Resumen

HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ, Hilda Berenice; BELTRAN-MORALES, Luís Felipe; VILLARREAL-COLMENARES, Humberto  y  ORTEGA-RUBIO, Alfredo. Perceptions of a fishing community about benefits, environmental impacts and use of resources of isla cerralvo, a protected island in the Gulf of California, Mexico. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.8, pp.604-609. ISSN 0378-1844.

Perceptions about protected areas by local communities have a direct effect on their attitudes and can influence collective strategies of resource use. This study examines the knowledge of La Ventana fishing community about the protection status, perceived benefits and environmental impacts of Isla Cerralvo, a protected island in the Gulf of California, Mexico. It focuses on the reasons for hunting feral goats and reactions toward the hunting management policy, and evaluates the relationship between these concerns and the community’s demographic and socio-economic variables. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The findings indicate that a substantial number of inhabitants do not know that the island had a protected status; therefore, reinforcement of environmental education programs is needed and alternatives are proposed. Perceived economic and non-economic benefits for the island were influenced by gender, and they can be used to encourage the local fishing community to support conservation. The main perceived environmental impact on Isla Cerralvo was the presence of garbage, and this was influenced by gender, age, and education level. A new management scheme about feral goat hunting is needed since the main use of goat meat was family consumption; inhabitants with low income actively hunted goats more frequently than those with higher incomes, reflecting a subsistence economy; and most inhabitants believe that goat hunting should be allowed.

Palabras clave : Benefits; Environmental Impact Perception; Gulf of California; Isla Cerralvo; Local Fishing Community; Protected Areas.