A participative process with artisanal fishers of Coope Tárcoles R.L., government authorities represented by INCOPESCA and CoopeSoliDar R.L. as a facilitator of the process, was initiated for the development of the MRFA fishing management plan.

Artisanal fishers and semi-industrial trawlers was agreed that semi-industrial trawlers would stay for 3 miles from the coast. During 2009 semi-industrial trawlers made the proposal to move out from water areas with a depth of 15 meters or less but requested that artisanal shrimp fishers had also to respect this no fishing zone so that the white shrimp population could recuperate faster.

There was also an agreement for a one-year ban on shrimp captures by artisanal and commercial fleets, which was transformed in year 2012 by the INCOPESCA Board of Directors into a national decree (AJDIP-193) as stipulated by the MRFA decree.

After the ban, Coope Tárcoles R.L. requested permits for shrimp fishing. This request was backed up by the INCOPESCA research department and approved and the shrimp semi-industrial trawlers were requested to permanently stay out of the agreed 15 meter zone. Later, shrimp trawlers agreed to move out of the area 5 nautical miles from the coast to support sustainable shrimp populations.

Once protected areas and Business Mentors are matched, they are brought together on a 10-day Residential Training Programme, set within an inspiring and relevant protected area setting. This aims to: build relationships between Business Mentors and protected area managers that allow for effective ongoing mentoring and collaboration; develop business and leadership skills that enable protected area managers to perform better in their roles and manage the protected area more effectively; build a clear action plan for enhancing management effectiveness; provide an opportunity for networking between African protected areas; and build a shared understanding of the importance of effective protected areas, and the possible impact of business decisions. Following the residential training, protected areas and their mentors work together in a mentor-mentee relationship for at least 12 months. Mentoring from this point is usually conducted remotely, although mentors sometimes visit their site to support the roll-out of business planning activities.

Applying the principles of fair trade and inclusive business, we create efficient community-based supply chains for raw materials (plastics and seaweed carrageenan) that are available in abundance. We link these raw materials to conservation actions that reduce plastic pollution and restore coastal ecosystems. Increasing incomes from these raw materials reduces dependence on fishing – enabling communities to set aside larger no-take zones to replenish fish stocks.

The approach applied in GMWR will allow the integration not only of scientific and community-based information, but also of local perceptions (that historically tend to be relegated to a secondary plane) on prioritized focal management targets and into the characterization of forms and means of local communication. These social aspects can now be integrated into official management instruments, as essential elements of the strategy needed to address the conservation gaps around GMWR. For such a strategy to be effective, it must encompass a public participation strategy that is designed on the basis of the above findings (4.1 and 4.2). In turn, for this participation strategy to be robust and responsive, it should consider the quantitative and qualitative analysis of existing communication and coordination networks, and should propose means to strengthen and consolidate these networks. This is crucial, given the finding that there is a direct correlation between the density and power of social networks in coastal communities, and the effectiveness of conservation actions in these areas.

The effectiveness of natural resource conservation in protected areas is closely and directly linked with the effectiveness of communication and stakeholder coordination strategies. However, social rapprochement efforts often occur within the limits of protected areas, without taking into consideration actors located in the areas of influence or buffer zones. For GMWR and its surrounding “conservation gap areas”, it was important to assess and improve the effectiveness of the current communication strategies and to build trust to facilitate dialogue concerning the protected area. For this, a new methodology was developed, using a set of 6 positional and global indicators based on the social role of each actor (nodes). The information was collected through several participatory activities, such as community workshops, and individual consultations with local community leaders and government representatives. The data were analyzed with UCINET and Net Draw mathematics and graphics programs. Each activity had the objective to review and update progress made, and to reach agreements on next phases; these iterative steps augmented the sense of transparency and openness of the process being conducted.

Conservation actions, or “focal management targets”, for areas around the GMWR were identified and prioritized using biological data as well as social perceptions on the status and importance of these targets. Perceptions are shaped by the degree of reliance, both current and historical, that local actors have on those targets. The prioritization exercise also considers key characteristics such as ecological values, representativeness, capacity to influence other focal management targets, threats, and relevance to local livelihoods improvement, and serves as a guide for resource designation while also helping to bring local concerns closer to protected area / buffer zone management goals. The threats affecting each target were also identified and assessed by experts and communities alike.

FMCN and CONANP collaborate in a public-private partnership, the Gulf of California Marine Endowment (GCME). This is formalized in a cooperation agreement detailing the role and responsibilities of the partners. FMCN is responsible for the management of the financial resources and CONANP ensures that these resources are used in strategic conservation activities.

Since Mexican regulations prevent CONANP from receiving private donations directly, FMCN channels funding to the management of each protected area through local organizations and accompanies with strict financial controls and experienced and well-trained staff. This public-private collaboration mechanism ensures that funds are applied transparently and helps enhance civil society participation in MPA management.

The solution is funded through a combination of sinking funds and endowment funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and matching funds from other donors and public funding. The endowment funds from the GEF provide long-term financing to address the conservation needs within the coastal watersheds and are partially dedicated to the basic operation of protected areas. Public sinking funds from CONAFOR´s programs and payment for ecosystem services mechanisms increases watershed connectivity. Grants finance sustainable forest management and agro-ecology projects. The Integrated Watershed Action Plan will help to align these public and private investments at the landscape level.