January 25, 2012
by Sherie Steele, Development Communications, Tucson Office

CEDO RECEIVES WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANT - To fund a project of Community Support for Sustainable Fisheries
in the Upper Gulf Reserve 

Through a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation, CEDO will be working to strengthen community support and build artisanal fishermen capacity in order to develop healthy, sustainable fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California.  The goal of this project is to stimulate active participation by all community members in support of the Reserve and Vaquita Refuge, the Environmental Impact Statement process or “MIA” in Spanish (learn more about the MIA), and the construction of a functional fisheries system.  

Develop a dynamic and motivational curriculum to be used in workshops with fishermen, to teach why monitoring is important and how to do it, and encourage fishers to take accurate data and use GPS.

The MIA requires fishermen to participate both logistically and financially in the EIS (MIA) process.  To help local fishermen, CEDO has trained and stationed monitors in each community of the Reserve, who are observing fisheries in all seasons.  Each monitor conducts two on-board observations per week. Fishermen also maintain their own logbooks to document where, what and when they are fishing and their bycatch volume and content. This project provides an opportunity to improve the quality of this program with the new materials, workshops and some incentives that will motivate fishermen to record accurate data. CEDO workshops will develop leadership within each cooperative through the course of the project.

Conduct workshops in San Felipe B.C., Puerto Peñasco and El Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora to teach fisherman about the ecological importance of the Upper Gulf of California ecosystem and biodiversity, the benefits of fisheries management, the implications for those living in a Marine Protected Area and the legal regulations they need to follow.

Develop materials to inform fishers and students about specific topics related to Upper Gulf biodiversity, environmental regulations in Marine Protected Areas and their obligations.

Materials will be developed to assist fishermen in identifying by-catch species to improve their abilities to self-monitor and comply with species protection regulations.  A bilingual pamphlet for identifying marine mammals, birds and sea turtles and a catalogue for fisheries species will be designed and printed for distribution. Also we will print additional materials developed with the PANGAS project on fisheries biology and management to assist in developing good fisheries practices for particular species. Simple brochures that outline the obligations of fishermen of the Reserve will also be developed. These materials will be distributed so that all fishermen in each cooperative, students participating in lectures and talks, and other key members of the community will have them for their use.

Make presentations in local high schools on sustainable fisheries and government regulations at the beginning of each semester to interest students in supporting these environmental requirements of fishermen.

Local high school students, in completing their school community service requirements, will support fishermen by helping them comply with the MIA. The students will be involved in training activities as described above and can assist with monitoring, data entry, coordination with fishers, or other activities, under the supervision of the project leader in each community.

CEDO’s Environmental Contest will be promoted in all the schools in the region (from elementary to high school) with talks and activities for students, media campaigns, and presentations to teachers. The contest involves student participants doing research with fishers and identifying and developing projects that improve fisheries practices, as well as getting students involved in promoting these activities throughout their community.  Incentives such as prizes, an award ceremony, and support for implementing projects will help engage and reward actions leading to sustainable fisheries.  This contest has proven to be a dynamic mechanism that creates a collaborative community spirit that stimulates critical thinking and raises awareness among children, parents and the community at large about their environment and their interdependence with the fishing industry.

Specific Objectives of the project: 

By the end of 2013, CEDO hopes to show that 100% of authorized fishing cooperatives in each community of the Reserve:

--understand the importance of conservation of the region’s biodiversity, and the objectives of the Reserve, the Vaquita Refuge, and the Environmental Impact Study.

--are informed about basic biology of their primary fisheries and population status and have identified and are using good fisheries practices to create sustainable fisheries.

Additionally, this project will make sure that fishermen authorized by the MIA are:

--adequately informed about existing environmental and fisheries regulations and voluntary measures and obligations for reducing impacts as authorized in the MIA.

--complying completely with obligations as outlined in the MIA.

Finally, to strengthen the depth and longevity of these gains, CEDO intends to create awareness with at least 900 elementary school students, 300 middle school students and 300 high school students from Puerto Lobos, Son. to San Felipe, B.C. of the need and importance of good fisheries management and are involved in actions to encourage good fishing practices among fishermen.

Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans - CEDO, Inc.
P.O. Box 44208
Tucson, AZ 85733
Telephone/Fax: 520-320-5473

Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos - CEDO, A.C.
Apartado Postal #53
Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, México C.P. 83550
Teléfono y FAX: 06-382-0113, 0115

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