Marine Reserves: Fishermen, Get Involved

Though the idea is nothing new, talk of Marine Reserves as a means of regulating and sustaining the oceans' resources has grown tremendously in the last decade. For fishermen, both commercial and recreational, such talk strikes chords of fear and skeptism. More regulation inevitably means less chances to fish, possibly leading to devastating decline in their way of life. But there doesn't need to be a reason to fear if a marine reserve has been proposed in your region. To make sure the Marine Reserve is designed to benefit everyone, there's one tool we fishermen can use that has proven to be quite effective: Action.

It's easy to be fearful whenever you hear the word "reserve." It conjures thoughts of tight-fisted regulatory agencies and stiff-lipped conservation groups, both of which seem determined only to put more and more restrictions on all kinds of fishing. But marine reserves are not created in a vacuum. Each region where a reserve has been proposed has set up advisory committees with local representation that hold regular meetings where dissent can be heard and compromises can be reached.

The cost of inaction can be high. Conservation groups have the option of taking the issue of marine reserves to the ballot, possibly letting an uninformed electorate hundreds of miles away decide for you how your area may be regulated. And management policies may be put into place without the proper science behind it, or the proper funding for the science.

Successful marine reserves around the world all have one thing in common and that's cooperation. In places where the local communities work with conservation groups and governmental regulators, forming committees and drawing a consensus, such reserves have shown positive results both for the fish and the fishermen. Having systems that let individuals be a part of the design process and engage in studies and management activities give them a stake in the game, making them feel less like its about being punished and more like its about working together to discover solutions that will benefit all.

So if there's a marine reserve proposal in the works near you, then get involved. Find out when the recommendation committees are taking comments from the public and make your thoughts heard. The more involved we are, the less opportunities politicians will have to screw things up.

sources: theworldlink.com, eoearth.org, sciencedaily.com

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