Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Preferred Resource Spaces and Fisher Flexibility: Implications for Spatial Management of Small-Scale Fisheries

  • Published:
Human Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many fisheries management interventions are in the form of spatial regulations that change fishers’ access to fishing grounds. How fishers respond to regulations directly affects the ecological and socioeconomic outcomes of management objectives, but little attention is paid to fishers’ willingness and ability to make spatial adjustments. We investigate the spatial preferences of small-scale fishers in Sabah, Malaysia, within a framework of mental maps and perceptions. We find that the majority of fishers fish within preferred resource spaces that were heavily influenced by perceptions of safety. Most fishers exhibit low flexibility to adapt to spatial changes, based on i) unwillingness to travel beyond preferred resource spaces; ii) unwillingness to leave the fishery; and iii) low to no alternative employment opportunities. We emphasize the need to uncover and understand human dimension parameters to reduce uncertainty surrounding human behaviour, and ultimately facilitate the attainment of fisheries management objectives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Abernethy, K. E., Allison, E. H., Molloy, P. P., and Côté, I. M. (2007). Why Do Fishers Fish Where They Fish? Using the Ideal Free Distribution To Understand The Behaviour of Artisanal Reef Fishers. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64: 1595–1604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrew, N. L., Béné, C., Hall, S. J., Allison, E. H., Heck, S., and Ratner, B. D. (2007). Diagnosis and Management of Small-Scale Fisheries in Developing Countries. Fish and Fisheries 8(3): 227–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anon (2003) Profail Daerah Kecil Banggi Tahun 2003. Pejabat Daerah Kecil Banggi.

  • Anon (2005) Profail Daerah Kecil Banggi Tahun 2005. Pejabat Daerah Kecil Banggi.

  • Begossi, A. (2001). Mapping Spots: Fishing Areas or Territories Smong Islanders of the Atlantic Forest (Brazil). Regional Environmental Change 2: 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begossi, A. (2006). Temporal Stability in Fishing Spots: Conservation and CoManagement in Brazilian Artisanal Coastal Fisheries. Ecology and Society 11: 5. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art5/

  • Béné, C., and Tewfik, A. (2001). Fishing Effort Allocation and Fishermen’s Decision Making Process in a Multi-Species Small-Scale Fishery: Analysis of the Conch and Lobster Fishery in Turks and Caicos Islands. Human Ecology 29(2): 157–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkes, F., and Kislalioglu Berkes, M. (2009). Ecological Complexity, Fuzzy Logic and Holism in Indigenous Knowledge. Futures 41: 6–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, S., Bertrand, A., Guevara-Carrasco, R., and Gerlotto, F. (2007). Scale-invariant Movements of Fishermen: The Same Foraging Strategy as Natural Predators. Ecological Applications 17: 331–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branch, T. A., Hilborn, R., Haynie, A. C., Fay, G., Flynn, L., et al. (2006). Fleet Dynamics and Fishermen Behavior: Lessons for Fisheries Managers. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63: 1647–1668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, B. E. (2001). Hardin Revisited: A Critical Look at Perception and the Logic of the Commons. Human Ecology 29(4): 449–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caddy, J. F., and Carocci, F. (1999). The Spatial Allocation of Fishing Intensity by Port-based Inshore Fleets: A GIS Application. ICES Journal of Marine Science 56: 388–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charles, A., and Wilson, L. (2009). Human Dimensions of Marine Protected Areas. ICES Journal of Marine Science 66: 6–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daw, T. M. (2008). Spatial Distribution of Effort by Artisanal Fishers: Exploring Economic Factors Affecting the Lobster Fisheries of The Corn Islands, Nicaragua. Fisheries Research 90: 17–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Population, Household and Living Quarters, Malaysia 2010. Available at http://www.statistics.gov.my Accessed 16 August 2011.

