Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
12.7
Benefits to the community and the environment
The main changes that the fishery has experienced since certification relate to the
increased support by government entities to the cooperatives and associated commu-
nities. So far there have been two types of advantages. The first involves achieving
a better image and reputation within the country and internationally (Agnew
et al
.
2006). The fisheries social and community characteristics make this international
recognition for the current co-management arrangement an incentive for producers
and fishing authorities to strive to continually improve the management. As the first
fishery in Mexico and Latin America to obtain MSC certification, and as a small-
scale fishery, the social organisations (the cooperatives) have secured enhanced
political empowerment for their negotiations, both with fishing and environmental
authorities (Agnew
et al
. 2006). FEDECOOP is the only organisation of regional
representation to hold a position in the influential Technical Advisory Commit-
tee of the CONAPESCA. The fishery has also received acknowledgement both
from government authorities as well as from the civil society, especially from non-
governmental organisations devoted to preserving the environment, strengthening
the producer's organisational culture, as well as preserving the fishery resources.
The certification carries a lot of weight in justifying the re-issuing of fishing con-
cessions to keep exclusive access to the lobster grounds for two more decades to
the cooperatives, because it recognises the good handling and care provided during
the period assigned for its commercial exploitation.
In the political and financial arena, the certification has strengthened the political
management capacity of the cooperatives and FEDECOOP by allowing them to
demand government support in order to compete in similar circumstances with
the rest of the fisheries worldwide. This has translated in the fulfilment of long-
held demands for electricity services for the fishing communities, the beginning
of an access to rural road improvements programme and a strong burst of federal
support towards the fishery organisation in the form of projects to improve the
infrastructure of processing plants, docks, dredging of navigation channels and
fleet modernisation.
12.8
Some reflections on the certification
MSC certification of the fishery has produced mixed results. Very positive outcomes
were related to the improved social recognition for the hard work and professional
management that the cooperatives and FEDECOOP built over more than 60 years
to manage this and other fisheries in a sustainable fashion. Their stewardship over
the fishing resources vested in their responsibility inside their fishing concession
is demonstrated by the MSC certification achieved, and by the profitability of their
fisheries amidst the problems that other cooperatives in Mexico are facing. Nev-
ertheless, several aspects could have been improved in the process. One important
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