STRUGGLING FOR THE GOLDEN EGG: STRUGGLING FOR THE GOLDEN EGG: CONSERVATION POLITICS IN THE GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION POLITICS IN THE GALAPAGOS

Lucia Stacey & Lucia Stacey & VladaVlada FuksFuks

Reference: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/2355Reference: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/2355

Source: http://www.adventurehttp://www.adventure--life.com/img/maps/clife.com/img/maps/c--s_america.gifs_america.gif, retrieved 20-02-2007, 15.00 GMT

The Galapagos National Park & Marine Reserve

- 127 islands and islets

- 30.000 residents

- 125.000 tourists yearly

Source: Parque National Galapagos & Fundacion Charles Darwin (2005) “Manejo de las pesquerias en Galapagos”.

Background of a crisisBackground of a crisis

- Sea cucumber boom: export-oriented, high income, easy to collect.

- Massive extraction & over-fishing.

- Media & conservationists: fisheries collapsed.

- Nat. Park: prohibition of catch, bans & quotas: social conflict over fisheries.

Growth of the Fishing SectorGrowth of the Fishing Sector

Figure: Evolution of the number of fishers in the Galapagos between 1974 and 2004.

Source: adapted from Diaz, N. et al (2005), “Estudio de Factibilidad para DispositivosAgregadores de Peces (DAP) en Galapagos”. Parque Nacional Galapagos.

Figure: Evolution of the number of fishers in the Galapagos between 1974 and 2004.

Source: adapted from Diaz, N. et al (2005), “Estudio de Factibilidad para DispositivosAgregadores de Peces (DAP) en Galapagos”. Parque Nacional Galapagos.

Confrontation between fishers and conservationists

Confrontation between fishers and conservationists

Figure: Days of fishers’ strikes between 1996 and 2004

Source: adapted from Ospina, P. (2005), “Las organizaciones de Pescadores en Galapagos”,Informe presentado a TRAFFIC, Version final, Quito.

The main users of the Galapagos Marine Reserve

The main users of The main users of the Galapagos Marine Reservethe Galapagos Marine Reserve

Conservationist sector: Galapagos National Park, Charles Darwin Research Station, NGOs.

Tourism sector: tour operators, naturalist guides

Fishing sector: local artisanal fishers

Conservationist sector: Galapagos National Park, Charles Darwin Research Station, NGOs.

Tourism sector: tour operators, naturalist guides

Fishing sector: local artisanal fishers

Conservationist organizations

- Galapagos = Pristine & unique. Restoration, preservation. “Back to Eden - The last chance”

- Fishers = Threat to ecological integrity

Conservationist organizationsConservationist organizations

- Galapagos = Pristine & unique. Restoration, preservation. “Back to Eden - The last chance”

- Fishers = Threat to ecological integrity

Charles Darwin Research StationCharles Darwin Research StationCharles Darwin Research Station

Tourism sector

- Galapagos = Marketed as “pristine paradise”, wild, pure nature, without human intervention

- Fishers = Threat to “pristine” image

Tourism sectorTourism sector

-- Galapagos = Marketed as Galapagos = Marketed as ““pristine paradisepristine paradise””, , wild, pure nature, without human wild, pure nature, without human intervention intervention

-- Fishers = Threat to Fishers = Threat to ““pristinepristine”” imageimage

Dichotomy between “El Dorado” and unstable fisheries & strict regulations.Dichotomy between Dichotomy between ““El DoradoEl Dorado”” and and

uunstable fisheries & strict regulations.nstable fisheries & strict regulations.

Local artisanal fishersLocal artisanal fishersLocal artisanal fishers

Income generated by the expenditure of tourists in the Galápagos

and income generated by the sea cucumber and lobster fisheries.

Income generated by the expenditure of tourists in the Galápagos

and income generated by the sea cucumber and lobster fisheries.

33.9

4.4

35.5

5.3

38.7

2.8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

million of USD

1999 2000 2001

tourism fishing

Source: Informe Galapagos 2001, Fundacion Natura;Murillo, S. 2002, Linea base de la biodiversidad de la RMG;adapted from Parque Nacional Galapagos & Fundacion Charles Darwin (2003) “Galapagos y el Manejo de la Reserva Marina”.

Participatory Management System of the Galapagos Marine Reserve

Participatory Management System of the Galapagos Marine Reserve

All three main actors represented.Platform for common decision- making. Fisheries crisis and impacts of fishing are the main point of discussions.Solution to crisis: to take away pressure from fisheries - fishers into new activities.

All three main actors represented.Platform for common decision- making. Fisheries crisis and impacts of fishing are the main point of discussions.Solution to crisis: to take away pressure from fisheries - fishers into new activities.

Why are the fishers at the centre of the discussions and the bud guys of the Galapagos?

Why are the fishers at the centre of the discussions and the bud guys of the Galapagos?

What about the other sectors?What about the other sectors?

Farmers, researchers, traders, transport, etc.

Marine ecosystems are healthier than terrestrial.

Tourism activities at much higher scale that fishing.

Tour operators commit more illegalities than fishers.

Farmers, researchers, traders, transport, etc.

Marine ecosystems are healthier than terrestrial.

Tourism activities at much higher scale that fishing.

Tour operators commit more illegalities than fishers.

Negotiating at the participative management system.

Negotiating at the participative management system.

Political alliances: conservationists & tourism sector.

Who provides and controls data? What kind of data is needed to negotiate?

Who administrates funds and controls projects?

Science/scientific language legitimated vs. empirical knowledge.

Political alliances: conservationists & tourism sector.

Who provides and controls data? What kind of data is needed to negotiate?

Who administrates funds and controls projects?

Science/scientific language legitimated vs. empirical knowledge.

“Its not only a matter of sitting together around the negotiation table, but where you sit and what you can say and sustain.”

“Its not only a matter of sitting together around the negotiation table, but where you sit and what you can say and sustain.”

Asymmetric relationsAsymmetric relations

Fishers are in a weak negotiating position.

Media : illegal fishing.

Domination of the conservationist sector.

Tourism illegalities ignored by authorities.

Fishers withdraw or chose strategies of strikes and illegal fishing.

Fishers are in a weak negotiating position.

Media : illegal fishing.

Domination of the conservationist sector.

Tourism illegalities ignored by authorities.

Fishers withdraw or chose strategies of strikes and illegal fishing.

Participation in co-managementParticipation in co-management

Power relations jeopardize collaboration.

Lack of political will for change: only fishers should change and be controlled.

Not all users participate.

The process of implementation of alternative activities for fishers is stagnated.

Illegal fishing continuous, crisis & conflict remains.

Power relations jeopardize collaboration.

Lack of political will for change: only fishers should change and be controlled.

Not all users participate.

The process of implementation of alternative activities for fishers is stagnated.

Illegal fishing continuous, crisis & conflict remains.

Struggling for the Golden Egg of the Galapagos:

Struggling for the Golden Egg of the Galapagos:

Actors seem to be engaged in a competitive struggle for the same prize: “The golden egg”, the wealth of the Galapagos:

Fisheries Pristine scenarioInflow of funding for development & conservation

Actors seem to be engaged in a competitive struggle for the same prize: “The golden egg”, the wealth of the Galapagos:

Fisheries Pristine scenarioInflow of funding for development & conservation

An ever lasting crisis attracts ever lasting donations and projects.An ever lasting crisis attracts ever lasting donations and projects.