Development of Fisheries in Bahía Magdalena-Almejas the Need To
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Ocean and Coastal Management 161 (2018) 1–10 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ocean and Coastal Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ocecoaman Development of fisheries in Bahía Magdalena-Almejas: The need to explore T new policies and management paradigms ∗ Miguel Ángel Ojeda-Ruiza, , Elvia Aida Marín-Monroya, Gustavo Hinojosa-Arangob, Alfredo Flores-Irigollena, Juan José Cota-Nietoc, Ricardo Alberto Cavieses-Núñeza, Octavio Aburto-Oropezad a Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), Departamento de Ingeniería en Pesquerías, La Paz BCS, Km 5.5 carretera al Sur, México, CP 23080, Mexico b Cátedra CONACYT, CIIDIR Oaxaca-IPN, Calle de hornos, 1003, Santa Cruz, Xoxocotlan Oaxaca, Mexico c Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservación A.C. La Paz. B.C.S., Mexico d Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Bahía Magdalena-Almejas (BMA) is one of the most important fishery zones in North-western Mexico that SSF produces between 55 and 60% of the total annual catch of the State of Baja California Sur (BCS) Mexico, mainly Fishery interactions from the catches by industrial fisheries of sardines and tuna. However, as many places in the world, this region is Local knowledge experimenting symptoms of resources overexploitation of due to the absence of a long-term vision of sustain- Multi-species fisheries ability, a multi-fishery management strategy, and a lack of planning and regulation strategies for local fisheries. Multi-fisheries management This paper documented the evolution of fishing activity using different governmental databases, interviews with fishers, and academic publications to identify short and medium term challenges, and to suggest management approaches that will contribute in the adaptation of strategies to promote the sustainable use of fishing resources and economic alternatives for fishermen's income diversification. The findings of this study confirm that Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) have played a major role in the economic development of BMA in recent years, conflicts between industrial and SSF fleets are arising as a result of overlapping working areas inside the bay, and changes in the relative importance of SSF. Although the majority of the population in the region depends almost com- pletely on activities related to SSF, the economic and social aspects of these activities have been poorly docu- mented; studies on this field became even more necessary. Based on the current scenario, it is urgent that fishing policies be adapted to new challenges such as efficient multi-active spatial management, a multi-fishery man- agement scheme. Besides, intra-sectorial strategies and social development programs should be improved. 1. Introduction According to Salas et al. (2007), and Worm et al. (2009), the as- piration to develop sustainability requires the reconstruction of Fishing is a key productive activity for the development and eco- worldwide fisheries. A more complex challenge in the case of SSF, due nomic growth of various countries. Extraction and commercialization of to deficiencies with the information derived from the activity, which marine resources help as economic activities to improve well-being, would not lead to an analysis and to establish indicators similar to those especially of coastal communities associated with both industrial and of industrial fleets. Nevertheless, these authors argue that such re- small-scale fisheries (SSF, also known as artisanal fisheries) (FAO, 2005; construction is possible if multiple management systems are applied, FAO, 2014a). Despite this relevance, studies point out that most fish- where appropriate governance is recognized as an essential element, eries are at their highest permit level of exploitation, and the rest are which strengthens co-management arrangements between local com- overexploited, with adverse impacts on the environment (FAO, 2014b). munities, governments and non-governmental organizations (Salas Therefore, adequate management of fisheries is considered a challenge et al., 2007; Worm et al., 2009). Other studies conclude that in order to and a worldwide priority to ensure sustainable development and food enhance fisheries sustainability, schemes operating at different levels security (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005; United Nations, should be considered, with simultaneous strategies aimed to: reduce 2014). fishing effort, develop aquaculture within permissible limits, diversify ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (M.Á. Ojeda-Ruiz). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.04.014 Received 29 January 2017; Received in revised form 7 April 2018; Accepted 15 April 2018 Available online 24 April 2018 0964-5691/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. M.