235
12 Marine Protected Areas in the Canary Islands – Improving Their Governability
Table 12.3
Governance analysis framework on La Restinga case of study
Challenges related to La Restinga & the Sea of Calms
System to be governed
Governing System
Governing interactions
Natural system
Socio-economic system
Diversity
There is considerable ecosystem diversity in a multispeci fi c ecosystem; diverse
fi shing strategies as a means
of adaptation.
Economic activities in the area
related to fi sheries have
prevailed since the 1940s.
There are approximately
600 inhabitants in La
Restinga and 28 families
associated with small scale
fi shing activities (including
families involved in fi shing
trade chain). Strong local
close bonds. Scuba diving
and tourism businesses have
appeared more recently but
they are important to local
economy.
In recent decades, there has been a
rise in the number of stakeholders and agencies involved
in managing the Sea of Calms.
For example, the Sea of Calms
has been included in a range of
programs linked with the MR
creation and the designation of
El Hierro as a Biosphere
Reserve. Also, numerous
administrations (local, insular,
provincial, regional and
national) are involved in
managing the area, users and
resources.
Con fl icts between different
fi shers’ groups in connection with collective action
and commercialization prior
to the inception of the MR
and the creation of the
cooperative. Also, one
scuba-diving entrepreneur
legally challenged the MR
model because of not being
consulted during its design.
Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries disregarded this
legal challenge, as the
courts did too.
The Sea of Calms presents a
typical situation of tropical
and subtropical islands,
whose coastal ecosystems
are noted for their diversity
(although the density of
species is low in numbers).
Complexity There is a complex ecosystem,
caused by a small coastal
platform, the location in the
middle of the ocean, the
existence of multiple
habitats generated by rocky
environments. These factors
explain the existence of
important relations between
individuals and populations
in the Sea of Calms. The
MR may have added
stability to the system.
There is average socio-economic complexity. Fishing
activities have dominated
the area, and tourism is a
recent development.
Activities involving the
services sector and fi shing
have been developed by
fi shing families (fresh fi sh
restaurants; tourist
accommodation
management).
Despite the growth of stakeholders
and uses in the area, as fi shing
organization the Cofradía
has a
strong presence in the
community, in fl uencing many
important issues concerning
the Sea of Calms. Channels
many local demands to other
administrations. The Cofradía
has presence in all governing
bodies created or related to
managing Sea of Calms and
resources.
There have been some con fl icts
between Cofradía
- fi shers
and scuba-diving centers,
during set up and the
process of limiting the
number of annual dives in
some of the most soughtafter sites in external waters
of the MR.
(continued)
12 Marine Protected Areas in the Canary Islands – Improving Their Governability
Table 12.3
Governance analysis framework on La Restinga case of study
Challenges related to La Restinga & the Sea of Calms
System to be governed
Governing System
Governing interactions
Natural system
Socio-economic system
Diversity
There is considerable ecosystem diversity in a multispeci fi c ecosystem; diverse
fi shing strategies as a means
of adaptation.
Economic activities in the area
related to fi sheries have
prevailed since the 1940s.
There are approximately
600 inhabitants in La
Restinga and 28 families
associated with small scale
fi shing activities (including
families involved in fi shing
trade chain). Strong local
close bonds. Scuba diving
and tourism businesses have
appeared more recently but
they are important to local
economy.
In recent decades, there has been a
rise in the number of stakeholders and agencies involved
in managing the Sea of Calms.
For example, the Sea of Calms
has been included in a range of
programs linked with the MR
creation and the designation of
El Hierro as a Biosphere
Reserve. Also, numerous
administrations (local, insular,
provincial, regional and
national) are involved in
managing the area, users and
resources.
Con fl icts between different
fi shers’ groups in connection with collective action
and commercialization prior
to the inception of the MR
and the creation of the
cooperative. Also, one
scuba-diving entrepreneur
legally challenged the MR
model because of not being
consulted during its design.
Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries disregarded this
legal challenge, as the
courts did too.
The Sea of Calms presents a
typical situation of tropical
and subtropical islands,
whose coastal ecosystems
are noted for their diversity
(although the density of
species is low in numbers).
Complexity There is a complex ecosystem,
caused by a small coastal
platform, the location in the
middle of the ocean, the
existence of multiple
habitats generated by rocky
environments. These factors
explain the existence of
important relations between
individuals and populations
in the Sea of Calms. The
MR may have added
stability to the system.
There is average socio-economic complexity. Fishing
activities have dominated
the area, and tourism is a
recent development.
Activities involving the
services sector and fi shing
have been developed by
fi shing families (fresh fi sh
restaurants; tourist
accommodation
management).
Despite the growth of stakeholders
and uses in the area, as fi shing
organization the Cofradía
has a
strong presence in the
community, in fl uencing many
important issues concerning
the Sea of Calms. Channels
many local demands to other
administrations. The Cofradía
has presence in all governing
bodies created or related to
managing Sea of Calms and
resources.
There have been some con fl icts
between Cofradía
- fi shers
and scuba-diving centers,
during set up and the
process of limiting the
number of annual dives in
some of the most soughtafter sites in external waters
of the MR.
(continued)