Filmmaking as a source of enhanced knowledge and transformation in conflicts over small-scale fisheries : the case of Colombia

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MAltres ajuts: Solidarity Fund of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (FAS-UAB) under the project AJASmall-scale fisheries (SSF) harvesting on coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems sustain the livelihood of hundreds of millions around the world. In Colombia, as in many other developing countries, SSF suffer from multiple pressures and conflicts. Yet the research on SSF conflicts is scarce and the typology of these conflicts is poorly systematized and understood. Existing studies lack the necessary interdisciplinary integration to address social-ecological processes involved in SSF. Moreover, scientific research requires building trust with fishers in order to gain an accurate picture of relevant intra-community processes and values.In face of this situation, we compiled information from nonfiction films about fishing conflicts, with the double aim of underpinning scientific knowledge on conflicts over SSF and analyzing the use of the films to promote transformations in these conflicts. Our empirical evidence relies on the organization of an ad hoc docu-conference where filmmakers, fishers, and the general public engaged in a meaningful discussion on the issues affecting SSF communities in Colombia. Films represent the range of conflicts over SSF in 31 locations of 16 Colombian departments and provide data about types of actors involved in the conflicts, types of conflicts and their causes, and possible courses of action. We gained insights into fishing conflicts as processes of change that involve drivers and impacts with common patterns in both inland waters, and marine and coastal environments but evolve in diverging responses or calls for action. Beyond the variables emerging in the films, audiovisual content supports stakeholders in their pursuit of knowledge sharing, political mobilization, and social functioning. Films about SSF conflicts expand knowledge and relatedness that propel intellectual processes tending to exacerbate the conflict and/ or stimulate sense of place, enhance governance, and give a boost to alternatives. Research participants (filmmakers, fishers, and the public) discussed advantages and limitations of using films to tackle the SSF crisis in Colombia. We demonstrate the value of films in social-ecological research and provide evidence of how they can support and bring about transformative change

Manifiesto para la protección de los derechos humanos de las comunidades pesqueras artesanales en Colombia

Dear Editor, We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers working at the Universidad del Magdalena (Colombia), in collaboration with a researcher from the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB, Germany). In 2019, we developed the project “Human Rights Violations in Artisanal Fisheries in Colombia”, co-producing a line of interdisciplinary research (Justice in Fishing Territories) focused on researching and reporting on the injustices experienced in fishing territories. Through the systematic analysis of 91 court rulings from the Colombian Constitutional Court, we have identified human rights violations associated with artisanal fishing communities across the country. Our research led to the construction of the “Justice in Fishing Territories” digital database (available at http://pescayjusticia.unimagdalena.edu.co/), which seeks to increase the visibility of human rights violations experienced by the artisanal fishing sector and to facilitate future actions for the protection of the ways of living and rights of fishing communities in Colombia (see Figueroa et al. 2023). On March 10, 2023, we hosted the “First National Dialogue Fishing for Justice: Human Rights Violations in Fishing Territories” where we launched this database and shared our research findings with representatives from fishing communities, academics, government agencies working on fisheries, environment, human rights, as well as non-governmental organisations. The dialogue and discussion of these results and their relevance to Colombia triggered the writing of the manifesto that we present below.Estimado editor, En el 2019, investigadoras de la Universidad del Magdalena (Colombia), en colaboración con una investigadora del Instituto Helmholtz para la Biodiverdidad Marine Funcional (HIFMB, Alemania), implementaron el proyecto “Vulneración de Derechos Humanos en la Pesca Artesanal en Colombia”, generando una línea de trabajo interdisciplinario (Justicia en Territorios Pesqueros) enfocada en investigar y denunciar diferentes injusticias en territorios pesqueros. Por medio del análisis sistemático de 91 sentencias de tutelas revisadas por la Corte Constitucional de Colombia, se han identificado violaciones a derechos humanos asociados a las comunidades de pescadores artesanales en todo el país. Uno de los resultados de este proyecto ha sido la construcción de una base de datos digital denominada Justicia en Territorios Pesqueros (disponible en http://pescayjusticia.unimagdalena.edu.co/) que busca visibilizar estas violaciones y facilitar acciones futuras para la protección de los derechos humanos en el sector de la pesca artesanal en Colombia (ver Figueroa et al. 2023). El 10 de marzo de 2023, se llevó a cabo el “Primer Conversatorio Nacional Pescando Justicia: Violaciones a Derechos Humanos en Territorios Pesqueros”, en donde se hizo el lanzamiento de  la base de datos y socializaron los resultados del proyecto con líderes y lideresas de comunidades pesqueras, miembros de la Academia, funcionarios de las agencias gubernamentales de pesca, medio ambiente, derechos humanos, y miembros de organizaciones no gubernamentales. Ante los resultados socializados y la discusión de su relevancia en el país, uno de los resultados de este diálogo fue la redacción del manifiesto que presentamos a continuación

