Socio-economic factors associated with slow recovery of prawn stock: Evidence from prawn fishing communities in Tanzania Mainland

Abstract

Over three decades, Tanzania Mainland has been experiencing a decrease in prawn stock. One of the governments‘ responses in redressing this situation was to impose management restrictions for industrial and artisanal fisheries. Recent evidence from various biological studies shows a sign of recovery, but at a slow and unexpected pace. As a result, there has been a dilemma based on the lack of understanding as to why, despite all the efforts to control and manage prawn fishery, the stock has not been increasing at the expected level. This has led to the need for undertaking a socio-economic analysis to comprehend the factors—beyond the biological aspects—that might be determining the prawn stock situation in Tanzania Mainland. Findings from regressional analysis suggest that age, daily income from prawn fishing, and ownership of vessels determine fishing effort. Other factors, including increase in demand for prawn (local and international), increase in the number of collectors (petty traders and middlemen), the lack of market monitoring, non-adherence to closure system, and illegal fishing practices: these have been among the factors behind prawn stock development in Tanzania Mainland.