Participatory Mapping as a Tool for Gill Net Fisheries Management in the South-Central Coast of São Paulo State

Abstract

The comprehension of how fishing effort is distributed spatially and through time is essential for the success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In order to achieve this, participatory mapping has been used as a method to obtain spatial data from artisanal fishermen, promoting more participatory decision-making processes. In the region of Peruíbe, there are a range of management instruments that regulates the spatial distribution and establish fishing closure areas for this activity. In order to understand how the gill net artisanal fisheries, affect the existing closure areas in this region, interviews with local fishermen were conducted, on which participatory mapping exercises were performed. Therefore, it was possible to estimate the spatial distribution of the gill net fisheries in this region. There were points where densification of fishermen was identified and it was found that these points were located nearby the MPAs, therefore creating areas of incongruities between the conservation objectives established by the MPAs and the fishing activity. Thus, a better understanding of the reasons why the fishermen choose certain areas for fishing, as well as how they will behave in case of closure of existing fishing areas are necessary to achieve an effective management for the MPAs.