Offshore marine protected areas: Divergent perceptions of divers and artisanal fishers |
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| Institution: | 1. Grupo de Ecologia Aquática, Espaço Inovação do Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia do Guamá, Belém, PA, Brazil;2. Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia (NEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil;3. Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy;4. Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE 60165-081, Brazil;5. Reef Systems Research Group, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Thorough comprehension of the perceptions of offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by different local social actors is lacking, especially in developing countries. This study aims to analyze the perceptions and socioeconomic characteristics of divers and artisanal fishers of an offshore MPA, located in Brazilian waters. Data on the perceptions, conflicts, and management of the MPA were gathered through questionnaires and interviews with local actors. The results show that scuba divers and fishers consider the MPA to be very important for biodiversity. They also consider their collaboration in participative management to be of considerable importance, even though they do not form part of the administration. For local actors, the area helps foster the preservation of the marine environment and benefits recreational diving, tourism, and artisanal fishery in local communities. Divers and fishers use the resources and space of the offshore area differently, which results in diverging perceptions and conflicts. Divers propose restricted protection (No-Take Zones), while fishers propose that the MPA should be used exclusively by the poor local communities for artisanal fishing. Conflicts arising from inefficient public administration (lack of environmental zoning, management plans, and participative management) and illegal use of the MPA were also identified. Data stemming from the local actors themselves are central to reducing the conflicts and improving public policies on offshore marine conservation. |
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| Keywords: | Maritime spatial planning Scuba divers Fisheries Management Conflict resolution Offshore marine governance |
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