Assessment of Ostrom's social-ecological system framework for the comanagement of small-scale marine fisheries in Colombia: from local fishers' perspectives

Fishery resource management under extractive production models in the Anthropocene has contributed to the collapse of fish stocks, threatening the food and livelihood security of many people, especially fishers. Common-pool resource theory has established the relevance of the design principles of Elinor Ostrom, which favor collective actions for the management of these resources. With the help of small-scale fishers, we assessed the state of Ostrom's principles in the study system to determine the conditions required to implement fishery comanagement in the future. The communities of Taganga (Caribbean coast) and Tumaco (Pacific coast), Colombia, served as case studies because of their known dependence on fishing and because both communities are currently facing a social-ecological crisis within their top-down administrative frameworks. We performed six hearings, three in each community in 2009, 2012, and 2014, in which fishers brainstormed about the weaknesses that are closely related to Ostrom's social-ecological system framework. Additionally, 14 focus groups with 119 fishers (31 in Taganga in 2015; 88 in Tumaco in 2017) were conducted, one for each major fishing method used in each community. The obtained results made it possible to establish a community vision on the condition of the principles in each community, and the principles were prioritized by the fishers do determine which ones need immediate attention. The inhabitants of both Taganga and Tumaco expressed the urgent need to establish clear biophysical limits among resource users, to gain the participation of all actors involved, and to build nested enterprises. In particular, the community of Tumaco considered monitoring resources and regulations, establishing graduated sanctions, and recognizing basic rights to be priorities. Furthermore, future opportunities and conflicts related to fishery comanagement implementation were evident in both communities. Therefore, our results indicate that Taganga and Tumaco are not yet ready to implement fishery comanagement. Nevertheless, they have the knowledge and motivation to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from moving forward with managing their fishery resources and to face the tragedy of the commons

Justice in fishing territories: Human rights violations in artisanal fisheries analyzed by the Colombian Constitutional Court

Seas and inland waters have historically been spaces where social struggles have been overlooked and made invisible. This article offers an interdisciplinary analysis of the Colombian Constitutional Court decisions related to human rights violations in artisanal fishing territories. We used a human rights-based approach to study 79 Constitutional Injunctions (Acciones de Tutela) and built a digital database 'Justice in Fishing Territories' (Justicia en Territorios Pesqueros). We identify and discuss the most frequently claimed and protected rights. Most Court proceedings are centered on participatory processes, indicating that actors within the artisanal fisheries sector are excluded from the discussion and approval of development projects. We conclude that the Colombian State has historically privileged the interests of industrial economic sectors to the detriment of the ways of living, territories, and rights of artisanal fishing populations.</jats:p

Cooperation in the face of thresholds, risk, and uncertainty: Experimental evidence in fisher communities from Colombia.

Cooperation is thought to be a necessary condition to solve collective action dilemmas such as climate change or the sustainable use of common pool resources. Yet, it is poorly understood how situations pervaded by thresholds shape the behaviour of people facing collective dilemmas. Here we provide empirical evidence that resource users facing thresholds maintain on average cooperative behaviours in the sense of maximising their individual earnings while ensuring future group opportunities. A framed field experiment in the form of a dynamic game with 256 Colombian fishers helped us investigate individual behavioural responses to the existence of thresholds, risk and uncertainty. Thresholds made fishers extract less fish compared to situation without thresholds, but risk had a stronger effect on reducing individual fishing effort. Contrary to previous expectations, cooperation did not break down. If cooperation can be maintained in the face of thresholds, then communicating uncertainty is more policy-relevant than estimating precisely where tipping points lay in social-ecological systems

Ethical considerations for research on small‐scale fisheries and blue crimes

Crimes at sea—blue crimes—can have devastating impacts on small-scale fishing communities. Increasing calls to address “blue crimes” demand more research to address the drivers, patterns, actors and impacts of criminal activities in society and the oceans. This research and policy agenda, however, is not without risks as it might impact individual small-scale fishers and their communities, exacerbate existing inequalities and contribute to the criminalization of small-scale fishing practices. This paper discusses the risks and ethical challenges faced by a blue crimes research agenda to improve rather than worsen the plight of small-scale fishers. We identify eight inter-related ethical considerations: (i) pay attention to context and forms of involvement, (ii) cultivate reciprocal relationships and collaborations, (iii) evaluate and minimize risks, (iv) integrate storytelling and careful listening, (v) challenge reductionism, (vi) represent people, places, and practices carefully, (vii) follow communication ethics and (viii) consider the legal and policy implications. In light of a review of the literature on blue crimes and small-scale fisheries, we point to the need for ethically grounded research that is committed to reducing the associated burdens on small-scale fishers and their communities