Browsing by Author "De la Torre-Castro, M."

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    A Framework for Addressing Socioeconomic and Management Aspects of Sea Cucumber Resources in the Western Indian Ocean
    (2007) De la Torre-Castro, M.; Ochiewo, Jacob; Kithakeni, Twalibu M.; Pinault, M.
    This paper reveals how the socioeconomic and management objectives of a three-year sea cucumber project in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) (cf. Conand et al. 2006) will be addressed. A conceptual model of sea cucumber resource dynamics is presented. This model encompasses multiple levels and considers the main structures of the sea cucumber fishery such as fishing and collection grounds, resource users and other stakeholders involved in the fishery (e.g. fishers, middlemen and importers), the links between stakeholders, villages and countries, and the associated management initiatives at different levels. This framework is promising when analyzing the sea cucumber fishery from a holistic perspective, considering both social and ecological interactions. The results of the study will provide knowledge and management advice for the sustainability of the sea cucumber fishery in the WIO; however, the framework is not restricted to the WIO, and may be adapted to other fisheries.
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    Towards an Integrative Research Approach on Coastal Ecosystems – The example of Chwaka Bay
    (Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, 2012-11) Lyimo, Thomas J.; De la Torre-Castro, M.; Shaghude, Yohanna W.; Jiddawi, Narriman S.; Björk, Mats; Lindström, Lars
    During recent decades, the serious challenges that the planet is facing in terms of population growth, ecosystem damage and changes in flows of good and services call for novel ways to direct research so that it can be useful for promoting sustain-ability. The integration of different disciplines is much needed when tackling such challenges. At this very moment, climate change is a major concern and its effects, for example in changes in seawater temperature and weather patterns and how they in turn affect critical resources are beginning to be felt more acutely. Green solutions are needed to tackle some of the challenges, for example in considering the importance of marine plant communities such as mangroves and seagrasses as potential carbon sinks when planning for the future. Another critical aspect is the degradation of marine resources and ecosystems. These changes will definitely shape the future and composition of coastal livelihoods. How to adapt to these changes? How to ensure the continued flow of goods and services on which most of these populations rely? The capacity to cope and adapt to these changes are complex and include a variety of actors. At the very heart of the local communities, activities and social organization are after all gendered, thus knowledge about how changes will affect men and women is crucial. An integrative research approach is also much needed in addressing structural changes in global and national economies. The examples above illustrate the complexity of the challenges, their importance for human well-being and the range of spatial and temporal scales that need to be considered when conducting research that is relevant for management aimed at sustainability. Chwaka Bay lends itself perfectly for research that considers the challenges above and has been used for field experiments over the years. The Bay presents a typical tropical seascape with a profile of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs while at the same time it is atypical by being so well-studied. It has also served