Towards Improved Management of Tropical Invertebrate Fisheries: Including Time Series and Gender

Abstract

Invertebrate harvesting is an important livelihood in tropical settings providing income and food for numerous populations throughout the world. However, the lack of research, policy and management directed towards this livelihood hinders the analysis of time trends to evaluate invertebrate resources status. Another missing aspect is the consideration of gender analysis, i.e., the different roles and interests of men and women engaged in this activity. Based on interviews, catch assessments and inventories this multi-disciplinary study from Chwaka Bay (Zanzibar, Tanzania) shows how unregulated harvesting of invertebrates may result in sharp declines in animal abundance over a relatively short period of time (2005 to 2010), threatening the sustainability of the fishery. Specifically, the results show that catches in general, and prime target species of gastropods and bivalves in particular, had been significantly reduced in number and size. Interviews revealed gender disparities; female harvesters experienced less access to good fishing/collecting grounds and species of high value, which subsequently resulted in lower individual income. This is tightly linked to women's reproductive roles, which not only leads to limited mobility but also lessen their chances to accumulate livelihood assets (natural, physical, financial, social and human capital) thus impacting livelihood strategies. To protect invertebrate resources from overexploitation, and assure a constant flow of income and food for future generations, this case study illustrates the need for formal monitoring to assess changes in invertebrate resources, and possible ecological consequences, over time. Managers and policy-makers must also address gender to evaluate the contribution of all resource users, their capacity to cope with changing conditions, as well as specific interests.

Small-scale innovations in coastal communities: shell-handicraft as a way to empower women and decrease poverty

“…It has been previously shown that the invertebrate population declines can take place in short periods of time in Zanzibar. For example, Fröcklin et al (2014) identified significant declines due to uncontrolled harvesting in a period of five years. In addition, there is a paucity of knowledge about species, links to their environment, and proper levels of up-take.…”

Interactive Governance for Small-Scale Fisheries

“…Many women are engaged in seaweed mariculture and in gleaning of e.g. invertebrates (Håkansson et al 2012 ;Fröcklin et al 2014 ).…”

“…Self-organization has also left women without representation in the Village Fishermen's Committees (Gustavsson et al 2014 ) which is conspicuous as a substantial number of women are engaged as collectors and some even fi shing with small nets (Fröcklin et al 2014 ). This exclusion is in line with paternalistic forms of authority that characterize communities (see below).…”

Multiple Factors Affect Socioeconomics and Wellbeing of Artisanal Sea Cucumber Fishers

“…While there is increased recognition of women’s contribution in the fisheries sector [8, 10], gender inequity persists in various facets of fisheries [8, 11] and is often overlooked in planning of fisheries management and development [9, 12]. In particular, there are few data from developing countries of comparative economic gains for men and women in fisheries [12].…”