There is a concern regarding the sustainability of current global fishing effort and how to most effectively manage common pool fisheries resources. Without the allocation of appropriate property rights, both industrial and small-scale fisheries (SSF) are susceptible to the tragedy of the commons due to the open access nature of un-regulated fisheries. SSF communities are especially vulnerable due to the dependence on fishing as a source of livelihood and subsistence. To address the risk of fishery overexploitation, some isolated, SSF communities have formed cooperatives as a management tool to improve livelihood options and provide access to property rights for some fishery resources.
The Fish Production Cooperative Society of Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is a good example of a functional and well organized fishing cooperative in existence since 1948. Through fisher interviews, this study uncovers the perceptions and opinions of the cooperative fishers to answer the question “what characteristics are necessary to sustaining a fishing cooperative?”. The questions we asked addressed the fishers’ impressions of the cooperative on their lives and the community, how the cooperative has impacted their relationship with fisheries, and their perception of future threats and progress of the cooperative.
Based on the responses, the cooperative has provided social, economic, and environmental benefits for fishers Punta Abreojos, which have spilled over into the entire community. The fishers felt that it is more advantageous to work in the cooperative as opposed to privately. The majority considered the community united and that the cooperative encouraged a culture of community engagement, which empowered individuals by making their voices feel heard. The interviews revealed that the fishers knew that they must harvest responsibly through seasonal closures and catch size limits to continue economic development.
When asked what the fishers would share with other SSF communities, the variety of answers showed that there are many characteristics of Punta Abreojos that have allowed it to flourish, but those characteristics were rooted in care and respect of both the environment and each other. Punta Abreojos can act an example of optimism by learning from a community that has worked for generations to become marine stewards while maintaining viable livelihoods through fishing.
Ecosystem: Coastal , Resources: Fish , Big Issues: Resource use , Solutions: Governance/Management , Solutions: Local/Traditional knowledge
