Heterogeneity of artisanal fishers’ perception of marine protected areas. The case of the Tuscan Archipelago (Mediterranean Sea)

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the most relevant management tools to halt marine resource degradation. Since MPAs success depends on the integration of ecological objectives with economic and social standards, assessing the perceptions of local communities (namely, fishers) prior to MPA establishment is pivotal for enhancing their effectiveness. Using Q methodology, we collected viewpoints of the artisanal fishing sector in the Tuscan Archipelago (Mediterranean GSA 9), one of the most important Mediterranean UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The survey reveals a heterogeneity of perceptions about MPAs. Three main discourses are identified: i)the “proactive discourse”, acknowledging a state of crisis and expressing appreciation for MPAs alongside the desire to actively contribute to their creation and management; ii) the “NIMBY (Not in my backyard) discourse”, showing general appreciation for MPAs as a management tool, but unwilling to support their establishment in usual fishing grounds; iii) the “skeptical discourse”, minimizing the crisis of the artisanal fishing sector and expressing mistrust towards MPAs. Our results have important implications for the engagement of artisanal fishers in MPAs establishment and management within the framework of the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.