Benchmarking knowledge-based adaptive management of estuarine fisheries in South Africa for a sustainable development

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2019

End date

12/31/2023

Budget

184,500 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

The exposed South African coastline hosts more than 250 sheltered estuaries, which provide fishery opportunities for both subsistence and recreation. Unfortunately, most of the sought-after, large-bodied fish species are overexploited, with some stocks even being subject to collapse. This threatens the sustainability of the fishery and the livelihoods of fishers and communities. For 15 years, researchers from the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) have investigated the behaviour and vulnerability of prominent estuarine fish species to provide knowledge for improved management. These findings, although important, have had little direct influence on policy and regulation. Knowledge-based, adaptive fisheries management requires social, economic and ecological knowledge and considerations. This multidisciplinary study of estuary fisheries management now also includes key researchers from SAIAB, NINA and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and aim to provide recommendations for adaptive management of important coastal and estuarine fisheries by combining knowledge from fisheries studies with in-depth social scientific research. Utilizing a suite of methodologies across five distinct work packages our SANOCEAN project will: (i) Review estuary and coastal use and habitat connectivity for key estuarine fish species using existing and new data, (ii) Map movement and ecology of important fishery species in the estuary (iii) Compare the values of two important estuarine fisheries; one being recreation-dominated and the other subsistence-dominated, (iv) Study the governance dynamics of estuarine and coastal fisheries, and (v) Provide management recommendations and implementation based on (i) to (iv). In 2021, six students were engaged in the project, five MSc students (social, economic and biology) and one PhD (social), all MSc are from disadvantaged backgrounds. One MSc student graduated in 2021 in biology. Biological data concerning the important coastal fish species are under compilation and publication. Studies of fish behavior show that the valuable and threatened dusky kob moves between exploited areas and no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), suggesting that the MPA may play an important role in supporting local stock of dusky kob. Further, limited coastal movements of both adult and juveniles shows their vulnerability to local overfishing outside MPAs. Similar, new information on the importance of local exploitation has been obtained for the spotted grunter, where movement studies for the first time indicate spawning in Western Cape. The resident behaviour of the species suggest that area closures and improved law enforcement during the spawning season will be significant in the recovery and management of spotted grunter populations. Also new studies of leerfish indicate that sub-adult and adult individuals are more stationary than previously suggested. And, the high recapture rates of study animals highlights the exceptionally high fishing pressure experienced by these animals. To provide knowledge for management recommendations and implementation three virtual workshops have been conducted with stakeholders so far in 2021. The purpose of the workshops was to obtain insights from participants as to the challenges and solutions for estuary management in general and estuarine fisheries in particular. The first workshop was aimed primarily at key scientists and authorities with many years of experience in terms of estuary-based research, management challenges and the process of developing estuary management plans. The second workshop was aimed primarily at provincial/regional coastal managers but also included a senior estuarine researcher from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). While the third workshop was aimed primarily at local authorities and conservancies/NGOs who deal with day-to-day issues on estuaries. Although health concerns caused by the Covid pandemic which has restricted and delayed some of our social science fieldwork, especially students work, we still follow our main study aims as the team has adapted by taking research on-line. As such, fieldwork-orientated projects had to be adjusted to desktop studies instead, which has largely been successful, especially with students making use of pre-existing information. In addition, participation in international workshops and conferences have also been restricted the last two years. Despite logistical challenges, important activities have been successfully performed, and the project leaders are impressed with the students and project participants dedication to follow up the project objectives and activities.