Á. Ojeda-Ruiz et al. Ocean and Coastal Management 161 (2018) 1–10 the sources of income of fishermen, and strengthen the marine reserves fishermen, resources overexploitation, some space interactions between as a network of protection systems (Pauly et al., 2002; Kolding et al., fleets, interactions between fishing activities and species under special 2014; FAO, 2016). Also, it should be considered that fishing is a space- protection (e.g. grey whales and sea turtles), inadequate management temporary activity that interacts with other economic activities, and schemes, and some adverse environmental impacts (Ojeda-Ruiz, 2012; even with fleets of various fisheries, an issue that must be analysed with García-Martínez et al., 2007; Cisneros-Mata, 2010; Ojeda-Ruiz and geo-referenced data and with the use of tools permitted by the law, Ramírez-Rodríguez, 2012; Funes-Rodríguez et al., 2007). particularly by the management plans and the ecological or territorial Debilities of planning and regulation strategies for fishing at the regulations (Wong-González, 2009; Ojeda-Ruiz, 2012). municipality level are evident due to the absence of programs with Mexico is no exception to the negative trend in marine fisheries, clear goals to maximize the fishing potential of the region (Gobierno de with an estimated 67% of its fisheries already at the maximum ex- Baja California Sur, 2016; ayuntamiento de la Paz, 2015; Gobierno de ploitation level and 17% that are already overexploited (Diario Oficial Baja California Sur, 2010). It is also evident that a vision for the future de la Fede, 2010). The country showed an accumulated growth of of BMA is non-existent, even though regions and micro-regions are al- 16.7% on its landings from 2003 to 2012 (FAO, 2014b). However, ready defined to promote BCS development (Gobierno de Baja between 2011 and 2012, it showed an increment of only 1% and oc- California Sur, 2010), but still fishery management does not take into cupied the 16th place in the world ranking. Marine resource extraction consideration the potential of each micro-region. is of primary economic and cultural importance along the coast of Conflicts between industrial fisheries and SSF in BMA are arising, Northwest Mexico, this region, which includes the Gulf of California some as a result of overlapping the working areas inside the bay (Ojeda- and the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, was in 1996 Ruiz, 2012; Navarro, 2014). There are also internal conflicts related to considered one of the most productive Mexican fishing zones and the the excessive number of boats that use the best fishing spots, known as 4th most important fishing site on the planet (Casas-Valdez and Ponce- caladeros, and a clear lack of proper regulation of fishing activities. Díaz, 1996). The states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, and Baja Some control regulations such as adequate spatial and temporal dis- California Sur (BCS) comprise this zone, which produces 77% of the tribution of fleets and other economic activities, and better surveillance total volume of fisheries landings in Mexico, accounting for 51% of the are urgently needed (Wilen, 2004). A recognized problem in the area is total revenue generated by Mexican fisheries (IMCO, 2014). illegal fishing that compromises the profitability of the activity (IMCO, Baja California Sur is the third most productive state in México; over 2014). the last 10 years it has provided 11% of the landed catches in the entire This study documents the evolution of fishing activity in country (Comisión Nacional de Pesc, 2014). The catch over this period Magdalena-Almejas Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico based on the was integrated by more than 70 species (CONAPESCA, 2015; Erisman available statistical information (Official Catch Landing Reports OCLR, et al., 2011). The lagoon complex in the Pacific coast known as Bahía 2001–2013), local knowledge of small scale fishermen obtained Magdalena-Almejas (BMA) has become the main fishing ground in BCS, through surveys in 2014, and academic publications (1996–2017), in producing between 55 and 60% of the state's annual catch, which re- order to identify short-term and medium term challenges and suggest presents approximately 40% of the total income generated by fishing. management approaches that will contribute in the adaptation of This fact is related to high biomass production, associated with parti- strategies to promote the sustainable use of fishing resources and eco- cular geographic, oceanographic, and environmental factors, which has nomic alternatives of fishermen diversification. allowed the development of diverse industrial fisheries and SSF (Ojeda- Ruiz, 2012). Other benefits provided by BMA are ecosystem services for