Rural Sociology and Psycology

1.2.5.1.Utility of Socio-economic Assessments

The utility of socioeconomic assessments, both from the results of socioeconomic assessments as well as the process of collecting the data was discussed. Information can assist reef managers in formulating appropriate plans for reef management. For example, data collected on the sociocultural, economic and political aspects of community based marine sanctuaries were used to determine the variables associated with the success of marine sanctuaries (population size, a perceived crisis, successful alternative income projects, relatively high level of community participation, continuing advice from the implementing organization and inputs from the municipal government). Socioeconomic data can serve as the foundation for a participatory project design workshop, which in turn can be used to produce a vision for managing an area.

Socio-economic studies helps to establish a stakeholder group which continues to lobby government, participate in the decision-making process, and pursue co-management arrangements. Socioeconomic assessment is useful in determining future management strategies for a local area based on the findings that migration is the major driver of human population growth in the area and that migrant households are heavily dependent on fishing income. A multicriteria analysis assists in the selection of relevant indicators to assess the effectiveness of management from different perspectives and enhanced collaborative monitoring programs for more objective decision making.