Journal of Coastal Research SI 39 1294 - 1298 ICS 2004 (Proceedings) Brazil ISSN 0749-0208 GASALLA, M. A. and TUTUI, S. L. S., 2006. Fishing for responses: a local experts consultation approach on the brazilian sardine fishery sustainability. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 39 (Proceedings of the 8th International Coastal Symposium), 1294 - 1298. Itajaí, SC, Brazil, ISSN 0749-0208. Fisheries sustainability is one of the major challenges concerning the ocean use rationalization, especially in the coastal zone. The increasing conflicts between users, many different interests on common resources and the failure of traditional policy strategies, create a demand for consultative approaches that could orientate the incorporation of human values into coastal management. A consultative process of local experts perceptions on management issues of Southeastern Brazil coastal fisheries were undertaken between 1999 and 2002. Sardine overfishing and management issues addressed during the survey are here analyzed with the aim to: (1) highlight the factors that a panel of experts believe have the greatest importance towards sustainability, (2) map the discourse and arguments of key social actors within the fishery sector, and (3) provide an understanding of the perception of different interest groups. “Experts” were considered individuals regarded as qualified by their colleagues in a “snow-ball” perspective. Respondents were classified into 4 categories, such as artisanal, industrial, scientists, and government technicians. Topics include management performance, reasons explaining catch decline and overfishing, and sector's myths and perspectives. Each category showed distinct discourse and conceptualization but consensus was identified in several topics. Accordingly to the survey, present regulatory system does not seem to be appropriate to actual needs and do not facilitate communication between actors and decision-making. In the face of stocks declining and fishery diversification, future challenges will include the integration of diverse voices and a new adjustment of institutions, policies and research concerning the management of coastal fisheries ecosystems in practice. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Fisheries management, perceptions, overfishing, policies, interest groups, conflicts. ABSTRACT Fishing for Responses: A Local Experts Consultation Approach on the Brazilian Sardine Fishery Sustainability M. A. Gasalla† and S. L. S. Tutui† INTRODUCTION One of the most crucial human use of the oceans is surely that of marine fisheries, a highly complex biosocioeconomic dynamic system, source of food and livelihood for millions, and hence difficult to manage (C , 1997). Especially in the coastal zone, the increasing conflicts between users, many different interests on common resources, the non-sustainable state of most fisheries and the failure of traditional policy strategies, create a demand for alternative approaches that study fishing in a systemic view, with multidisciplinary basis. A consultation approach of different interest groups and their particular value judgments concerning “sustainability” can provide some orientation to conflict resolution and governance in order to achieve balanced sustainability objectives. Sustainability is a highly dimensional concept, and appear to be related to values and norms about environmental, economic, social, ethical and other forms of “well-being” strongly influenced by cultural biases and local specific parameters (B and M , 1996; G and S , 2000). Different groups of people have different views and perceptions about sustainability and management that can often come into contact and conflict (i.e. sustainable yields and ecological sustainability may differ in objectives from the socio-economic sustainability, which aims to maximize rents, or from the community sustainability, concerned on the well-being of people in coastal communities). Hence, conflicts in fisheries can arise due to differences over desired objectives (C , 1997), and policy arena is characterized by networks of social actors that seek to forward their own views and concepts. A consultative process of local experts perceptions on management issues of Southeastern Brazil coastal fisheries were undertaken between 1999 and 2002. The approach and some preliminary results were previously presented in G (2002) and G and T (2000; 2003). This paper will focus on the consultation survey with key “experts” of the Brazilian fishery sector about their perception on the sardine fishery management and (un)sustainability. The very first records of the Brazilian sardine ( ) fishery dated from 1910, and engine purse-seiners already supplied sardine can industry in late 1930s when it was considered an intensive fishery (D , 1983). Nevertheless, it was only in mid-1960s that it became an industrial activity, characterized by a rapid catch increase. In early 1970s, government subsidies stimulated fishery dynamics and sardine reached about 228 thousand tons, in 1973, showing an abrupt downward trend until the 1990s as an undesirable effect. In 1988, sardine collapse had already been recognized, when technical working groups proposed more severe recommendation for management (S /P , 1989; , 1995). Nevertheless, after the most critical point of 32 thousand tons in 1990, and some recuperation signal in the following years, the stock never again recovered to previous levels. Sardine fishery regulation efforts begun in 1977, and have not been based on quantitative or adaptative management procedures, but rather on often static rules, that include limiting licenses, spawning and recruitment time closures (“ ”), and minimum catch fish length. Surveys were conducted with 75 sardine fishery experts in their own working places (i.e. Landing points, cooperatives, unions and associations, enterprises, universities, research institutes, government offices, etc.) with a base-line questionnaire interviewing of about one hour length. Open- ended questions were complemented by multiple choice and true-false stating on specific topics. “Experts” were considered individuals regarded as qualified by their colleagues in a “snow- HARLES ILHARZ OLDAN ARCIA TAPLES HARLES ASALLA ASALLA UTUI IEGUES UDEPE DP ROSSI- WONGTSCHOWSKI Sardinella brasiliensis et al. defesos METHODS ball” perspective. Respondents were classified into 4 † Fisheries Ecosystems Lab, Instituto Oceanografico, University of São Paulo, 05508-900 Brazil. mgasalla@usp.br Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 39, 2006 ,