Stephen C. Mangi

Financial Comparisons of Fishing Gear Used in Kenya's Coral Reef Lagoons

Abstract The cost of fishing and the income earned by fishers using small and large traps, gill nets, beach seines, hand lines, and spearguns were assessed in the multigear fishery of southern Kenya to establish a financial rationale for fishing gear use. Direct observations and key-informant interviews with fish leaders and boat captains were used to gather data on fish catch, cost of fishing gear, boats, and the price of fish. Among the fishing gear used, spearguns had the lowest monthly cost (USD 1 mo−1) while big traps had the highest (USD 13 mo−1). Income was highest among capital cost beach seine fishers (USD 183 mo−1) and lowest among noncapital cost beach seine fishers (USD 20 mo−1). There was a direct positive correlation between income earned and profitability of gear. Correlation of the financial measure for each gear to four categories of damage to fish and habitats showed that low cost fishing gear were associated with the highest environmental damage indicating a trade-off between cost of gear and environmental health.

A thematic cost-benefit analysis of a marine protected area.

The implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is ultimately a social endeavour to sustain or improve human well-being via the conservation of marine ecosystems. The degree to which ecological gains are realised can depend upon how economic, ecological and social costs (negative impacts) and benefits (positive impacts) are included in the designation and management process. Without the support of key stakeholder groups whose user rights have been affected by the creation of an MPA, human impacts cannot be reduced. This study analyses a three year dataset to understand the themes associated with the economic, environmental and social costs and benefits of an MPA in Lyme Bay, United Kingdom (UK) following its establishment in 2008. Methodologically, the paper presents an ecosystem based management framework for analysing costs and benefits. Two hundred and forty one individuals were interviewed via questionnaire between 2008 and 2010 to determine perceptions and the level of support towards the MPA. Results reveal that despite the contentious manner in which this MPA was established, support for the MPA is strong amongst the majority of stakeholder groups. The level of support and the reasons given for support vary between stakeholder groups. Overall, the stakeholders perceive the social, economic and environmental benefits of the MPA to outweigh the perceived costs. There have been clear social costs of the MPA policy and these have been borne by mobile and static gear fishermen and charter boat operators. Local support for this MPA bodes well for the development of a network of MPAs around the UK coast under the United Kingdom Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. However, this initial optimism is at risk if stakeholder expectation is not managed and the management vacuum is not filled.

How to deal with the EU landing obligation: lessons from an English discard ban sea trial

How to deal with the EU landing obligation: lessons from an English discard ban sea trial Thomas L. Catchpole*, Sam Elliott, Dave Peach, Stephen C. Mangi, and Tim S. Gray Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Centre for Environment, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Centre for Environment, 55 Briseham Road, Brixham TQ5 9NX, UK University of Newcastle, 40-42 Great North Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK *Corresponding author: tel: þ44 (0) 1502 562244; fax: þ44 (0) 1502 513865; e-mail: thomas.catchpole@cefas.co.uk

Using Participatory Methods to Assess Data Poor Migrant Fisheries in Kenya

ABSTRACT Spatial information is limited for artisanal fisheries management and almost entirely absent for migrant fishers. Here, we addressed this data gap for East African migrant fishers via participatory mapping methods. We worked with 14 migrant fishing vessels operating from four fish landing sites in Kenya. We monitored individual vessels using GPS tracking to produce fishing ground intensity maps. We then generated fishing preference maps via focus group discussions. The fishing intensity maps provided high-resolution spatial information on fishing activities, whereas the fishing preference maps identified preferred fishing grounds. These two techniques generally showed high agreement. By further integrating these two fisher coproduced maps with supplemental vessel logbook data, it is clear that any spatial management measures would most affect migrant fishers using ringnets, hook and line, and cast nets gear. Our successful application of low-technology participatory mapping techniques to provide geospatial fisheries data have broad application to data poor fisheries worldwide.