Addressing Uncertainty in Marine Resource Management; Combining Community Engagement and Tracking Technology to Characterize Human Behavior

Kristian Metcalfe,Ricky Miyalou,Kirsten E Abernethy,Dominic Tilley,Gilbert Koumba Safou,Richard J Parnell,Debbie J.F Russell,Jean‐Claude Dengui,Matthew J Witt,Hilde Vanleeuwe,Brendan J Godley,Tim Collins,Kate E Plummer,Rachel A Turner,Richard Boumba

doi:10.1111/conl.12293

Abstract

AbstractSmall‐scale fisheries provide an essential source of food and employment for coastal communities, yet the availability of detailed information on the spatiotemporal distribution of fishing effort to support resource management at a country level is scarce. Here, using a national‐scale study in the Republic of Congo, we engaged with fishers from 23 of 28 small‐scale fisheries landing sites along the coast to demonstrate how combining community engagement and relatively low cost Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers can rapidly provide fine‐scale information on: (1) the behavioral dynamics of the fishers and fleets that operate within this sector; and (2) the location, size and attributes of important fishing grounds upon which communities are dependent. This multidisciplinary approach should be considered within a global context where uncertainty over the behavior of marine and terrestrial resource‐users can lead to management decisions that potentially compromise local livelihoods, conservation, and resource sustainability goals.

Highlights

Small-scale fisheries employ 22 million of the 50 million people engaged in fishing worldwide (Teh & Sumaila 2013), and so make an important contribution to many local and national economies due to their essential role in food security, employment, and poverty alleviation (Bene 2006)
Conservation Letters published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc
There were no significant differences in the measures of behavior among fishers outside the city (Zones A and B; P > 0.074; Table S1; Figure S2); with fishers from these sites operating over small spatiotemporal scales (Table S2)

Summary

Introduction

Small-scale fisheries employ 22 million of the 50 million people engaged in fishing worldwide (Teh & Sumaila 2013), and so make an important contribution to many local and national economies due to their essential role in food security, employment, and poverty alleviation (Bene 2006). While there is increasing information that describes small-scale fisheries catches (Pauly & Zeller 2016), detailed information on the spatiotemporal distribution of their effort at a country level is scarce, in developing countries (Chuenpagdee et al 2006). Their use is often limited by the absence of systematic data collection arising from: (1) limited financial, personnel and/or technical resources; (2) the dispersed nature of fishing communities; and (3) insufficient licensing or monitoring (Stewart et al 2010)

Methods

Results

Conclusion