Crossroads at sea: Escalating conflict in a marine protected area in Malta

Said, Alicia; MacMillan, Douglas C.; Campbell, Brian

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2018.04.019

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This comes along concurrent plans for more seafloor grabbing for the implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) which are set to encompass 42% of the inshore fishing grounds, and within which ecotourism is depicted as a new blue economy niche, which allegedly would provide diversification opportunities to small-scale fishers. Conflict over this form of blue grabbing has escalated, as fishers feel victimised by new economic niches that are implemented in the name of marine conservation without proper government consultation (Said et al, 2018).…”

Section: 3) Coastal Grabbingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As illustrated in Figure 1, our research has found that the policies have changed the landscape, fragmenting the fleet into different segments including those at the top who are prospering through the new policies as they were able to have direct access to decision-making pertaining to access to resources (quota ownership, subsidies, fishing vessel licenses) others that are persisting by engaging in long hours of work and making ends meet through part-time jobs on land, and others that started perishing and leaving the sector altogether (Said et al, 2018). Some have joined the large vessels as employees, while others are now employed at the tuna ranching farms, on a payroll that does not equate to the income of being independent fishers.…”

Section: ) the Cost Of Blue Grabbing: Fragmentation And Disenfranchmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With fishers feeling that the MPAs' consultations with the authorities are not sufficient and that the conservation objectives are being drafted through a narrow ecological vision, they currently have no guarantee regarding that fishing livelihoods will be protected following the establishment of the MPAs. Even though, through the right management framework, smallscale low-impact fishers can, in principle, provide the right extraction balance within the context of marine conservation, no proper conversation on how to put fishing at the centre of marine conservation plans has been enacted, leaving the fishers strongly resistant towards the MPAs (Said et al, 2018).…”

Section: ) the Cost Of Blue Grabbing: Fragmentation And Disenfranchmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Re-grabbing’ marine resources: a blue degrowth agenda for the resurgence of small-scale fisheries in Malta

Said

MacMillan

2019

Sustain Sci

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The era of blue growth, underpinned by neoliberal policy discourses, has been pervasive in the promulgation of European marine governance and policies in the past decade, with little or no regard for the sustainability of small-scale fisheries. In this paper, we engage with theoretical and empirical observations to reflect on how the promise of sustainable economic growth arising from the convergence of international conservation policies and the blue growth paradigm, has failed to materialise and caused huge social and economic inequities among local fishing communities and the catastrophic disruption of the socio-ecological system of fisheries. Drawing on various interventions in Malta, we illustrate how neoliberal policies, lauded and promoted as part of a national blue growth strategy, are suffocating and marginalising small-scale fishing communities by concentrating fishing opportunities into fewer, larger corporate hands, and by a hegemonic anti-small scale fishing narrative that seeks to replace traditional fishing with the 'darlings of the new blue economy', aquaculture and coastal tourism. With artisanalcommercial fishing in Malta on the verge of extinction, we call for reversal of neo-liberal policy measures to re-create a more resilient and stable fisheries economy through specific blue degrowth measures including improved access to fisheries resources and markets, and the establishment of marine protected areas that recognize the value of small-scale fisheries to conservation. This could be achieved through equity-based governance systems, including improved profit distribution systems within community economies, that grant small-scale fisheries the possibility of re-institutionalizing their sector and promoting their existence and viability into the future. Ultimately, we demonstrate that through a blue economy roadmap for small-scale fisheries, small-islands states like Malta, can rescue an important component of their maritime traditions, and be better placed to reach the obligations set out within the United Nations sustainable development goals. 1) Introduction: Small-scale Fisheries in the Blue Growth EraFishing communities around the world have been undergoing a number of enforced adaptations due to a much changed policy landscape that favour economic efficiency and marine conservation objectives. This has been achieved by the privatisation of fishing rights, the establishment of marine protected areas, and the allocation of new 'development' rights to marine farming and tourism interests. These new forms of institutionalized approaches, collectively informing the governance of marine resources, have created a new era of hegemonic governmentality, which, we argue, can lead to greater conflicts than those the policies were intended to address and, has in some cases, led to the destitution of fishers. As Bresnihan (2019) elaborates the introduction of neoliberal policies such as quotas, rationalization and conservation are likely to bring with them a dysfunctional situation whereby 'overlapping a...

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Section: 3) Coastal Grabbingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ) the Cost Of Blue Grabbing: Fragmentation And Disenfranchmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ) the Cost Of Blue Grabbing: Fragmentation And Disenfranchmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Re-grabbing’ marine resources: a blue degrowth agenda for the resurgence of small-scale fisheries in Malta

Said

MacMillan

2019

Sustain Sci

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“…Molina dan Frapolli (2020) menyebutkan bahwa konflik di wilayah konservasi perairan cenderung meningkat sejalan dengan mening-katnya jumlah wilayah konservasi perairan di dunia. Konflik di kawasan konservasi seringkali terjadi antara antara pihak pengelola dengan masyarakat yang tinggal di sekitar atau yang memanfaatkan kawasan konservasi tersebut (Maiwa et al 2018;Molina dan Frapolli 2020;Prayitno 2020;Said et al 2018;Senoaji et al 2020).…”

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Analisis Kebutuhan Informasi Bagi Penyusunan Rencana Resolusi Konflik Di Taman Wisata Perairan (Twp) Pulau Pieh

Yanti,

Darmawan,

Sondita

2023

Jurnal Marfis

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The difference in fishing gear between traditional and modern fishermen triggers conflicts; for the sustainability of the Pieh Island Marine Tourism Park (TWP) area, efforts are needed to prepare an efficient conflict resolution plan by considering relevant data and information. The study aims to identify conflicts in the Pieh Island TWP area, identify data and information needs to develop conflict resolution, analyze the availability of management data in the Pieh Island TWP, and provide recommendations for data and information collection. The research was conducted in the form of field observations and structured interviews through several questions that have been systematically prepared, as well as focus group discussions (FGDs) with the managers of the Work Unit (Satker) who are directly responsible to the Pekanbaru National Marine Protected Area Workshop (LKKPN Pekanbaru) as the Technical Implementation Unit of the TWP National Marine Protected Area Pieh Island. The results of the study are qualitative and quantitative data through descriptive and comparative methods in the form of identification of the type/nature of conflict in TWP, data and information needed in the preparation of conflict resolution, data and information that is already available and that must be collected, the ability of managers to support technically but financially need additional funds, and appropriate conflict resolution as well as some descriptions of recommendations for collecting data and information in TWP. Keywords: information needs, management plan, conflict resolution.

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