An integrated assessment of coastal fisheries in Mozambique for conservation planning

Melita Anne Samoilys, Kennedy Osuka, Jamen Mussa, Sergio Rosendo, Michael Riddell, Mario Diade, James Mbugua, Joan Kawaka, Nicholas Hill, Heather Koldewey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Conservation planning of coastal ecosystems is improved by quantitative data on human activities and marine habitats, though is challenging in artisanal fisheries due to their characteristics of multiple species, gears and landing sites. Small-scale coastal fisheries in northern Mozambique were quantified using a multi-faceted approach, to inform area-based conservation and fisheries management. Fishers captured 153 taxa using eleven different fishing gears with a high proportion of gleaning. The most prevalent gear was the mosquito net (27%), largely used by women, followed by gleaning, handline and spear (12–15%), but with high inter-fishing ground variability. Median (interquatile range) catch rates ranged from 7.0 (3.4, 15.1) kg fisher−1 trip−1 (handlines) to 2.3 (1.6, 4.5) kg fisher−1 trip−1 (mosquito nets), which represent relatively high catch rates for eastern Africa. Knowledge of the complex spatial variability in these fisheries can contribute to conservation planning by minimizing opportunity costs while maximizing conservation benefits.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104924
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalOcean & Coastal Management
Volume182
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019

Keywords

  • Conservation
  • Coral reefs
  • Gender
  • Management
  • Small scale fisheries

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