Identifying management preferences, institutional organisational rules, and their capacity to improve fisheries management in Pemba, Mozambique

Abstract

The potential to improve the management of fisheries in Pemba, Mozambique, were explored by evaluating stakeholder’s preferences for management and the key institutional design elements of the fisheries organisations or community councils of fisheries (CCPs). We interviewed fishers, community leaders and government fisheries officers regarding (1) their perceptions about different fisheries restrictions, (2) their socio-economic conditions, and (3) the institutional design and rules of the CCP arrangements. Fishers had low levels of education (<4 years) and biweekly expenditures of around US$100, and they were permanent residents of their villages, being part of large households (9–12 members). Apart from effort restrictions, respondents’ perceptions were similar and strongly supported a range of fisheries regulations, particularly gear and minimum size restrictions. The suggested minimum size of captured fish was 20.6 cm (SD 3.0), whereas the suggested size of closed areas was 8.4 km² (SD 2.0). Fishers associated with community or conservation groups generally had more positive views of spatial closures and other less-preferred management restrictions. A number of the essential design principles for fisheries rules were in place with the exception of graduated sanctions. There is a need for strengthening groups, forums, leadership training in finance, and means to implement transparency and graduated sanctions.

African Journal of Marine Science 2013, 35(1): 47–56