Do Social Networks Influence Small-Scale Fishermen’s Enforcement of Sea Tenure?

Abstract

Resource systems with enforced rules and strong monitoring systems typically have more predictable resource abundance, which can confer economic and social benefits to local communities. Co-management regimes demonstrate better social and ecological outcomes, but require an active role by community members in management activities, such as monitoring and enforcement. Previous work has emphasized understanding what makes fishermen comply with rules. This research takes a different approach to understand what influences an individual to enforce rules, particularly sea tenure. We conducted interviews and used multiple regression and Akaike’s Information Criteria model selection to evaluate the effect of social networks, food security, recent catch success, fisherman’s age and personal gear investment on individual’s enforcement of sea tenure. We found that fishermen’s enforcement of sea tenure declined between the two time periods measured and that social networks, age, food security, and changes in gear investment explained enforcement behavior across three different communities on Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast, an area undergoing rapid globalization.

Indicator-based management recommendations for an artisanal bottom-longline fishery in Costa Rica, Central America

“…obs. ), as there are other factors that influence fishers enforcement behavior, including social networks, food security, recent catch success, fisherman's age, and personal gear investment (Stevens, Frank, & Kramer, 2015). But while SSFs are complex entities to manage, there is ample evidence that supports the socio-ecological and economic benefits fostered by co-management systems that divide the authority and responsibility for management, between resource users and government agencies (Evans, Cherrett, & Pemsl, 2011).…”

Microeconomic relationships between and among fishers and traders influence the ability to respond to social-ecological changes in a small-scale fishery

“…The fishers are also required to operate with the regulatory environment established by the BMU including fishing gear restrictions etc. Although we did not examine the use of illegal fishing gear in the context of this study, the occurrence rate can be a consequence of the changes to social networks and economic return on gear investments combined with changes in food security as observed in similar small-scale fisheries elsewhere (Stevens et al 2015). Given the small size of the fishing enterprise at Lake Nabugabo, the spatial structure of the fishing effort, and the sessile nature of the community, the level of illegal fishing is considered manageable; however, there are still many challenges facing the fishery including enforcement of fishing regulations (Odongkara et al 2009, Lawrence and Watkins 2012, Vaccaro et al 2013.…”

Artículo de Revisión/ Review Article Teorías y modelos aplicados al estudio de la conducta del pescador: implicaciones en procesos de gestión

“…Estos modelos han sido aplicados en el análisis de las relaciones que establecen los pescadores al compartir información sobre tendencias de capturas, uso de tecnología asociada a las operaciones de pesca, aspectos del mercado, estrategias de pesca, cumplimiento de regulaciones y factores climáticos (Naranjo-Madrigal et al 2015;Stevens et al 2015). Se destacan los Modelos de Redes Sociales (MRSs) y los Modelos de Redes Bayesianas (MRBs) en el estudio de la conducta del pescador.…”

“…Por ejemplo, en la investigación realizada por Stevens et al (2015) se buscó entender las motivaciones que hacen que los pescadores de pequeña escala vigilen el cumplimiento de regulaciones en sus sitios de pesca y recursos en varias comunidades de la costa Atlántica de Nicaragua. En los modelos se incluyeron factores como: ingresos, seguridad alimentaria, edad y vigilancia comunitaria de los pescadores.…”