A socio‐ecological assessment of fisheries in three estuarine systems of the SW Indian Ocean – identifying essential links for improved governance
Why Estuarize‐WIO?
Fisheries are crucial for food security and economic activity
They are centuries old, and intricate socio-ecological systems (SES) have evolved around the use of fish
Threats are growing human populations, resource depletion and climate change
Fisheries are notoriously difficult to govern, with few success stories
Estuarize-WIO will provide a deeper understanding of SES in estuaries, as basis for strengthening co-management at ecosystem level
Estuarize-WIO Main objectives
Develop a common understanding of available information on estuarine ecology and biophysical variability in 3 estuaries
Identify and describe natural resource use by people living around estuaries
Investigate socio-ecological linkages and feedback systems related to fisheries
Construct models to simulate the outcomes of change, incl. management decisions
Influence fisheries governance and engender shared responsibility
Multiple scales
Temporal: Seasonal and inter-annual scales Key question: “How do seasonal rhythms influence the behavior and decision-making processes of people in estuaries?”
Spatial: Estuary and regional scales Key question: “Are the social-ecological systems related to fisheries similar across the WIO region, or are they unique to individual estuaries?”
Study Sites
4 Work Packages
Roles and responsibilities of participating institutions
Progress to date
(Started 1st September 2016)
Planning and Budgeting Meeting held
Year-1 workplans developed and funds disbursed (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique)
Roles and responsibilities defined
Project website under design
Guidelines for student projects developed
Six MSc student projects developed
Mozambique: 2 students recruited
Tanzania: WP2 Workplan developed
Kenya: 2 students recruited
WP4: Protocols developed
Contribution to bringing about behavioural and social/environmental changes
Greater acceptance of shared responsibility
Strengthening of emerging co-management initiatives
At estuary scale – Provide a broad information base that includes both traditional knowledge and scientific evidence and method
At regional scale – Cause for rethinking the management approach of small-scale fisheries
[and development of new fisheries management approaches and plans then need to be advanced through innovation]
Influencing or contributing to changes in regulatory frameworks
Contribution to a gradual paradigm shift towards use of a more inclusive, broad socio-ecological basis for governance of small-scale fisheries
Governance influenced towards managing ecosystems (instead of individual fisheries), to confer advantages in ecological & economic terms
Potential outcomes and longer-term impacts may include:
changes to small-scale fisheries policy
development of fisheries management plans that include traditional knowledge and is accepted by fishing communities
Implementation of regulations seen by users as fair, and to their advantage
