Fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean: trends and governance challenges

Abstract

Fish are a renewable natural resource that millions of people around the world depend on for food and livelihoods. In the last half century, the production of fish and fish products in the Indian Ocean (IO) region has increased tremendously as a result of improvements in fish capture technology and rising demand caused by a growing global population. Other dynamic trends that relate to this industry include the IO’s growing prominence in the world energy trade, piracy attacks that have led to challenges in maritime security, and environmental stresses brought on by marine and land-based waste and pollution. This assessment presents an overview of the current and prospective fisheries in the context of other transnational issues that affect the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) region.* It also examines key governance challenges, as well as trade-offs that can be made in the short and long term to meet the needs and interests of local fisher communities,† national governments, and the international trade mechanisms that shape the region’s maritime policies. Finally, it reviews the work of regional and global fishery organizations in managing the IO fisheries.