The spatio-temporal dynamics of fishing behaviour and its determinants in poor

fishing communities

Nick Hill1,2

EJ Milner-Gulland1, Marcus Rowcliffe2, Guy Cowlishaw2

1Imperial College London. 2Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London

Outline

• East Africa and small-scale fisheries

• Introduction to study site

• Livelihoods

• Effects on fishing behaviour

East Africa

• East Africa coastal population ≈ 22 million

– 5-6% increase per annum

• Dependence on marine resources.

• Degradation: serious concern for livelihoods

• Failure to reduce

degradation and

poverty

– Why?

Failure of fisheries management

• Why the failure?

• Behaviour poorly understood.

• Data aggregated spatially

• Data aggregated across fleet

• Consequence:

• Unable to predict response to management

• Policies and management unsuitable

• What is needed?

• Understanding of behaviour and its drivers

Study site

Vamizi and Rongui Islands

Study site

Tourism supports conservation and community development

The only local development organization

Study site

The marine resources are in excellent condition.

Vamizi Island communities

• Two community types:

–Locals

–Transients

• Each have different livelihoods

Hypothesis

Livelihoods

Fishing behaviour

The role of fishing in livelihoods...

…spatio-temporal dynamics of fishing: where, when and how much

...effects...

• Fishing behaviour is driven by livelihoods:

• A livelihood: the capabilities, assets (including social and material resources) and activities required for a means of living.

Objectives of fishing

Livelihoods

• Potential roles of fishing in livelihoods: One economic

activity Multiple economic activities

Subsistence Survival Semi-subsistence diversification

Accumulation Specialisation Diversification for accumulation

Livelihoods

Livelihoods of transient communities?

Livelihoods of local communities

Effect on fishing behaviour

• Temporal behaviour:

–Frequency of fishing

–Length of fishing trips

–Investment in gear

–Seasonality of fishing

Effect on fishing behaviour

Environment

Travel time

Habitat

Resource distribution

Fishing location

Landing sites

• Spatial behaviour

• Method: weighted suitability modelling

• Comparison of weightings for fishermen with different livelihoods

• Verification with fishing tracks

Effect on catch rates

• p < 0.05

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Local fishers Daily / weekly visitors Long-term visitors

Av

era

ge

ca

tch

pe

r tr

ip (

US

$ p

er

pe

rso

n)

n=22 n=35 n=28

Effect on catch rates

n=4

n=15

n=3

n=32

n=3

n=2n=1

n=13n=12

0

1

2

3

4

5

Nets Traps Handlines Spear

Ca

tch

pe

r tr

ip (

US

$ p

er

pe

rso

n)

Local fishers

Daily / weekly visitors

Long-term visitors

Conclusion

• Are spatio-temporal dynamics of fishing behaviour driven by livelihoods?

• Linking individual fishing behaviour to livelihoods may help us predict the effects of interventions.

Thank you!

Maluan / Cabo Delgado Biodiversity and Tourism Project, Mozambique