Socio-Environmental Management of Marine Extractive Reserves for Eco-development

The community-based research laboratory is collaborating with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) on this research project, funded by Petrobrás Ambiental in Brazil. The project is based in the coastal region close to Rio de Janeiro, in the municipality of Arraial do Cabo. It aims to empower traditional fishing communities at the Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX) in Arraial do Cabo, in order to develop an appropriate modality of co-management based on social and ecological principles. Fishery in this region is privileged by a rare marine phenomena known as “up-dwelling”, which brings nutrient rich water from the sea floor to the surface. Complex socio-economic and environmental conflicts over the local resources need to be solved to secure sustainable fisheries management.

Livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities are at risk due to overexploitation and depletion of natural resources as they become further integrated into the globalised economy. They are faced with increasing conflicts and a lack of employment opportunities. They are often forced out of their habitats and displaced from coastal areas due to industrial development, tourism, pollution, environmental degradation, and conflicts with large commercial fishing operations. Management measures are found to be ineffective as research carried out in formulating plans often exclude community’s participation and do not gain legitimacy or integrate traditionally acquired knowledge. Recognition and legitimization of local, traditional knowledge with full participation of local resource users is the key to successful resource management.

Researchers at UFRJ are engaged in developing appropriate co-management procedures and policy recommendations as part of the ongoing research project on the socio-environmental management of Reserva Extrativista Marinha de Arraial do Cabo (RESEX) for ecological conservation. The addition to hte project of CBRL member Dr. Nandan Kumar has brought an external eye to the research and facilitated the analysis of existing data, integrating it with the generated knowledge.

A participatory survey was conducted in 2007 to collect base line information of the fishing communities. For that purpose high school  students from Arraial do Cabo, with a fisheries background were recruited and trained to apply the survey in their neighborhoods. A total of 514 households were interviewed in Arraial do Cabo over several months. The objective of this research is to provide comprehensive information of the resource situation and livelihoods of the fishers that would be helpful for co-management initiatives. In addition in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to find out about assets and barriers in local fisheries management. The analysis helped recognize conflicts among resource users, identify issues of securing access and user rights and it contributed to the discussion on responsible forms of use of coastal and fishery resources by fishing communities.

Dr. Kumar also conducted in-depth interviews and secondary document research. Ethnographic methods were also emplyed in conjunction wirth participan observation, as Dr Kumar accompanyed the fishers during their daily hauls and integrated himself into the fishers' social networks and spaces. The main objective was to trace the subsistence activities of the fishing communities through these participatory methods, which provided insights into the interconnections between the coastal and marine system, and the livelihoods they derive from it.

Results: Income derived from fisheries has declined to an all time low this year (2008). Many members of the fishing community are giving up their traditional livelihoods and migrating to other sectors such as tourism. In depth interviews and documentary research revealed unregulated and extensive use of large gill nets that block any migratory shoals of fish from reaching the fishing grounds of artisanal fishers of Arraial do Cabo. Despite the establishment of RESEX to enhance fish resources for artisanal fishers, a lack of vigilance has allowed industrial fisheries to operate within the limits of 2 nautical miles mandated in the legislation (Utilization Plan of the MARESEX of Arraial do Cabo, IBAMA, 1999), which also indicates violation of a collective sense of traditional “use rights” (Diegus, 2004) of artisanal fishing communities. Increased beach tourism and related infrastructure development pushed the fishing communities to take refuge in hill slopes and tops, far from their beach landing crafts and gear. In all interviews, pollution from the port activities is highlighted.

While lack of proper regulatory measures coupled with lack of vigilance leaves marine fish resources in an open access regime, larger macro impacts such as climate change seem to impact the marine fauna. There are indications that the climate change is impacting marine fauna in the southeastern Brazilian coast. During the field study period, repetitive observations were made on on a daily basis regarding the mortality of marine fauna on the beaches of Arraial do Cabo. Large numbers of penguins, certain species of fish/krill, and marine seals (uncommon to the warm waters of Arraial do Cabo) were found dead and washed ashore – famine is the cause of death in all cases.

[Visit the project website: Ressurgência - Rede Arraial Sustentável (in Portuguese)]