interviews with fishermen and other community members. The results showed a perception of low participation in decision-making process that shaped the rights-based management system, and that a large part of the community did not perceive this system as beneficial to their income, well-being or quality of life despite empirical evidence of higher revenues. We also found a significant relation between perceptions of overall compliance with fishery regulations and of fishermen experience with fishermen's own compliance rate.