Potential synergies between nature-based tourism and sustainable use of marine resources : insights from dive tourism in territorial user rights for fisheries in Chile

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biggs_potential_2016.pdf(303.2 KB)
Date
2016-03
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Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Novel solutions to conserve biodiversity whilst allowing for resource harvesting are urgently needed. In marine systems, Territorial User Rights for Fisheries (TURFs) are promoted to enable sustainable use of resources. We investigate the potential for synergies between nature-based tourism and TURFs on Chile’s central coast. Of 135 recreational divers surveyed, 77% indicated that the fish species they preferred sighting were declining and 80% indicated that they would dive more often in TURFs, which have higher abundance of favoured species. Regression analysis shows that respondents that perceive that TURFs fulfil a conservation function are more willing to pay to dive in a TURF. However, respondents who understand the bureaucratic functioning of a TURF are less willing to pay, and there is diversity in how divers feel payments should be made. A participatory approach is required to navigate these complexities to achieve synergies between nature-based tourism and resource harvesting in TURFs.
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CITATION: Biggs, D., et al. 2016. Potential synergies between nature-based tourism and sustainable use of marine resources : insights from dive tourism in territorial user rights for fisheries in Chile. PLoS ONE, 11(3):e0148862, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148862.
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone
Keywords
Marine resource, Nature based tourism, Territorial user rights for fisheries, Fish species
Citation
Biggs, D., et al. 2016. Potential synergies between nature-based tourism and sustainable use of marine resources : insights from dive tourism in territorial user rights for fisheries in Chile. PLoS ONE, 11(3):e0148862, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148862
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/102318
Collections
Research Articles (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)