Jessica Hernandez

1. Small-Scale Fisheries: Analyzing the conservation methods and laws implemented in Baja California, Mexico Jessica Hernandez

2. Baja California, Mexico • Mexico’s northwestern peninsula • High ecotourism • The location of many tribes such as the PaiPai and Kiwila, but currently is the major location for the Cucapa tribe. • Cucupa tribe and the inhabitants of the region depend on marine resources- small-scale fisheries

3. Small-Scale Fisheries • Fishermen- personal income and food source for their families and tribes • Alleviate poverty and serve as a food security • Utilize traditional practices and methods that do not involve technological devices or machinery • Small boat or vessels

4. Geographical History • Coastal tribes and individuals who live near the oceans have depended on small-scale fisheries for years • Miniscule economic impact on the country • Mexican government did not enforce laws in small-scale fisheries • 2007- Marine scientists determined with evidence that they posed a threat to the accidental capture of endangered species • After 2007- Marine conservationists have been targeting small-scale fisheries

5. Environmental Factors • Eco-tourism • Urbanization to meet the needs of tourism • Overfishing done by large-scale fisheries • El Nino and natural hazards that affect the fish populations

6. Conservation • Small-scale fisheries is sustainable-does not contribute to overfishing. • Bycatch of endagered species like turtles, birds, etc is the only conservation problem caused by fishermen. • More sustainable practices that eliminate bycatch • Ecotourism- economic growth so not much has been done to address this issue. • More fishing laws implemented and enforced by the government • Environmental Economists- workshops for fishermen

7. Political Ecology • Global political ecology- involvement of other countries in the Mexican government and conservation towards small-scale fisheries (Peet) • Separation of nature and society- for many years the individuals who depend on the oceans have been able to balance fishing and the fish populations (Robbins) • Example of positive human interaction • Petro-Violence oceans face (Watts) • Eco-tourism =capitalist approach (Marx) • Conservation and Development

8. Ecological Democracy • Fishermen have the right to advocate laws they do not agree with • Organizations hold meetings for the fishermen to voice their opinions • Fishermen and their communities have not been relocated • Their natural resource is not exploited to yield higher profits • Large-scale fisheries pay higher taxes- fair

9. Assumptions • Maternal tribe depends on small-scale fisheries • Father- as a child was a fisherman-sustained his family • Example of outsiders coming to try to help but being oppressive • United States conservationists corrupting the Mexican government • Making it easier to relocate fishermen so seafood corporations take over • Not being an ecological democracy

10. Conclusion • Helps the fishermen and their people maintain their food and income source • Economic growth for them as well as the country • Helps avoid accidently trapping endangered species that were not meant to capture • Environmental Economic help provided • Inspired by the conservation work done towards small-scale fisheries • Concrete example that indigenous and scientific knowledge can work together-this conclusion led to my current work • -Motivated me to establish my own non-profit = Kaknab (Ocean)