The influence of fisherman scale in the resilience of socio-ecological systems: An analysis using Q methodology

Abstract

The implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) is an important conservation strategy but in spite of the generated benefits, many of these areas are targets of criticism because they also generate negative social, economic and cultural impacts on local communities. When not properly handled, these conflicts can undermine preservation objectives. Due to the human population increase and the emergence of new MPAs around the world, the interaction between man and nature tends to increase. The Abrolhos bank, where the Abrolhos National Marine Park (Abrolhos N.M.P) is located, is home to the largest and richest coral reef areas in the South Atlantic. This region has around 20,000 fishermen who exploit the fishing grounds and their surroundings. The implementation of the Abrolhos N.M.P led to a change in the lifestyle of fishermen in the surrounding region. These changes have generated conflicts between fishermen and this MPA. Therefore, the objective of this study was to understand the resilience of the socioecological system (SES) of the Abrolhos N.M.P surroundings, through the vision and the strategies adopted by the fishermen of the region, using the Q methodology. For this study, the small and medium scale fishermen of the Abrolhos N.M.P surroundings were interviewed. The results indicate that the resilience of the SES varies according to the fishing scale. The SES that small-scale fishermen are a part of have shown to be less resilient and also have more conflicts with this MPA. For them, the loss of old fishing grounds that became part of the MPA has compromised their work. Meanwhile, the SSE that the medium-scale fishermen are part of has shown to be more resilient, although they also have conflicts with the AMP. For them, the loss of a fishery represented an advantage for the maintenance of fishing in the region. Changes affecting the marine landscape need to be carried out with caution and must take the reality experienced by the fishermen in the vicinity into account, in order to avoid the exclusion and marginalization of these communities which in turn generates conflicts that undermine the preservation objectives.