Browsing by Author "Macusi, Edison D."

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    Challenges Facing Local Communities in Tanzania in Realising Locally-Managed Marine Areas
    (Elsevier, 2015) Katikiro, Robert E.; Macusi, Edison D.; Deepananda, Ashoka K.
    This study explores how the history and process of establishing a marine protected area (MPA) under the control of the state has led to limited interest in community-based management amongst local stakeholders. The study contributes to the understanding of historical events that have discouraged the take-off and scale-up of community-based conservation approaches, such as locally-managed marine areas (LMMAs). LMMAs are being promoted increasingly as a desirable approach in marine conservation. However, there are a limited numbers of cases where such initiatives have been used as a strategy for marine management in sub-Saharan Africa, and very few operational examples of such schemes exist in the Western Indian Ocean region. Through semi-structured questionnaires, 193 community members selected randomly from 15 villages of the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP), Mtwara district, Southern Tanzania, were interviewed about their attitudes towards efforts to promote local management and the conservation of marine resources. The study also involved 17 focus group discussions, 13 in-depth key informant interviews, participant observation, and a review of secondary information. Over 85% of the questionnaire respondents commented that there was insufficient participation by legitimate community representatives in the development of the MBREMP. Almost 90% of the respondents agreed that the management of marine areas has increased significantly, particularly in the last two decades following initiatives by the government, donors and external NGOs. However, 70% of the questionnaire responders had observed that a rapid shift from centralised to community-based management has been hindered by a lack of acceptable community rules and by communities frequently equating conservation with prohibition. Developing LMMAs in areas based on the lessons learned from MPAs could be a better alternative to developing entirely new community-managed areas; however, this can only succeed if limitations including the key principles of community participation and empowerment are addressed.
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    Changes in Fisheries and Social Dynamics in Tanzanian Coastal Fishing Communities
    (2014) Katikiro, Robert E.; Macusi, Edison D.; Deepananda, Ashoka K.
    Fishing communities constantly change and adapt to modifications in the environment, and are reflected in changes to variables related to the dynamics of a fishery. Such changes in a fishery could involve a decline in fish stocks, market failure or the loss of an important species. The effects of such changes on the social dynamics of artisanal fishing communities have been poorly investigated in the Western Indian Ocean region. This article examines how communities have been affected by recent environmental, technological and socio-cultural changes in fisheries in five coastal villages in the Mtwara rural district, Tanzania, and the mechanisms whereby people cope with these changes. Data were derived from 103 semi-structured interviews, 15 focus group discussions, nine oral interviews, participant observations, and reviews of literature and policy documents. Overall, nearly 80% of respondents declared that there were significant changes in fishing techniques, strategies and the social organisation of the fishers. Almost 60% of the respondents admitted that traditional fishing gear such as traps and hand lines have increasingly been replaced by fishing nets operated from powered boats, especially since the 1980s, to compensate for declining fish catches. There is a shift from collective communal fisheries to individual and private fishing groups due to weakening of social structures and increased monetisation in the fishery activities. New values and perspectives are now being integrated into the communities. Approaches required for understanding and promoting development of fishing communities should include objectives that recognise how social structures adapt in the face of extreme conditions of the fishery
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    Human Induced Degradation of Coastal Resources in Asia Pacific and Implications on Management and Food Security
    (2011) Macusi, Edison D.; Katikiro, Robert E.; Deepananda, Ashoka K.; Jimenez, Leah A.; Conte, Alen R.; Fadli, Nur
    Currently, 41% of the world's total population and about a third of urban megacities are found within the coastal zone. The coastal watersheds and nearshore marine areas are the most productive and dynamic regions in the world. This strategic location for food, trade, commerce and tourism boasts more than half of the total service value of the global environment production. However, the changing environment also sports this area to be most vulnerable to human impacts such as climate change, pollution, coastal development, urbanization, fragmentation and degradation. The impact of these threats could hamper the millennium development goals of most Asia Pacific countries, producing hunger and poverty. Though fisheries resources were once abundant, the unsustainable practices of unregulated fishing gears, mesh net sizes and increased number of motorized boats have all fished the seas resulting to decreased predators in the food chain. Fishing employs more than 6 million fishers in the Asia Pacific and a primary source of livelihood for a majority of the population living in the coasts. The fisheries sector also plays a critical role in the economic, social and cultural developments of these nations contributing significantly (~12%) to their animal protein intake and 20% to their national GDP through export earnings. The coastal resources of Asia Pacific have an estimated total value of US$ 357 billion dollars but their value are fast declining due to a combination of rapid population growth, urbanization, coastal developments, overfishing and destructive fishing methods. Such declines have increased poverty among coastal fishers who are directly affected by changes in demography and development in the coasts.
