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Occupationally, wealthier people are significantly more likely to utilize palangre,
a potentially safer technique. Though palangre is a deeper water technique and may expose the crew to some risks that net fishing does not, it could be argued
that one using palangre is not under the same chronic physiological strain as a spear fisher or net fisher. Wealthier people may be able to meet their basic needs and have a
heightened sense of economic security, allowing them to pursue ideas about environmental conservation. Thus, a successful ICM program will need to consider
ways to promote the well-being of poorer residents until they are at a position where they can begin to think about broader coastal management issues.
11.3 Education
EDUCATION is significantly related to seven statements regarding coastal resources, comprising 21 of the significant relationships found by this study. This
chapter will examine whether there are patterns in the ways that more educated versus less educated segments of the community perceive coastal resources, and discuss how
the identification of these trends can be applicable to an ICM program? Table 11.2 presents significant relationships from chapters nine and ten associated with
EDUCATION.
Table 11.2. EDUCATION and Perceptions Regarding Coastal Resources
E DUCATION
Less More
a discuss state of the reef c tourism affects reefs
b have legal problems accessing fishery d habitattheftother factors affect fishery
e Moved to Mahahual for quality of life f Conservation
g Anti-development Please note that “less’ and “more” are relative terms derived from the analyses in
previous chapters.
Table 11.2 shows that formal education influences perceptions of coastal resources. The type and higher number of responses given by more educated
respondents indicates that they are more aware of the problems and potential solutions facing coastal resource management.
In light of the tourism development that threatens the environment in Mahahual, those with higher education level were more likely to discuss social
empowerment themes such as conservation and anti-development [table 11.2 f, g]. For example, the better educated state that there are alternatives to proposals such as
development that they do not agree with. Discussion of progressive ideas such as conservation [table 11.2 f], indicates that more educated respondents may support
conservation-based ICM initiatives.
Based on the significant relationships presented in table 11.2, the educated are more informed about the various problems and potential solutions associated with
coastal resource management, and are thus, more likely to actively participate in ICM initiatives that support such beliefs. Education is an important factor is the acceptance
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level of community members toward ICM goals. Thus, an important long-term strategy of an ICM program should be to facilitate participation in formal education,
so that more community members are amenable to ICM interventions.
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PART III. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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CHAPTER 12 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
