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Small-Scale Sicilian Fisheries 401

contributes the perspective of people who live and work in the area and thus have direct
contact with the MPA, with which a more accurate determination of success can be
developed.

Fishers were asked questions regarding the overall success of their reserve, whether
their interests are represented, and if the present management scheme is the best way to
manage the area. The majority of fishers in the GCFR responded that although they felt
the reserve has been successful and benefited them in the long run, there are a fair
number of changes that should be made to local management, for example, increasing
enforcement, bag limits, and changing the boundary of the reserve. The overwhelmingly
positive reaction by fishers is a good indication that the reserve is accepted and sup-
ported by the local fishers that are heavily affected by its presence.

In the EIMR, results were varied; however, it was apparent that fishers, as a whole,
did not perceive any positive benefits from the reserve and felt that overall the reserve is
a failure. Compared to the GCFR, fishers in the EIMR show virtually no support for the
reserve. In this case, reserve success could be improved through a variety of community
participation techniques, for example, stakeholder advisory committees, focus groups,
informational sessions, and redesigning enforcement mechanisms to curb illegal harvest-
ing of local resources.

Perceived Impacts of MPA on Catch Rates. Closely correlated with opinions about man-
agement are fisher’s perceptions about changes in their daily catch over time as a result
of an MPA. From the artisanal fishers’ vantage point, an MPA is only successful to the
extent that they benefit personally and as a user group. Yet where fishers do not per-
ceive benefits from the MPA, they tend to express negative opinions about the reserve
and comment on large negative impacts they have experienced (Jentoft, McCay, & Wilson,
1998; Russ & Alcala, 1999). In the present study, these perceptions were determined by
questioning fishers regarding how their catch and effort have changed since the respec-
tive MPAs were created. These perceptions are useful in helping to determine fisher’s
perceptions of MPA effectiveness.

In the GCFR, the majority of respondents indicated that their average daily catch
has increased noticeably since the reserve was created. Fishers also commented that this
perceived catch increase is due to the presence of the trawling ban (Figure 2). The

Figure 2. Responses in the Gulf of Castellammare to the question: Is the variation in your catch
due to the trawling ban?