| Coastal Community Development through Integration of Marine Sports and Fisheries Industry |
| Paper ID : 1440-SPORTCONGRESS (R1) |
| Authors |
|
Salim Sharifian * Faculty of Marine Sciences |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Coastal communities worldwide face socioeconomic challenges including economic marginalization, demographic decline, limited employment opportunities, and environmental vulnerability. The strategic integration of marine sports with traditional fisheries industries presents promising pathways for sustainable community revitalization. This paper examines how synergistic approaches combining recreational marine activities with fishing can generate employment, improve quality of life, and build resilience in coastal populations. Methods: This study employs mixed-methods analysis incorporating case study examination, economic impact assessment, and community development framework evaluation. We analyzed successful integration models from the Philippines (Malapascua Island community-based marine tourism), Alaska (recreational fishing tourism), Costa Rica (integrated coastal ecotourism), and Mexico (fisheries cooperative diversification). Data sources included economic surveys, employment statistics, environmental monitoring reports, and qualitative interviews with community stakeholders. Analysis focused on identifying critical success factors, benefit distribution patterns, and sustainability indicators. Results: Integration of marine sports with fisheries creates economic diversification reducing vulnerability to sector-specific shocks. Recreational fishing generates substantially higher economic value per fish than commercial harvest through tourism multiplier effects. Employment opportunities span direct positions (guides, instructors, operators) and indirect roles (hospitality, retail, services). Successful models demonstrate that community ownership and participatory governance ensure equitable benefit distribution while building local management capacity. Critical success factors include genuine community participation, environmental sustainability measures, comprehensive skills training, effective marketing, and supportive policy frameworks. Challenges include elite capture, environmental degradation from tourism pressure, cultural commodification, and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Conclusion: Integrated marine-based development offers substantial potential for coastal community revitalization when implemented with attention to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Success requires community ownership, robust resource management, capacity building, equitable benefit distribution, and adaptive governance. Climate change adaptation and economic diversification strategies enhance resilience, ensuring communities can sustain livelihoods while preserving marine resources and cultural identities for future generations. |
| Keywords |
| coastal communities, marine sports, fisheries industry, community development, sustainable livelihoods |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
