Project Summary
Countries: Uganda, Malawi
Delivery Partner: Birmingham University
Project Partners:
Mafaniso Hara, Institute of Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of Western Cape, South Africa
Laban Musinguzi, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Uganda,
Judith Kamoto, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi,
Principal Investigator: Fiona Nunan, University of Birmingham,
Contact: f.s.nunan@bham.ac.uk
The project aims to strengthen capacity for adaptive fisheries governance in Malawi and Uganda. Adaptive fisheries governance is an integrated approach, aiming to protect biodiversity, build climate resilience and improve livelihoods. An assessment of national, district and local governance capacity will support the development of national plans for building capacity.
Challenge
Fisheries are under threat across the world, with stocks and biodiversity threatened by overfishing, illegal fishing practices and poor management. Loss of aquatic biodiversity and changes in rainfall and temperature are increasing pressures on small-scale fisheries livelihoods and food security.
Governance systems and policies in many countries are not yet effectively responding to these challenges. Governance has often been found to be lacking sufficient coordination between parts of government, and between communities and government, are under-resourced and do not include measures to protect biodiversity or build capacity to adapt to climate change.
Fisheries policies and governance systems need to take more account of biodiversity loss and protection, and better recognise the multiple and increasing challenges resulting from climate change.
Insight
To address these issues, the project is working with key actors to assess adaptive fisheries governance capacity at national, district and local levels, pilot interventions with communities that address the challenge, support networking within and between communities and government, and develop plans for building adaptive fisheries governance capacity.
From the assessment of adaptive fisheries governance capacity, the project has learnt that capacity can be built by:
1. Strengthening existing governance systems, particularly co-management, where communities work with government to manage fisheries. Strengthening can include increasing interaction, mentoring, financing, representation and participation, particularly of women and youth.
2. Improving the generation and sharing of information. This includes more consistent support to communities in monitoring fish catches and sharing research findings with government, communities and NGOs.
3. Strengthen coordination between the fisheries and environment sectors to better protect biodiversity, including protection of fish breeding and nursery sites, which may be designated as sanctuaries or protected areas.
4. Resource materials and training can support government officers, communities and NGOs to better protect biodiversity and adapt to climate change, with regular sensitization of communities and political representatives. Adaptation strategies should be gender sensitive, reflecting gender norms and roles found in many fisheries.
Collaboration
Adaptive fisheries governance is really the only way forward for the fisheries sector. The biodiversity and climate crises evident across the world need integrated responses. This means greater collaboration between stakeholders and government sectors at all levels and for the fisheries sector to take more responsibility for biodiversity and strengthen its response to climate change. At the same time, fisheries livelihoods and the contribution of fisheries to food security must be supported.
Discover More
Video: https://vimeo.com/1075224077
Special issue of Ugandan newspaper The Fisher: https://sf-initiativeuganda.org/the-fisher/
Dr Fiona Nunan
Fiona Nunan is Professor of Environment and Development at the University of Birmingham, with her research focusing on natural resource governance, particularly in relation to inland fisheries. She has led and participated in research into inland fisheries and mangrove governance research in East, West and Southern Africa, and is the author and editor of multiple books on natural resource governance, institutional analysis and sustainable livelihoods. Her research builds on her experience in East Africa on two donor-funded projects that supported the implementation of fisheries co-management and lakewide management in the early 2000s.
