PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Program: Sustainable Development Practices in Priority Coastal Environments of the Gulf of California Ecosystem: Recreational Marinas and Shrimp Mariculture.

Partners: Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, CESASIN, Conservation International / Mexico, CREDES

Funders: USAID and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation via CRC/URI

Funding: $93,000

Dates: February 2003 to August 2005

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Instituto Sinaloense de Acuacultura (ISA), The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, The University of Hawaii at Hilo and Conservation International Mexico present:

Sustainable Development Practices in Priority Coastal Environments of the Gulf of California Ecosystem: Recreational Marinas and Shrimp Mariculture

Statement of the Challenge and Opportunity:

Coastal tourism and shrimp Mariculture are emerging as two of the most important growth industries in the northwestern coastal region of Mexico surrounding the Gulf of California. Cities and communities along the coastal plain of the Gulf of California and Baja California peninsula have benefited from this development, but also are paying a price. Government, civil society and the private sector are, in response to this growth, recognizing the need to balance natural resource conservation and equitable economic opportunity. There is also an increased recognition for the need of a concerted effort to build support and capacity for the design and adoption of sustainable forms of tourism and/or aquaculture development.

The development and implementation of Good Management Practices (GMP) for both marinatourism and Mariculture is a valuable alternative that can be used to promote sustainable development in the region. BMP are sets of recommendations developed to improve production efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. Such practices are needed in the Gulf. Regulators, producers and other developers must be aware that successful implementation of BMP and other strategies and policies aiming at promoting sustainable development for Mariculture and tourism requires the acceptance and voluntary adoption of good practices.

The mission of the Coastal Resources Center (CRC) of the University of Rhode Island (URI) is to develop and promote more effective approaches to sustainable coastal ecosystem management worldwide. With funds provided by the Packard Foundation, CRC will work closely with Conservation International-Mexico in the execution of the project:

Sustainable Development Practices in Priority Coastal Environments of theGulf of California Ecosystem: Recreational Marinas and Shrimp Mariculture.

Project Objective: “Strengthen the knowledge, acceptance, and adoption of Good Management Practices (GMP) for better siting and operation of shrimp Mariculture and recreational marina development in areas of critical environmental and social concern within the Gulf of California”

Strategy

• Provide information and recommendations through the delivery of training to policy makers to promote the improvement of siting, mariculture operations and recreational marina facilities to avoid negative environmental impacts and maximize economic returns and production efficiency.
• Encourage private industries in the Mariculture and marina trades to identify and voluntarily adoptGood Management Practices.

Project Specific Objectives and Anticipated Outcomes

1. Specify sets of locally appropriate and feasible good practices for shrimp Mariculture and recreational marina facility siting and operation

Expected Outcome:

• Good management practices are identified, refined, tested or implemented. GMPs are accepted through a consensus process as practices which can reduce environmental damage.

2. Engage with ongoing decision making processes at the national and local levels to advocatefor the incorporation of good practice guidelines into public policy statements and development plans

Expected Outcomes:

• The strengthening of linkages between private and public sector through participation in workinggroup activities promoting development of policy instruments and planning activities.
• The development of a network of providers of technical assistance well trained in issues regardingenvironmental impacts of shrimp farming and GMPs to prevent or mitigate such impacts.
• The training of private sector managers and owners resulting in improved knowledge and demonstrated changes in attitude or changes in cultural practices.

3. Provide operational guidance and communicate results broadly to accelerate awareness,interest and broader adoption of GMP’s

Proposed Outcomes:

• Number of shrimp farmers and marinas participating in voluntary adoption of GMPs, or having plans to do so, are increased.
• Information provided to private and public sector stakeholders helps to insure that operational efficiency is optimized, risk is reduced, other resources (i.e. water quality and wetlands) are notadversely affected and externalities are minimized.
• Regional networks of institutions are strengthened so common goals are achieved through cooperation.