Social and Economic Impacts of Capture Fisheries and Mariculture

Abstract

Several countries of the SW Indian Ocean are classified as Least Developed Countries (LDC) by the UNDP, and have a low Human Development Index (HDI) (UNDP 2014). High levels of poverty and rapid population growth is pervasive, and in coastal communities along the mainland (Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya), Madagascar and on small islands (Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius) capture fisheries are integral to food security (see Chapter 21) and the functioning of social and economic systems. In recent years, mariculture initiatives have taken root in some areas, such as seaweed farming in Zanzibar, but at a regional scale it is still in an early developmental phase (see Chapter 22). Fish is rich in essential nutrients for human health (in particular iron, iodine, zinc, calcium, vitamins A and B), and is especially important in the diets of infants, children and pregnant women (Satia 2011). On a worldwide scale, per capita fish consumption continues to rise – up from 10 kg in the 1960s to more than 19 kg in 2012, driven by higher demand from a growing population, rising incomes, and more efficient distribution channels (FAO 2014). However, the opposite trend is apparent in the SW Indian Ocean, where per capita fish consumption is the lowest in the world, and declining. A decrease in fish availability in coastal waters, increasing poverty levels, and a rapid increase in human population size can partially explain the decline in fish consumption in this region. Another factor is that some species with a higher economic value (namely tuna, prawns and lobsters) are exported, and these species are therefore scarce on local markets, or are prohibitively expensive (FAO 2014). Environmental degradation caused by fishing and mariculture activities (see Chapters 21 and 22) can reduce potential harvests and food security, affect economic growth and reduce the quality of life in coastal communities. Domestic sewage and agricultural waste runoff, chemical contaminants and microbial run-off increase the risk of disease (see references in European Marine Board 2013). Food safety systems for fish products, such as Standard Sanitary Operation Processes (SSOP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programmes have been developed in some SW Indian Ocean countries, mainly to comply with export regulations of foreign markets. For instance, the European Union (EU) requires established risk management processes that comply with regulations on food safety and quality control. These measures may safeguard large producers against the impacts of changes to international trading standards, but ignore small-scale producers that deliver to local markets (Satia 2011). This chapter focuses on the social and economic impacts of capture fisheries and mariculture on coastal communities, their scale and significance for employment, role in social structure, and their contributions to livelihoods.