Transitioning to alternative livelihoods: The case of PACE-Vaquita

Ávila-Forcada, Sara; Martínez-Cruz, Adán L.; Rodriguez-Ramirez, Ramses; Rivera, Enrique Sanjurjo

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.104984

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, when an alternative livelihood is developed, it does not always mean it will substitute for the harmful one, so whether alternative livelihoods can deliver effective conservation impact remains contested (Roe et al, 2015; Wright et al, 2016). In some cases where fishers have acquired new opportunities, they diversified their livelihood strategies but continued fishing (Avila‐Forcada et al, 2020; Brugere et al, 2008). Successful transitions might depend on availability of incentives such as subsidies, for the alternatives to provide increased income relative to fishing, and that incomes reach the right people (Avila‐Forcada et al, 2020; Diedrich et al, 2019; Wright et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some cases where fishers have acquired new opportunities, they diversified their livelihood strategies but continued fishing (Avila‐Forcada et al, 2020; Brugere et al, 2008). Successful transitions might depend on availability of incentives such as subsidies, for the alternatives to provide increased income relative to fishing, and that incomes reach the right people (Avila‐Forcada et al, 2020; Diedrich et al, 2019; Wright et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Dagestan, some fishing communities have already transitioned Elsewhere, studies have emphasised that transitioning from fishing to alternative livelihoods might be necessary to reduce illegal or unsustainable fishing (Avila-Forcada et al, 2020). Alternative livelihoods can provide more sustainable options, and reduce incentives to fish illegally.…”

Section: Alternative Livelihoodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Stakeholder consensus suggests strategies to promote sustainability in an artisanal fishery with high rates of poaching and marine mammal bycatch

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Illegal fishing for high value species in artisanal fisheries drives incidental catch and declines of marine mammals and other large vertebrates of conservation importance around the world. Engaging with stakeholders is essential to understand which strategies will be effective in motivating the development of more sustainable practices, and disengagement from illegal fisheries.2. Here we present the results of a Q study carried out in autumn 2018 with 50 stakeholders from the Caspian Sea coast of Dagestan (Russian Federation), including fishers illegally targeting sturgeon (Acipenseridae) and Caspian seals Pusa caspica, traders and fisheries managers. We assess viewpoints on biodiversity governance; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and conservation.3. Three distinct viewpoint groups emerged from a factor analysis, which we designated as 'Nostalgists', 'Optimists' and 'Pessimists'. Nostalgists were concerned with decline in environmental quality, and emphasised a need for increased centralised involvement of authorities reminiscent of the old Soviet system. Optimists expressed support for a well-regulated legal fisheries sector, while Pessimists were very aware of the negative impact of illegal fisheries and IWT, but felt they could not be controlled.4. Among all groups we found a strong desire for alternative livelihoods (ALs), improved sustainability and agreement on the potential effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and increased regulation, even if some stakeholders felt they were not achievable goals. 5. We used our results to inform three workshops in which Dagestani fishers and fishery experts discussed potential conservation interventions, and the barriers to their implementation. Six action types were identified including enhanced law enforcement, increased regulation, protected areas, alternative livelihoods,

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Alternative Livelihoodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stakeholder consensus suggests strategies to promote sustainability in an artisanal fishery with high rates of poaching and marine mammal bycatch

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A preliminary survey conducted in 2011 revealed that after three to four years, 70% of new businesses financed with PACE had survived (Ávila-Forcada et al, 2020). The survey data were used to analyze the factors associated with the survival of these new ventures and found that the businesses more likely to survive were those operated by women, located in San Felipe, not involved in fishing or tourism, and co-financed with loans from other sources 6 .…”

Section: Effectiveness Of Building Alternative Livelihoodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is equally important to consider the household as the relevant economic unit and evaluate the full spectrum of small businesses that provide services to the community, such as stationary shops, restaurants, beauty salons, etc. A broader array of economic activities can lead to more resilient coastal communities and increase compliance with policies that serve local economic interests (Ávila-Forcada et al, 2020).…”

Section: Invest In Economic Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Economic Perspective on Policies to Save the Vaquita: Conservation Actions, Wildlife Trafficking, and the Structure of Incentives

Rivera¹,

Mesnick

Ávila-Forcada

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Upper Gulf of California is a diverse and highly productive ecosystem supporting some of the most important fisheries in Mexico, yet a history of weak fishery management and illegal fishing threatens the area’s biodiversity and undermines human well-being in the communities along its shores. The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is endemic to these waters and is on the brink of extinction due to incidental entanglement in gillnets used by small-scale fishers. The resurgence of an illegal gillnet fishery for totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), whose swim bladders are highly prized in Hong Kong and continental China has exacerbated the decline of vaquita. Vaquita is one of a growing number of cases linking illegal wildlife trade, organized crime, and biodiversity decline. This paper provides a summary of key reflections of a panel of fisheries economists gathered at the ninth forum of the North American Association of Fisheries Economists (NAAFE) to evaluate the policies implemented in the Upper Gulf through an economic lens and updated to reflect more recent developments. The panel found that poor fisheries management, lack of effective enforcement, distant demand for an illegal product, corruption, and few viable economic alternatives were key challenges in addressing vaquita bycatch. The complexity of these problems requires a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, combining top-down (direct regulation) and bottom-up, participatory and incentive-based approaches, to improve governance and enhance community participation and therefore strengthen compliance. Enforcement is a key component of ensuring top-down policies are implemented, and equally crucial are actions to support legal fishermen able to make a good living—with a stake or ownership of their own resources—as important components of policies to address bycatch and also to reduce wildlife trafficking. The situation in the Upper Gulf of California is dire, yet similar threats to other marine mammals and wildlife trafficked species may benefit from the experience of the vaquita.

show abstract