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    Impacts of Climate Change on West African Fisheries and Its Implications on Food Production
    (2012) Katikiro, Robert E.; Macusi, Edison D.
    Fish constitutes as an important food, commodity and industry in the economies of West African countries. Forecasts of fish production in the future indicate that majority of the fisheries will be affected by climate change, and may cause food insecurity. This review discussed food security threats and other negative consequences associated with climate change in the fisheries production in West Africa. It discussed various aspects of the linkage between food security and fisheries production system in a changing climate and highlight areas of actions for policy makers. The impacts of climate change on most of the fish and fisheries of West Africa were not well understood. However, general knowledge on possible impacts suggests changes may be detrimental to fisheries production and food security from household to regional level. The study suggested that regional cooperation and governments need to focus on immediate and practical priority issues to effectively address long term issue such as climate change. Actions should be taken to improve awareness of fishers and fishing communities about the impacts of climate change on their livelihood. Furthermore, this review suggested thad Diversifying fish sources may enable the region’s rural households to cope and adapt to climate change impacts.
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    Interplay Between Changes in Fishery and Social Dynamic in Coastal Fishing Communities of Tanzania
    (2014) Katikiro, Robert E.; Macusi, Edison D.; Deepananda, Ashoka K.
    Fishing communities constantly change and adapt to modifications in the environment, and are reflected in changes to variables related to the dynamics of a fishery. Such changes in a fishery could involve a decline in fish stocks, market failure or the loss of an important species. The effects of such changes on the social dynamics of artisanal fishing communities have been poorly investigated in the Western Indian Ocean region. This article examines how communities have been affected by recent environmental, technological and socio-cultural changes in fisheries in five coastal villages in the Mtwara rural district, Tanzania, and the mechanisms whereby people cope with these changes. Data were derived from 103 semi-structured interviews, 15 focus group discussions, nine oral interviews, participant observations, and reviews of literature and policy documents. Overall, nearly 80% of respondents declared that there were significant changes in fishing techniques, strategies and the social organisation of the fishers. Almost 60% of the respondents admitted that traditional fishing gear such as traps and hand lines have increasingly been replaced by fishing nets operated from powered boats, especially since the 1980s, to compensate for declining fish catches. There is a shift from collective communal fisheries to individual and private fishing groups due to weakening of social structures and increased monetisation in the fishery activities. New values and perspectives are now being integrated into the communities. Approaches required for understanding and promoting development of fishing communities should include objectives that recognise how social structures adapt in the face of extreme conditions of the fishery.
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    Interplay Between Perceived Changes in Fishery and Social Structures in Tanzanian Coastal Fishing Communities
    (Elsevier, 2015) Katikiro, Robert E.; Deepananda, Ashoka K.; Macusi, Edison D.
    The dynamics and impacts of a fishery on sociocultural aspects of fishing communities are rarely studied. Here, we seek to describe how perceived changes in a fishery system – such as declining fish stocks, market failures and the loss of important species – may strengthen or weaken sociocultural patterns, specifically social networks and cohesion, identity, and traditional institutions. These findings are based on 103 semi-structured interviews, 10 focus group discussions, and nine life history interviews with individuals selected randomly from five coastal villages in the Mtwara district of Tanzania. Data were also complemented by a literature review and participant observation. Over 90% of people interviewed reported that the roles of informal village institutions, such as kinship and neighbourhood, have in recent years become loose and changeable due to the perceived ecological changes in the fishery and the influx of people without a fishing culture background. Nearly three-quarters of respondents indicated that the increased monetisation of fisheries products has led to unfettered private actions that have negative impacts, including degradation of resources, creating front groups in order to conceal private intentions, and social tensions like theft of fishing gear. The findings suggest that approaches to understanding and promoting the development of fishing communities in developing countries should include objectives that recognise how sociocultural systems alter and adapt in the face of extreme conditions within the fishery.