230
R. De la Cruz Modino and J.J. Pascual-Fernández
or spear fi shing in the sea. These conditions—absence of wind, diverse but limited
numbers of sea species and rising human uses—were emphasized in the proposal
for the protection of the Sea of Calms from a preventive point of view.
At present, the population of La Restinga stands at around 600 inhabitants, and
the community is mainly composed of close families. There are between 37–43
artisanal fi shers, organized into 33 productive units, and aged between 30–40 years
on average—the youngest group of fi shers in the Canary Islands. There are approximately 28 families (including fi shers’ and fi sh sellers’ families, and other personnel
involved in commercial activities) whose economy is directly linked to the fi shing
sector. On the whole, fi shers own their own boats and many (between 30–50%) have
more than one—different fi shing techniques require smaller or larger boats. The
tuna fi shery is tremendously important for the village and affects the rest of the
fi sheries present in the Sea of Calms. Depending on the fi shery, tourist demand and
institutional support, fi shers either sell their catch themselves, through the cooperative or through other sellers. Roughly 50% of the fi shers are currently involved
in the cooperative and those who are not have moved to other economic sectors
(construction in particular) (De la Cruz Modino 2008 ) .
In 2007, we estimated a total of 223 tourist apartments offering accommodation
for up to 829 persons (there are no hotels in La Restinga). For many, however, occupation is not year-round and mainly on summer and public holidays (De la Cruz
Modino and Hernández Barbuzano 2007 ) . Most of the apartments available for rent
are owned by local people. In addition, there are four restaurants (three of them
serve fresh fi sh) and seven bars (De la Cruz Modino 2008 ) . Around ten scuba diving
businesses cater to Spanish and European scuba-diving tourists all year-round; most
are family-run businesses and there are no tour operators on the island. All of the
island’s scuba-diving businesses are owned by people not born in El Hierro.
The Marine Reserve of La Restinga
Proposals for Marine Reserves in the Canary Islands increased considerably in the
1980s. These were prompted by a group of marine biology researchers based at the
University of La Laguna (Tenerife). One of the group leaders was born and raised in
a fi shing community and therefore had a deep understanding of the constraints
involved in establishing protection measures for fi shers. In 1987, the MR proposal
was fi rst presented to local fi shers at the Cofradía in La Restinga. Their initial reaction was anything but positive, nevertheless the discussion remained on the table for
some time and the early proposal will have an impact later on. The idea was considered interesting from the outset by some local fi shers, but perhaps needed a while to
mature. The intervention of a local fi sher’s son, who studied Marine Biology with
the leader of the research group, was also important.
In 1994, the Cofradía of La Restinga rescue the MR proposal and discussions
began again. This time, the proposal included the possibility of protecting the Sea
of Calms. In the 1990s, the MR was presented as a tool to address the problems and
R. De la Cruz Modino and J.J. Pascual-Fernández
or spear fi shing in the sea. These conditions—absence of wind, diverse but limited
numbers of sea species and rising human uses—were emphasized in the proposal
for the protection of the Sea of Calms from a preventive point of view.
At present, the population of La Restinga stands at around 600 inhabitants, and
the community is mainly composed of close families. There are between 37–43
artisanal fi shers, organized into 33 productive units, and aged between 30–40 years
on average—the youngest group of fi shers in the Canary Islands. There are approximately 28 families (including fi shers’ and fi sh sellers’ families, and other personnel
involved in commercial activities) whose economy is directly linked to the fi shing
sector. On the whole, fi shers own their own boats and many (between 30–50%) have
more than one—different fi shing techniques require smaller or larger boats. The
tuna fi shery is tremendously important for the village and affects the rest of the
fi sheries present in the Sea of Calms. Depending on the fi shery, tourist demand and
institutional support, fi shers either sell their catch themselves, through the cooperative or through other sellers. Roughly 50% of the fi shers are currently involved
in the cooperative and those who are not have moved to other economic sectors
(construction in particular) (De la Cruz Modino 2008 ) .
In 2007, we estimated a total of 223 tourist apartments offering accommodation
for up to 829 persons (there are no hotels in La Restinga). For many, however, occupation is not year-round and mainly on summer and public holidays (De la Cruz
Modino and Hernández Barbuzano 2007 ) . Most of the apartments available for rent
are owned by local people. In addition, there are four restaurants (three of them
serve fresh fi sh) and seven bars (De la Cruz Modino 2008 ) . Around ten scuba diving
businesses cater to Spanish and European scuba-diving tourists all year-round; most
are family-run businesses and there are no tour operators on the island. All of the
island’s scuba-diving businesses are owned by people not born in El Hierro.
The Marine Reserve of La Restinga
Proposals for Marine Reserves in the Canary Islands increased considerably in the
1980s. These were prompted by a group of marine biology researchers based at the
University of La Laguna (Tenerife). One of the group leaders was born and raised in
a fi shing community and therefore had a deep understanding of the constraints
involved in establishing protection measures for fi shers. In 1987, the MR proposal
was fi rst presented to local fi shers at the Cofradía in La Restinga. Their initial reaction was anything but positive, nevertheless the discussion remained on the table for
some time and the early proposal will have an impact later on. The idea was considered interesting from the outset by some local fi shers, but perhaps needed a while to
mature. The intervention of a local fi sher’s son, who studied Marine Biology with
the leader of the research group, was also important.
In 1994, the Cofradía of La Restinga rescue the MR proposal and discussions
began again. This time, the proposal included the possibility of protecting the Sea
of Calms. In the 1990s, the MR was presented as a tool to address the problems and