Presenting final results: Marine Protected Area (MPA) Human Uses Project
Conducted by Humboldt State University (HSU) researchers, Ecotrust and Strategic Earth Consulting, this project assessed the baseline socioeconomic conditions of commercial and CPFV fisheries throughout the state of California. Working together with California commercial fishermen and resource managers, our team developed an approach to monitor socioeconomic conditions related to fishing to inform long-term MPA monitoring.
Working together with these fishermen and resource managers, our team developed an approach to monitor socioeconomic conditions related to fishing to inform long-term MPA monitoring. During the webinar on December 13, 2021, the project team will present our final reporting products, including a new website that will convey focus group participants' perspectives and showcase a spatial data viewer and updated Fisheries Data Explorer.
From Summer 2020 to Spring 2021, the project team engaged with fishing communities in virtual focus groups throughout 18 port complexes in California and five CPFV regions. We designed a 'Community Expert Well-being Assessment Tool' to gain a snapshot of the socioeconomic conditions of California port communities. During each focus group conversation, fishermen were asked to rank the health or well-being of their fishing community on several factors such as infrastructure, the health of marine resources, state of markets to sell catch, regulatory conditions, job satisfaction, and impacts or outcomes from the implementation of MPAs.
Sharing Final Project Reporting Products Community Webinar
Monday, December 13, 2021 | 2:00pm-4:00pm
Zoom Conference (audio and visual): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85849592976
Optional call-in details: (US)+1-669-900-6833 | Meeting ID: 858 4959 2976
People are an integral part of the California coastal ecosystem, and we stand to experience impacts and benefits from the newly implemented marine protected area (MPA) network. To understand the dynamic relationship between people and the environment through the lens of MPAs, we need to understand current and historical uses of coastal resources.
Focus on Human Uses
Humboldt State University (HSU) researchers, Ecotrust, and Strategic Earth Consulting are supporting the state to assess the baseline socioeconomic conditions of two human uses throughout the state of California and their relationship to the MPA network: commercial and commercial passenger fishing vessel (CPFV) fisheries. Our team will design an approach to monitor socioeconomic conditions related to fishing to inform long-term MPA monitoring. Results of this study will guide the 10-year management review of California’s MPA network.
Implementation
The socioeconomic status of California state fisheries is affected by the complex exchange between regulatory, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. MPAs are one of the many influences that could affect spatial fishing patterns and the economic health of California fisheries. Given this complexity, this project aims to assess commercial and CPFV fisheries across the state using temporal, spatial, and place-based approaches. Combined, these approaches will illustrate economic and spatial changes over time and provide insights on how place-based factors, including MPAs, have played a role in driving observed and experienced socioeconomic changes.
Temporal
We will analyze historical economic trends (e.g., participation rates, landings, revenue) in commercial and CPFV fisheries from 1992 to 2020 and use this time-series data to assess patterns and changes observed over time and to describe the current economic status of fisheries.
Spatial
We will integrate regional-level spatial data sets since the time of each region's implementation to develop a statewide understanding of spatial fishing patterns and evaluate how these have changed since MPA implementation.
Place-based
In Spring and Summer 2020, we will engage with the commercial and CPFV fishing communities in an on-the-ground focus group tour throughout 24 port complexes in California. To assist this effort, we are developing a ‘Port Community Well-being Assessment Tool’ (i.e., a questionnaire) that will be used to gather quantitative and qualitative information about the health and well-being of California fisheries in the context of MPAs. Questions from the Tool will guide focus group discussions, which will be used to gain a snapshot of the socioeconomic conditions of fisheries in California. The focus groups will provide information about fishermen’s perceptions of MPAs and the ways fishermen have been affected by the MPAs since implementation.