11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23-21
Fishery Management For Artisanal Reef Fisheries in Developing Countries: A
Holistic Economic Approach
Christopher LIESE* 1
1 Social Science Research Group, SE Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fishery
Service, NOAA, Miami, FL
This paper argues that traditionally exploited renewable resources in developing
countries, in particular artisanal coral reef fisheries, are difficult or impossible to manage
with classical fishery management tools. Further, given many special characteristics of
these fisheries, even the usual policy objectives need to be questioned. By taking a closer
look at the setting and the decisions that underlie the behavior of the fishing households,
a different approach to management reveals itself. A set of policy options, based on a
broader economic scale and new to the fisheries context, is more likely to be feasible and
effective at conservation.
The explicit treatment of household-level behaviors and market settings, in addition to
selected social and demographic elements, adds important dimensions to the management
problem. The combination of these economic, social and demographic forces largely
determines fishing pressure and hence the biological health of the resource. In turn, the
status of the resource profoundly affects human well-being. A collapse will create
unemployment, worsen poverty and possibly lead to large population movements. As a
result, governments must find ways to conserve these resources in an effective, practical
and equitable manner.
This paper tries to identify these second best solutions, i.e. feasible policies that might
conserve the current health and potential of the resource in spite of it being exploited
under an open access property rights regime. For instance, income diversification and
alternative employment programs, usually an afterthought to conservation projects,
should be reevaluated as primary tools for conservation. Further, long-term family
planning policies and policies leading to poverty reduction are likely to have the greatest
impact. The coral reef fishery of Minahasa, Indonesia serves as illustration throughout
this paper.
The views expressed herein are my own.
23-22
Coral Reef Resource Values, Trade and Sustainability
Benjamin STARKHOUSE* 1 , Louise TEH 1 , Lydia TEH 1 , Yvonne SADOVY 2 , Rashid
SUMAILA 1
1 Fisheries Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2 University
of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Coral reef ecosystems are high in marine biodiversity, and are also significant socioeconomically
as a source of food and income in many developing countries. Trade in
coral reef resources brings up biological as well as social and economic issues. The
removal of target species causes disturbances to the structure of the coral reef ecosystem.
Increasing demand for trade products can lead to the depletion of many fish and
invertebrate stocks, resulting in economic hardship for fishers who target these species
for artisanal and subsistence purposes.
First, we give an overview of our project on coral reef values, trade and sustainability.
Second, we give details on the coral reef valuation component of our project. The
objective being to examine the net benefit of coral reef resource export trade relative to
the benefits from other uses of reef resources to the source country, here, Fiji. Although
Fiji is selected for a case study, the outcomes are expected to have much broader
application, especially to the island countries of the Pacific. Fiji relies on its coral reef
ecosystems for food, tradable commodities and tourist dollars. Even though a substantial
contributor to Fiji’s economy, a comprehensive, national-level valuation of the coral reef
sector is nonexistent. We will present an in depth analysis of the socio-economics of
Fiji’s coral reef resources. Our focus is on all reef-associated species harvested for food
(finfish, invertebrates and plants), the marine aquarium industry, industrial and
commercial uses of coral, reef products that are processed and/or exported, such as
trochus shells, and coral reef related tourism such as diving, snorkeling and fishing. The
results from this study will reveal the true direct use value of Fiji’s coral reefs and can
assist resource managers in developing socio-economically sustainable coral reef
resource use strategies.
Oral Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23-23
Coral Reef Reserves In Vanuatu; Ecological Vs. Socio-Cultural Impacts
Christopher BARTLETT* 1 , Charley MANUA 2
1 SEES, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, 2 Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area,
Port Vila, Vanuatu
This paper examines people’s perceptions of local social-ecological systems as influenced by
the presence of community-based coral reef management initiatives in the Republic of Vanuatu.
National and regional Melanesian characteristics, such as strong customary marine tenure and
decentralized governance, are highlighted as integral to understand the existence of local marine
reserves as well as to give context to historical marine resource use patterns. We assess humannature
interactions and perceptions of marine resource levels and management of all individuals
from six (6) small insular communities; three (3) with strong local management regimes, three
(3) without. The research employs a comparative analytic methodology based on socio-cultural
and ecological participatory research. We demonstrate that communities with the most robust
local management regimes and long-term coral reef reserves, have significantly different
average perceptions of the SES including stronger local governance, social cohesion,
management responsibility and human agency. Results indicate that small-scale marine reserves
and associated activities in insular Melanesia may have influence into village social and cultural
realms that transcend intended ecological benefits. It will be intimated by the authors that these
social and cultural impacts may be of the most valuable benefits of marine reserves to be gained
by the SES in small Melanesian communities with extremely limited sea tenure areas. This
thesis is discussed in light of the temporal and spatial scales necessary for effective
management of coral reef ecological systems. We conclude that some small Melanesian marine
reserves, combined with the village social and cultural attributes they enhance, significantly
contribute to regional management capacity, thus enriching the marine reserve ‘effectiveness’
debate
23-24
A Business Approach To Coral Reef Management: The Main Hawaiian Islands Seascape
Strategy Model
Melissa BOS* 1
1 Conservation International, Honolulu, HI
The frontier of coral reef management involves the application of business principles and tools
to conservation planning and implementation. Many current management strategies are limited
by reductionism and lack of financial planning. The Main Hawaiian Islands Seascape Strategy
is an example of a holistic, business-like approach to marine resource conservation. In the
business analogy, a conservation planner becomes an executive of a conservation business. The
business plan begins with the description of the company’s product, in this case, management of
ecosystem goods and services. Long-term direct and opportunity costs of management are
compared with market and non-market values of ecosystem goods and services. Potential
customers, revenue streams, and investment portfolios are analyzed. Commercial marketing
techniques are used to target consumer behavior. Liabilities and risks of management scenarios
are taken into consideration. Economic incentives and market-based approaches are included in
implementation. The business approach, coupled with strategic stakeholder consultations,
scientific assessments, and governance reviews, will allow management planning to progress
beyond the target of sustainability to ecological, economic, social, and cultural prosperity.
201