Fisheries are a significant part of many African economies. They need to be responsibly managed to maximise the sector’s contribution to reducing poverty. The vulnerability of fishing communities, however, may limit their ability to participate in sustainable management practices.

There are about 10 million people working in small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa’s fishery sector, mostly in west and central Africa. Fisheries provide them with employment, income and nutrition (especially important for the poorest groups). Fisheries also boost the economy through trade, tax revenue and foreign currency earnings. To sustain these benefits, fisheries must be managed responsibly. This is not always easy with pressure from both fisherfolk and the fishing industry to increase the level of fishing.

Governments can only manage fisheries responsibly in cooperation with fisherfolk. Research from the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme argues that fisherfolk in Africa are isolated from conventional development programmes and vulnerable to risk. As a result, they may be reluctant to adopt the long-term management approaches that are central to sustainable fisheries.

It is essential to understand the specific situation of different fishing communities to enable them to participate in fisheries management. Key findings from the research include:

• Fishing incomes are highly variable within communities, and often uncertain and seasonal: for example, where fish stocks are declining due to overfishing, incomes also decline.
• It is difficult to estimate the assets of fisherfolk in terms of land and livestock, as many fisherfolk are mobile (and some are even cash-rich). Methods used for national poverty surveys may therefore not be relevant for organisations working with fisherfolk.
• Fisherfolk are often excluded from other employment opportunities, from fair access to land, social services, transport services and markets. Weak political representation may further isolate them from development processes (as in Ghana’s Lake Volta).

Marginalisation, along with the risky nature of fishing, makes it difficult for fisherfolk to adapt to ‘shocks’ (such as a rapid decline in fish stocks) caused by the environment, economic factors or state policies. This vulnerability means that many fisherfolk are unwilling or unable to support sustainable fishing practices, such as responsible systems of access rights. Changing this attitude requires broad cooperation and consultation with fisherfolk.

The authors recommend that:

• ministries, donors and international agencies acknowledge the importance of both coastal and inland fisheries in their development plans
• fishery ministries assess the poverty of small-scale fisherfolk, including assessments of vulnerability and marginalisation, and develop links with other agencies involved in poverty reduction
• local governments incorporate fisheries in their development planning and reduce marginalisation by providing fisherfolk with fair access to social services.

Source(s):
‘Reducing fisherfolk’s vulnerability leads to responsible fisheries’, New Directions in Fisheries, Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme, FAO: Rome, 2005 (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 8 December 2006

Further Information:
SFLP Coordination Unit
Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme
Food and Agriculture Organization
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100, Rome
Italy

Tel: +39 06 5705 6027
Fax: +39 06 5705 6781
Contact the contributor: SFLP-PCU@fao.org

Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme

Other related links:
'id21 insights 65 - The importance of fisheries for development'

'Investing in Africa’s fisheries'

'FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries'

'Adaptive learning: a new approach to natural resources management'

See id21's links for fisheries

New Directions in Fisheries - A Series of Policy Briefs on Development Issues