Changing environmental perceptions in Chile through fisheries co-management

A major factor in the success or failure of a conservation policy is how resource users perceive the policy. In fisheries management, co-management policies actively include resource users (fishers) as participants. What effect does this have on their environmental perceptions?

Research from the Catholic University of Chile, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), also in Chile, and the University of Wales, in the UK, examines the environmental perceptions of artisanal fishers in Chile.

The national fisheries policy in Chile is based on co-management, which was introduced because of the overexploitation of marine resources. During the 1970s, Chile was the leading exporter of fish and shellfish in South America, which led to the unsustainable harvesting of many marine resources. In particular, the overfishing of small snail called ‘loco’ – popular in Asian countries – was one of the main reasons for the development of a co-management policy.

Researchers interviewed fishers from ten fishing unions about their perceptions of conservation and environmental management. The most important environmental themes identified in these group meetings were conserving stocks, water pollution, and the trade-off between conservation and income.

Several different factors influenced fishers' views on these themes. But did their involvement in the co-management policy increase their concerns about environmental issues?

• Broadly speaking, there was a significant relationship between how long a fisher had been involved in co-management and positive environmental perceptions.
• Location was important in determining which issue fishers thought was the most important concern, but concern about the need to conserve fish stocks was widespread and did not vary from place to place.
• The length of time unions participated in co-management was a particularly strong influence on environmentally positive perceptions of water pollution and trade-offs between conservation and profit.
• Union members knew the most about water pollution because of a growing awareness of the needs of the export market, which has developed since unions were formed.
• Engaging with the co-management policy has increased fishers' appreciation of the value of species and ecosystems.

Perceptions of resource use should change rapidly in co-management structures where there is a close relationship between resource users and policymakers. The findings of this research show that since co-management was introduced in Chile, fishers' perceptions have changed. This means that they are more likely to use sustainable fishing practices in the future.

• Changing the perceptions of resource users about how they use resources should be one of the most important objectives of any resource management policy.
• Marine resource managers need to understand the incentives that resource users have to comply with sustainable management policies.
• Time is essential for co-management to be successful and build sustainable management practices: educating participants, overcoming distrust and reaching agreements are all time-consuming processes.
• The early withdrawal of funding may lead to co-management policies failing.

Source(s):
'Engagement in co-management of marine benthic resources in fluences environmental perceptions of artisanal fishers', Environmental Conservation 35 (1), pages 36-45, by Stefan Gelcich, Michel J Kaiser, Juan Carlos Castilla and Gareth Edwards-Jones, 2008

Funded by: FONDECYT 3060085; Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile project 1501-0001

id21 Research Highlight: 14 December 2008

Further Information:
Stefan Gelcich
Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biology
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile
Casilla 114-D
Santiago
Chile

Tel: +56 23542610
Fax: +56 23542621
Contact the contributor: sgelcich@bio.puc.cl

Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile,Chile

Other related links:
id21 insights 65 ‘The importance of fisheries for development’

‘Co-managing Lake Victoria’s fisheries for sustainable development'

'Fisheries co-management: experiences from the Fisheries Management Science Programme’