Participatory design of a monitoring protocol for the small-scale fisheries at the community of Tarituba, Paraty, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

This paper aims to describe and analyze the design of the participatory monitoring protocol of Tarituba, a fishing community in Southern Brazil, and to discuss the setbacks for its implementation. The protocol aimed to integrate fishers' scientific and technical knowledge under the ecosystem approach to fisheries, employing a pioneering method prevalent in the Brazilian coastal region: The Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management (SocMon). Monitoring goals lie in the socioecological sustainability of local fisheries and seek to solve conflicts resulting from fishing restriction due to the establishment of a Protected Area. SocMon was a useful tool to improve communication between and among fishers and managers. The legitimacy of the process was reinforced by participation of the fishers; however, the long waiting period preceding the implementation of the jointly agreed upon term caused frustration and mistrust amongst fishers, compromising future participation