Abstract
The objective of this research is to assess the main social and economic effects on local fishermen in El Golfo de Santa Clara, as a result of the severe fishing restrictions enforced to protect the marine mammal “vaquita” (Phocoena sinus). Sustainable development includes natural resources conservation and the improvement of the social and economic conditions of local inhabitants. In Mexico, the vaquita is in imminent danger of extinction. It is a marine cetacean endemic to the Upper Gulf of California. Conservation measures to save this species, such as gear-switching and transformation subsidies from fishing activities to tourist services, have caused severe social and economic impacts on the local fishermen of this region. Presently, it is estimated that there are only 30 vaquita individuals left in the wild, and none are in captivity. In this study, we conduct surveys of the human local population involved in the incidental bycatch fishing of the vaquita, and also use secondary sources to come up with recommendations, based on taking into account stakeholder needs. For this fishing community the economic and social problems have worsened because currently there are limited economic activity options in the area for the human population, and the vaquita population continues to decline. Recommendations are offered to contribute to the ecological sustainability of this species, and for economic and social sustainability of local fishermen.
Highlights
El Golfo de Santa Clara (GSC) fishing community (Figure 1), located at the Upper Gulf of California (UGC) and the Colorado River Delta (CRD) Mexico, faces an ecological, social and economic conundrum related to local inhabitants fishing activities, their way of life, and marine mammal conservation, that of the marine “vaquita” Phocoena sinus [1], the only cetacean species endemic to the UGC [2,3,4], which is critically endangered [5]
The fishing activities of the town of GSC contribute a total of 57% of the shrimp and 80% of the Gulf corvine fished in the entire region
GSC belongs to the municipality of San Luis Rio Colorado, which is a rural community and it is considered the most important in the reserve, as regards population size, the number of people dedicated to coastal fisheries, and the degree of influence on the core area of the reserve
Summary
El Golfo de Santa Clara (GSC) fishing community (Figure 1), located at the Upper Gulf of California (UGC) and the Colorado River Delta (CRD) Mexico, faces an ecological, social and economic conundrum related to local inhabitants fishing activities, their way of life, and marine mammal conservation, that of the marine “vaquita” Phocoena sinus [1], the only cetacean species endemic to the UGC [2,3,4], which is critically endangered [5]. The most Tshigenpifoicliacnietstrtahnastfhoarmveattiroannsefxoprmereiedntcheed fibsyhifnisghearcmtiveintiewsaws itthheinptahsesiUngGCofatrheeofpeednelryaldedbeacrteede. mThaekimngostthseigrnegifiiocnanat tBriaonsspfhoermreaRtieosnerevxepeorfietnhceeUdpbpyefirsGheurlmf oefnCwaalisfothrneipaaasnsdingCoolfotrhaedfoedReirvaelrdDecerlteae (mBRakUiGngCCthReDre) ginio1n99a3B(iFoisgpuhreer1e)R, ienseorrvdeeroftothperoUtepcptearnGduclofnosferCvaelitfhoernhiaabaitnadt, CasolworealldaosRviuvlenreDraeblltea s(pBeRcUieGs,CsCucRhDa)sinth1e9v9a3q(uFiitgau[r1e0]1.),Hinoworedveerr,tcoopmrobtiencetdaenfdfeccotsnosefrtvhee tihnecrheaabseitdats,aalisnwityellreassuvltuinlngefrraobmle the damming of the Colorado River in the United States and Mexico reduced its habitat, and incidences of bycatch in gillnets caused the population of vaquitas to decline, severely aggravating
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