Traditional Fisheries of Antongil Bay, Madagascar

P Doukakis,B.J De Dieu Randriamanantsoa,V Ramahery,M Jonahson,S Harding

doi:10.4314/wiojms.v6i2.48237

Abstract

Madagascar’s marine fisheries provide revenue and sustenance for the island nation. Antongil Bay, the largest shallow-water bay along Madagascar’s eastern coast, harbors significant marine resources and is heavily utilized by traditional, artisanal (shark-fin) and industrial fisheries. Mean hourly catch rates are just under 1 kg/hour/fisher and mean daily catch rates are 4.4 kg/day/fisher. Beach seines, tamis (fine mesh seines), and combined use of gillnet and line were the most efficient gear types in terms of hourly and daily catch rates while gillnet and line were the most common gear types employed. Catch composition included 140 fish species from 69 families. Overall catch was dominated by species from Scombridae and Carangidae (Atule mate, Decapterus russelli, Megalaspis cordyla, Rastrilliger kanagurta). The Bay appears to be an important breeding habitat for scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and other species in the family Carcharhinidae. Given the multi-species and multi-sector nature of this fishery, ecosystembased management, wherein sensitive habitats are protected and limits are placed on destructive gear, is recommended, along with a zoning program to control resource-use overlap and encourage ownership.

Highlights

A threatened biodiversity hotspot, Madagascar has attracted conservation attention for decades (Myers 1988; Green & Sussman 1990; Brooks et al 2002; Benstead et al 2003)
This study provides baseline catch data for the traditional fishery in Antongil Bay
Using CPUE to gauge fishery health is difficult given the lack of comparative and baseline data, but the data will be useful for bio-economic modeling of the importance of fisheries to local populations, and for gauging future changes in fisheries health and the impacts of management

Summary

Introduction

A threatened biodiversity hotspot, Madagascar has attracted conservation attention for decades (Myers 1988; Green & Sussman 1990; Brooks et al 2002; Benstead et al 2003). Marine fisheries provide vital income and sustenance, valued at over US $160 million annually (World Bank 2003). Export-driven, often foreign-owned tuna and shrimp fisheries account for most of the value, with the latter comprising 73% of total worth (World Bank 2003). 70% of overall production comes from small-scale fisheries, providing an important national protein source (World Bank 2003). Marine fisheries in Madagascar are not well-managed, with stocks considered fully exploited (FAO 1999, 2005). Given the global fisheries crisis, importance of fisheries to food security, and connection between availability of fish and terrestrial biodiversity conservation, greater attention to fisheries management in Madagascar and the developing world is needed (Brashares et al 2004)

Methods

Results

Conclusion