4.4. Mapping and management suggestions
In both P. Grande and Trindade, all of the fishers indicated during mapping or group interviews that they knew that con- servation parks were areas for biodiversity conservation and that their existence was necessary to preserve nature and assure the continuation of the resource. In P. Grande, 78% (n ¼ 33) of the fishers said that they also believe it is necessary to have no-take areas inside MPAs, which is in accordance with what the fishers of Trindade discussed in the meeting. However, the fishers (in the meeting in Trindade and 97% of the interviewees in P. Grande) were generally not satisfied with the current configuration of the parks. According to these fishers, the parks are set up in a way that negatively affects only the small-scale fishers by not allowing them to fish in their traditional spots or to anchor in some areas. For 43% of the fishers who were individually interviewed, a basic step before the establishment of any MPA would be to consult them and have their opinion taken into account.
In terms of suggestions, 21% of the P. Grande fishers said that mangroves and estuaries should be no-take zones due to provid- ing nursing sites. Other suggestions included allowing them to use hook and line fishing around the islands, allowing them to anchor and decreasing the buffering zones around the islands, which are limitations that have been a source of confiict between fishers and the environmental agency in the area. In Trindade, as this activity was conducted in a meeting, the fishers were able to reach a consensus regarding suggested measures for the area that is currently affected by Bocaina Park. They suggested the establishment of a no-take area locally known as the ‘‘natural pool’’ in their region, the right of carrying out enforcement with the support of the police and/or environmental agency if neces- sary, closed periods for catching migratory species, and a zone system establishing diving and gillnet areas. If the suggestions obtained through these group interviews and mapping, together with the information shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are taken into account, it is possible to come up with a less conflicting management design; this design is still debatable under an ecological/biological perspective, but it at least follows clear criteria regarding the choice of protected areas/islands. This result is shown in Table 2, which indicates the spots that would need to undergo changes. This process resulted in the proposal of changes to six islands belonging to Tamoios Station: four were suggested to be removed from the Station (Comprida, Ganchos, Sandri and Arac- atiba); two were suggested to undergo certain management changes, follow- ing fishers’ suggestions (Palmas and Araraquara); and two other islands were suggested to be removed from the Tamoios Station buffer zone (Cabras and Ventura) (Table 3, Fig. 5). The other 21 islands (from a total of 29) and their buffer zones would not be affected. Some areas identified as relevant, such as bays, are already under non-conflicting management measures. Paraty bay would require more specific evaluation, as it was recognized as an important nursery site but also provided more than 12% of the fish landed in P. Grande and Tarituba, a percentage that would be much higher if all of the villages that use the bay were taken into account. Exclusion of the marine buffer zone from terrestrial reserves is also suggested for Bocaina Park because the area that is most used by Trindade’s fishers is very close to the coast. The relevant spots in Trindade shown in Table 2 cover the whole bay of Trindade. However, as suggested by Trindade’s fishers, exclud- ing these areas from the current management measures does not imply that fishers would use them without any control. Specific management measures could be developed together with Trindade’s fishers.