Transboundary Socio-Ecological Effects of a Marine Protected Area in the Southwest Atlantic

Autor(es)

Lopes, Priscila F. M. ; Silvano, Renato A. M. ; Nora, Vinicius A. ; Begossi, Alpina

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: AMBIO; v. 42, n. 8, p. 12-pg., 2013-11-01.

Resumo

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been regarded as an alternative to protect natural resources and to improve fisheries. However, MPAs may also have negative socio-economic consequences on fishing communities. We aimed to check the effectiveness of a socially conflicting MPA in Brazil by assessing target reef fish biomass in islands inside (n = 6) and outside (n = 6) the MPA, fisheries' productivity (biomass), catch per unit of effort (CPUE), and fishers' socio-economic status (mainly fishers' income) in three fishing communities subjected to different degrees of influence (close, average, and long distance) of the MPA. The CPUE was higher in the fishing community that was further away from the MPA, fish biomass was higher in the islands located inside the MPA in the southern region and in the islands located outside the MPA in the northern region, while fishers were making the most money closest to the MPA, where conflicts are the highest, probably from practicing very intensive fisheries. This integrated approach showed that the studied MPA has not delivered ecological benefits, such as higher CPUE or more fish, while higher income closer to the MPA could not be clearly attributed to its effects. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/11154-3 - Ecologia da pesca artesanal em Paraty: forrageio ótimo e etnoecologia
• Beneficiário: Alpina Begossi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 12/16722-2 - Ecologia e etnoecologia da pesca artesanal no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Alpina Begossi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Pesquisador Visitante - Brasil