Noncompliance a Major Threat in Fisheries Management – Experience from the Artisanal Coastal Fisheries of Bangladesh

K.V Kuperan,K.M Jahan

doi:10.32890/jis.6.2010.7911

Abstract

Non-compliance with regulation is a major problem that undermines the effectiveness of the coastal fisheries management in Bangladesh. The result of non-compliance with regulation is over fishing, resource depletion, habitat degradation and resource use conflicts. From a management perspective, it is important to examine the level and causes of non-compliance and explore policies for encouraging or securing compliance. An attempt has been made in this study to investigate these issues in the case of the marine fisheries of Bangladesh. The specific area of interest is the mesh size regulation. Result showed an absolute violation of the mesh size regulation. The study found that the opportunity of getting higher catches and economic returns, weak enforcement, influence of the social environment, ignorance about the law and limited livelihood opportunities are the main causes behind the noncompliance of the fishers with respect to mesh size regulation.

Highlights

Bangladesh’s coastal fisheries have been one of the main source for food and livelihoods of the people in the coastal areas
Increasing population, ineffective management, conflicts and competition between commercial and artisanal fishers over resource access, and proliferation of destructive fishing practices are imposing severe stress on aquatic resources, it is threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of villagers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh
Results showed that 100% of Small Mesh Drift (SMD) users are violating the mesh size regulations (Table 3a)

Summary

Introduction

Bangladesh’s coastal fisheries have been one of the main source for food and livelihoods of the people in the coastal areas. Increasing population, ineffective management, conflicts and competition between commercial and artisanal fishers over resource access, and proliferation of destructive fishing practices are imposing severe stress on aquatic resources, it is threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of villagers in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Regulations have been imposed to manage coastal fisheries, in practice, non-compliance and incidence of encroachment by the large-scale and even by the small scale gears are common. Non-compliance with regulations is a serious problem that undermines the effectiveness of fisheries management in the coastal fisheries of Bangladesh. The success of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) management depend heavily on compliance with management regulations. Responsible fisheries management cannot be achieved without strategies for improving the compliance with regulations in the fishery. Examining ways to promote compliance with management regulations in the fishery is a crucial need for sustainable management of the coastal resources

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion