STEPS COMPLETED

In July 2014, the leaders of the three fishers´ associations of Fuerteventura agreed with WWF on the convenience of driving a participatory process in the island to design a Management Plan for the purpose of attaining the environmental and socio-economic sustainability contemplated in the Joint Fishing Policy.  This proposal was submitted in October 2015 to the state, autonomic and insular fishing administration, as well as to renowned researchers and interested environmental NGOs, who confirmed their interest therein.

There were interviews at the port and standardized surveys of a representative number of fishers.  The information gathered was finally validated in its entirety by the sector by holding participatory workshops.  Concurrently, there were meetings with the administration, researchers and NGOs to learn about their concerns and needs.

Based on this, a preliminary diagnosis of the situation was prepared including the vision, concerns and interests of all stakeholders. Among the most relevant problems there is the lack of means and coordination for surveillance and control of poaching, the lack of stable channels for dialogue between the various stakeholders, the dearth of information and follow-up on the fisheries’ for their management on scientific bases, or the lack of a fishing management strategy within a proper legislative framework that ensures the re-generation of resources.

In November 2016, a workshop was held at Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) gathering all the sectors for the first time. This workshop was a turning point in the process, since it completed and validated the diagnosis by using participatory methods.  Additionally, a unanimous agreement was reached to form of a stable task force in charge of preparing a Fishing Management Plan to address the challenges posed in the diagnosis. A Coordination Group was formed in 2017, where the various stakeholders of this process are represented, and the goals and objectives of the Management Plan have been jointly established.

NEXT STEPS

Currently, the coordination group is compiling data to conduct a Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA). This analysis will assess the vulnerability of 15 commercial demersal species that are most important for the island’s fishers and serve as basis for defining a management strategy that prioritizes actions for these species.

LESSONS LEARNED

The participatory activities, such as surveys and interviews, have enabled gathering relevant information about the starting conditions and to share the problems and needs among stakeholders, identifying common concerns. These actions have provided transparency and established trust bonds during the process. Using these tools allows obtaining an important diagnosis of the needs and expectations.

The meetings among stakeholders provide ample, collective and transverse participation that facilitates dialogue among the parties, and generate the trust required to reach common agreements and plan concrete and prioritized work actions.