This document aims to provide a better understanding of the wide range of rights-based fisheries management systems in Latin-America. Rights-based management in the Latin American region is evolving, thus creating a wide diversity of schemes responding to local fisheries contexts, and institutional, resource and ecosystem dynamics and governance capacities. The document has been developed in two parts. Part I (edited and co-authored by Jose Maria Orensanz) presents case studies of fisheries targeting sedentary resources while Part II (edited and co-authored by Juan Carlos Seijo) presents case studies of industrial and small-scale finfish fisheries in the region The case studies presented in Part I include the following regimes: (i) limited entry or moratoria combined with a total allowable catch; (ii) catch shares; (iii) territorial-use privileges; and (iv) territorial communal rights by [customary and indigenous users). Case studies of finfish fisheries

One of the main goals in fisheries governance is to promote viability and sustainability in small-scale fishing communities. This is not an easy task given external and internal pressure, including environmental change and competition with other economic sectors searching for development in the coastal region. A comprehensive understanding of small-scale fisheries in their own context, and from a regional perspective, is an important step in supporting the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). This book contributes to the global effort by offering knowledge, insights and lessons about small-scale fisheries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The 20 case studies included in the book make explicit the various dimensions that are intrinsic to small-scale fisheries in the region, and identify conditions and situations that affect the wellbeing of fishing communities. The book offers insights regarding the challenges faced by small-scale fisheries in the region, and, aligning with the objectives of the SSF Guidelines, provides lessons and experiences about how to make small-scale fishing communities viable while maintaining sustainable fisheries. This important book illustrates the complexity, diversity, and dynamics of small-scale fisheries in the Latin American and Caribbean region and presents experiences, tools, and approaches to lead towards sustainable and viable fisheries. The reader will gain a new understanding on the range of actions, approaches, and information needed for their successful management. John F. Caddy, International Fisheries Expert This book, prepared by the Too Big To Ignore partnership, constitutes a very valuable resource for policy makers, fisheries scientists, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and fishing communities interested in putting in place sound management strategies, research, and actions to contribute to the sustainability of small-scale fisheries and food security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Juan Carlos Seijo, Professor of Fisheries Bioeconomics at Marist University of Merida

This book reviews the frameworks and implementation of marine, fishery and coastal laws and policies in Chile, Mexico and Peru. Chile, Mexico and Peru share biodiverse coastal and marine environments which are being affected by unregulated and informal developments, and thus share similar challenges. Each country is currently at a different stage of advancement in their institutional response to these complex challenges. By providing a comparison of the frameworks, approaches and overall implementation of policies and laws, this book acts as a tool to influence and inform further efforts in conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, particularly fisheries, in these countries and others in Latin America and the Caribbean. A broad range of issues are covered including food security, tourism, fisheries, oil and mineral extraction from the seabed, wind power, coastal and marine pollution and endangered species conservation. The chapters compare how each country addresses these issues from an institutional, legal and policy perspective. The book concludes by identifying common lessons, reoccurring challenges and develops scalable recommendations applicable to the case study countries and the wider region. The book will be of interest to advanced students, policy makers and researchers in marine and fishery science, law and policy.

This workshop was the second of a series of regional workshops on fisheries tenure and user rights. It aimed to discover regional nuances and specificities of the Latin America and Caribbean area to develop how-to guidance on appropriate tenure systems and rights-based approaches for fisheries. Representatives from both government and non-government sectors attended this workshop. Participants at the workshop presented fisheries tenure and user rights of 11 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay. Participants discussed in plenary three topics: 1) Recognition and allocation of tenure rights and responsibilities; 2) Transfers and other changes to tenure rights; and 3) Administration of tenure. Participants made recommendations for future work, including (1) increasing efforts on securing small-scale fishers rights; and (2) finding solutions on how different sectors can coexist. To do so, participants requested more information and guidance on tenure and user rights in fisheries along with on-the-ground support.

Latin American small-scale fishery production is crucial to local communities that count on fish as a key source of protein in daily consumption and for supplying the increasing demand for exported high-value species in the first world. Many small-scale fishing communities have exhibited various forms of informal institutions that serve to manage rights to the fishery, a common-pool resource (CPR). An emerging theme in the CPR management literature is that there are certain types of institutions that exist in successful informal management contexts. Seven case studies from small-scale fishing communities in Latin America are analyzed in order to determine if these model management institutions are supported. These case studies are then analyzed to determine what accounts for resilient informal management institutions in the face of commercial and outsider encroachment. The thesis is that robust shoreline activities promote reciprocity that allows for rapid collective action in the face of external threats.

During the last decade, there has been a shift in the governance and management of fisheries to a broaderapproach that recognizes the participation of fishers, local stewardship, and shared decision-making.Through this process, fishers are empowered to become active members of the management team,balancing rights and responsibilities, and working in partnership with government. This approach iscalled co-management.This handbook describes the process of community-based co-management from its beginning, throughimplementation, to turnover to the community. It provides ideas, methods, techniques, activities, checklists,examples, questions and indicators for the planning and implementing of a process of community-basedco-management. It focuses on small-scale fisheries (freshwater, floodplain, estuarine, or marine) indeveloping countries, but is also relevant to small-scale fisheries in developed countries and to themanagement of other coastal resources (such as coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass, and wetlands). Thishandbook will be of significant interest to resource managers, practitioners, academics and students ofsmall-scale fisheries.