  • Dinmore, T. A., Duplisea, D. E., Rackham, B. D., Maxwell, D. L., and Jennings, S. (2003). Impact of a Large-scale Area Closure on Patterns of Fishing Disturbance and the Consequences for Benthic Communities. ICES Jounral of Marine Science 60(2): 371–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eythorsson, E. (1993). Sami Fjord Fishermen and the State: Traditional Knowledge and Resource Management in Northern Norway. In: Inglis, Julian. 1993. Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Concepts and Cases. IDRC, Ottawa, Canada.p133–142.

  • Feinberg, R., Dymon, U. J., Paiaki, P., Rangituteki, P., Nukuriaki, P., and Rollins, M. (2003). Drawing the Coral Heads: Mental Mapping and its Physical Representation in a Polynesian Community. The Cartographic Journal 40(3): 243–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foss, S., and Couclelis, H. (2009). Throwing Space Back in: A Tale of Indian Fishermen, ICT and Travel Behavior. Journal of Transport Geography 17(2): 134–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulton, E. A., Smith, A. D. M., Smith, D. C., and Van Putten, I. E. (2011). Human Behaviour: The Key Source of Uncertainty in Fisheries Management. Fish and Fisheries 12: 2–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gigerenzer, G., and Selten, R. (2002). Bounded Rationality. MIT Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guest, G. (2003). Fishing Behavior and Decision-Making in an Ecuadorian Community: A Scaled Approach. Human Ecology 31(4): 611–644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher, A., Jaffry, S., Thébaud, O., and Bennett, E. (2000). Normative and Social Influences Affecting Compliance with Fishery Regulations. Land Economics 76(3): 448–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilborn, R. (2007). Managing Fisheries is Managing People: What Has Been Learned? Fish and Fisheries 8: 285–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilborn, R., and Kennedy, R. B. (1992). Spatial Pattern in Catch Rates: A Test of Economic Theory. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 54: 263–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, D. S., and Sutinen, J. G. (2000). Location Choice in New England Trawl Fisheries: Old Habits Die Hard. Land Economics 76(1): 133–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hønneland, G. (2000). Compliance in the Barents Sea fisheries. How Fishermen Account for Conformity with Rules. Marine Policy 24(1): 11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., and Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk. Econometrica (The Econometric Society) 47(2): 263–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., and Tversky, A. (eds.) (2000). Choices, Values and Frames. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, D. M., Planes, S., Fauvelot, C., Brochier, T., Lett, C., et al. (2010). New Tools for the Spatial Management of Living Marine Resources. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2: 88–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Kok, J. L., Titus, M., and Wind, H. G. (2000). Application of Fuzzy Sets and Cognitive Maps to Incorporate Social Science Scenarios in Integrated Assessment Models. Integrated Assessment 1: 177–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuperan, K., and Sutinen, J. (1998). Blue Water Crime: Legitimacy, Deterrence and Compliance in Fisheries. Law & Society Review 32(2): 309–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maurstad, A. (2002). Fishing in Murky Waters- ethics and Politics of Research on Fisher Knowledge. Marine Policy 26: 159–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, J., Quinn, R. J., Donnelly, D. J., and Cooper, J. A. G. (2008). Accurate Mental Maps as an Aspect of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK): a Case Study from Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. Ecology and Society 13(1): 13 [online].

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, J. S. C., and Justin, S. R. (2009). Regulating the Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulates) Trade in Sabah, Malaysia. Ambio 38(2): 123–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oostenbrugge, J. A. E., Densen, W. L. T., and Machiels, M. A. M. (2001). Risk Aversion in Allocating Fishing Effort in a Highly Uncertain Coastal Fishery for Pelagic Fish, Moluccas, Indonesia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58: 1683–1691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilcher, N., and Cabanban, A. S. (2001). The Status of Coral Reefs in Eastern Malaysia. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Status Report. AIMS, Townsville.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piniella, F., Soriguer, M. C., and Fernández-Engo, M. A. (2007). Artisanal Fishing in Andalusia: A statistical Study of the Fleet. Marine Policy 31(4): 573–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poggie, J. J., Pollnac, R. B., and Gersuny, C. (1976). Risk as a Basis for Taboos among Fishermen in Southern New England. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 15(3): 257–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, P. (2003). Beyond Ground Truth: GIS and the Environmental Knowledge of Herders, Professional Foresters, and other Traditional Communities. Human Ecology 31(2): 233–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, C., Pascoe, S. (1997). Fisher behaviour: exploring the valideity of the profit maximizing assumption. Research paper 110, CEMARE, University of Portsmouth, 16pp.

