Can Fishing Tourism Contribute to Conservation and Sustainability via Ecotourism? A Case Study of the Fishery for Giant African Threadfin Polydactylus quadrifilis on the Kwanza Estuary, Angola

Edward C Butler,Amber-Robyn Childs,Warren M Potts,Andrea Saayman

doi:10.3390/su12104221

Edward C Butler, Amber-Robyn Childs + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104221

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: May 21, 2020
Citations: 26	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Rhodes University, North-West University

Abstract

It has been suggested that tourism fisheries can raise the value of landed catch, provide alternative livelihoods for local artisanal fishers and, because recreationally caught fishes are often released, simultaneously conserve stocks. However, for fishing tourism to meet ecotourism standards, sustainable, local economic benefit is imperative. This study aimed to assess the direct economic contribution of the recreational fishery for Polydactylus quadrifilis on the Kwanza Estuary, Angola. The recreational fishery contributed significantly to economic productivity in an otherwise rural area, generating a total revenue (TR) of $236,826 per four-month fishing season. Based on TR, P. quadrifilis was 3.6–32.6 times more valuable than the same fish caught and sold in the artisanal sector. However, high rates of economic leakage (86.1% of local TR) reduced the value of recreationally caught fish to below that of artisanally caught fish. Important sources of economic leakage were via the non-local sourcing of lodge supplies, services and staff and through the repatriation of profits. Capacity building within the local community is suggested to reduce leakages and to create ‘linkages’ with the recreational fishery. Greater community involvement, including the provision of business shares and greater communication and control, is suggested to achieve sustainability and incentivise the protection of recreationally important fishery species.

Highlights

Recreational fisheries have been identified as significant contributors towards national economies [1,2]
This study aims to assess the direct economic contribution of the recreational fishery for P. quadrifilis on the Kwanza Estuary
It was found that the main sources of economic leakage were via the sourcing of lodge supplies, services and staff outside of the local area and through the repatriation of profit by foreign business owners

Summary

Introduction

Recreational fisheries have been identified as significant contributors towards national economies [1,2]. Much of the research within this field has taken place in the developed world, where there are high rates of participation and a lower reliance on fish stocks for food [3]. Recreational fisheries in the developing world are, on average, less well developed and receive less scientific attention [4,5]. The recreational fisheries of much of the developing world are not well understood, with many countries disregarding their impact, both economically and environmentally [5]. Recreational fisheries are characterised by heterogeneous human–nature relationships, and a social–ecological system (SES) approach has been advocated to fully appreciate their complexity [8]

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