Fishermen who desire to engage in activities with low environmental impact are provided non-destructive, selective gear which reduces the catch of non-target species or undersized fish. Training on product handling and eco labelling schemes help fishermen to assure high quality products, access to markets for sustainably harvested resources and thus better prices for their products.
- Initial funding by an intenrational NGO for the conservation agreement
- Commitment of the fisherfolk to ensure the meet of the conservation agreement
- Constant support of enforcement by administration authorities together with the fishermen
- Technical support working directly with the fishermen in advising the management of the fisheries and building capacities
- A product that correspons to the demand of the market and a market that corresponds to the total volume of catches
To maintain economic incentives is very expensive and in the long term not very sustainable. Economic agreements can be a very good strategy to engage a group of people quickly in conservation actions and, as happened in this case, result in the recovery of an overexploited population auch as the spiny lobster. For the success of the agreement it is essential to establish a monitoring system, conduct trainings and support the stakeholders involved in order to ensure that once the agreement has ended the fishermen are not falling back to their old behaviour. Currently, the direct sale and the higher prices they receive for the environmentally responsible products are the primary incentive for adapting sustainability and conservation measures. This agreement ran for two years in which a recovery of the population and an increase in size of the spiny lobster at the Cape of San Francisco was determined.