Abstract
There is a growing need to strengthen the small-scale fishing sector with emerging governance methods that improve fishers’ threatened livelihoods. Therefore, this study’s aim was to develop management recommendations, based on easily interpreted conclusions that can be used to address the socio-ecological difficulties that the artisanal, bottom-longline fishery in Bejuco, Pacific coast of Costa Rica faces. The results of previously recorded fisher socio-ecological perceptions and an evaluation of the spotted rose snapper’s, Lutjanus guttatus, population dynamics were assigned a measurable set of indicators in reference to the fishery’s natural, human and management sub-systems. This was done via the traffic light method with easily interpreted colors based on a review of similar published fisheries studies. According to these results, a stock assessment for the fishery’s target species and research to determine the composition and magnitude of the fishery’s discarded species were recommended. Fisher economic dependence on bottom-longline activities led to the recommendation to develop alternative livelihood strategies. Also, the promotion of alternative markets and sustainability certification strategies for the snapper fishery are advised. Enlargement of the multi-use marine protected areas within the fishery’s grounds and improvement of their management strategies is also recommended. In order for this to occur, improved resource user coordination in the form of a fisher association that has the capability to lobby for increased enforcement of the protected areas from destructive fisheries must be realized. Doing so would aid the development of a local management plan and participatory governance system. Such an initiative would justify the development of community lead marine protected area management regimes.
Highlights
Governance is the role of public and private interactions taken to solve, in this case, fisheries issues and problems (FAO, 2004; Kooiman, Bavinck, Jentoft, & Pullin, 2005)
Remaining fishers work independently 94 % of fishers feel there is insufficient government control over illegal fishing No local management strategy exists Entire population collaborates with researchers to collect catch data No recognized system exists in Costa Rica Two marine protected area (MPA) exists in the area. 100 % of focus group participants agree that illegal fishing occurs in these areas perception and governance studies were organized into the three major sub-systems that exist in fisheries as defined by Charles (2001): natural, human, and management
A series of management recommendations was based on the results of this comparative analysis
Summary
Governance is the role of public and private interactions taken to solve, in this case, fisheries issues and problems (FAO, 2004; Kooiman, Bavinck, Jentoft, & Pullin, 2005). The traffic light method, as part of an indicator-based management approach to fisheries management, as first proposed by Caddy (1998), uses a universally recognized colorcoding design (green, yellow, red) to assess a range of fishery indicators (Halliday, Fanning, & Mohn, 2001; Caddy, 2002; Trenkel, Rochet, & Mesnil, 2007) These indicators have the advantage of being based on readily available data that can be calculated with minimal technical input and provide results understood and accepted by non-technical personnel or stakeholders. The traffic light method has been used as part of the management process for Northwest Atlantic shrimps and groundfish stocks (Halliday et al, 2001), the Torres Strait tropical rock lobster fishery between Australia and Papua New Guinea (Plagányi et al, 2013), and a battery of datapoor fisheries in Southern Europe (Tzanatos et al, 2013), to name a few
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