  • Salas, S., and Gaertner, D. (2004). The Behavioural Dynamics of Fishers: Management Implications. Fish and Fisheries 5: 153–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SIDP (Semporna Islands Darwin Project) Management Plan for the Semporna Islands Park (2001). Available at http://www.sempornaislandsproject.com/pages/publications.htm. Accessed on 12 October 2010.

  • Smith, M. D., and Wilen, J. E. (2003). Economic Impacts of Marine Reserves: The Importance of Spatial Behavior. J. Environ. Econom. Manage. 46: 183–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. D. (2005). State Dependence and Heterogeneity in Fishing Location Choice. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 50: 319–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sperb R. M., Cabral, R. B. (2004). Fuzzy agent-based model: A hybrid tool for exploring spatial perception and behavior. NAFIPS, p120–125.

  • St. Martin, K. (2001). Making Space for Community Resource Management in Fisheries. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 91: 122–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • St. Martin, K. (2004). GIS in Marine Fisheries Science and Decision Making, In Fisher, W. L., Rahel, F. J. (eds.), Geographic Information Systems in Fisheries, American Fisheries Society, pp. 237–258.

  • Suuronen, P., Jounela, P., and Tschernij, V. (2010). Fishermen Responses on Marine Protected Areas in a Baltic Cod Fishery. Marine Policy 34(2): 237–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teh, L., Cabanban, A. S., and Sumaila, U. R. (2005). The Reef Fisheries of Pulau Banggi, Sabah: A Preliminary Profile and Assessment of Ecological and Socio-economic Sustainability. Fisheries Research 76(3): 359–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teh, L. S. L., Zeller, D., Cabanban, A., Teh, L. C. L., and Sumaila, U. R. (2007). Seasonality and Historic Trends in the Reef Fisheries of Pulau Banggi, Sabah, Malaysia. Coral Reefs 26(2): 251–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tversky, A., and Kahneman, D. (1981). The Framing of Decision and the Psychology of Choice. Science 211: 453–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilen, J. E., Smith, M. D., Lockwood, D., and Botsford, L. W. (2002). Avoiding Surprises: Incorporating Fisherman Behavior into Management Models. Bulletin of Marine Science 70: 553–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiyono, E. S., Yamada, S., Tanaka, E., Arimoto, T., and Kitakado, T. (2006). Dynamics of Fishing Gear Allocation Byfishers in Small-scale Coastal Fisheries of Pelabuhanratu Bay, Indonesia. Fisheries Management and Ecology 13(3): 185–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank all fishers who participated in interviews and the catch log programme. Logistics in Banggi were supported by Professor Ridzwan Abdul Rahman and field staff of the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The WWF-Kudat field team assisted with collection and distribution of catch logs in Banggi. WWF-Semporna field team assisted with fisher interviews in Semporna. LCLT acknowledges funding from the University of British Columbia’s 4 Year Doctoral Fellowship programme and the Pacific Century Graduate Scholarship. LSLT acknowledges funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4

    Lydia C. L. Teh & Louise S. L. Teh

  2. Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Michael J. Meitner

Authors
  1. Lydia C. L. Teh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Louise S. L. Teh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael J. Meitner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lydia C. L. Teh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Teh, L.C.L., Teh, L.S.L. & Meitner, M.J. Preferred Resource Spaces and Fisher Flexibility: Implications for Spatial Management of Small-Scale Fisheries. Hum Ecol 40, 213–226 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-012-9464-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-012-9464-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation