Case 3-24 Participatory research practice: case for a method to reduce fishing effort in the capture of grouper

motivational enhancement, COGEPAS, Joal, grouper (thiof), longline fishing, CRODT, participatory research, motivational clarification

Participatory research, in which researchers and fishers work together in the field of fisheries resource management, is considered effective for fisheries resource co-management as it clarifies the relationship between resource management activities and the results of these activities, and motivates fishers to implement resource management activities. Within the framework of the JICA COGEPAS project, some participatory research was conducted. One was participatory research conducted in Joal on Petite Côte, to reduce the capture of immature fish in the longline fishery of grouper (‘thiof’). This case study presents the detail of the trial.

In Joal, immature fish represented 90% of the total grouper catch. It was therefore deemed necessary to reduce the catch of immature fish. First, the target fishers who catch groupers on longlines met and agreed to reduce the catch of immature grouper. As a concrete measure, it was hypothesised that the catch of immature fish could be reduced by changing the current hook size, and participatory research was conducted by CRODT and the fishers to scientifically test this hypothesis.

The research showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the length of grouper caught between the standard hook size used at the time (size 10) and the size above (size 8), that it was difficult to protect small grouper by switching to the larger hooks, and the use of size 8 reduced catches more than size 10. In addition, the larger size 6 hook was too large to catch grouper.

The results of these tests were shared with the target fishers, and measures to reduce the catch of immature groupers were discussed. It was felt that it was up to the fishers themselves to decide on the content of the resource management. Finally, it was agreed that the number of hooks should be reduced overall and the catch itself reduced by mixing the currently used hook size (size 10) with a larger size (size 8). Therefore, a fisheries resource management measure was proposed to reduce the currently used number of hooks by 10% and to mix 10% of size 8 hooks with the current size 10 hooks.

Although the participatory research did not verify the initial hypothesis that changing the hook size would reduce the catch of immature fish, joint verification tests between researchers and fishers helped the latter understand the research results and to readily accept the resulting fisheries resource management measures.

Chapter 3 Implementation of resource management measures

3.2 Measures to strengthen the sustainability of resource management

(2) Clarify the reason for action
A way to clarify the users’ motivation for resource management activities is participatory research⁴, in which fishermen and researchers work together in the field of fishery activities. In such research, researchers and fishermen cooperate in verifying research results, which can provide an opportunity for resource users to be convinced of the rationale for resource management activities. Such clarification of motivations can be effective in enhancing the understanding of resource users and developing resource management plans based on their consent.

This case study, which uses participatory research for introducing collaborative resource management, is effective when resource users seek to improve their understanding of the resource condition, understand the rationale for resource management activities, and take steps to develop a resource management plan that they are comfortable with.