Co-management supported by IUCN – Guidelines on Fisheries Resource Co-management

Context

Since 1992, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been implementing an ambitious program for the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in coastal areas, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, which ended in 2001.

This was the beginning of the co-management process on the Buba River, in response to local fishers’ demand for the protection of the resources and the fisheries administration’s will to avoid the development of conflicts with migrant fishers.

The co-management process was facilitated by the State Secretariat for Fisheries, the General Direction for Fisheries – Coastal Delegations – Surveillance Service (FISCAP) and the Centre for Fisheries Applied Research (CIPA).

The strategy aims to define and implement mechanisms for the long-term use of fishery resources for the benefit of local populations, combining economic and biological sustainability.

Content

The implementation of fishing rules and the biological rest period, which prompted a national debate in the Guinea-Bissau Parliament, considering the demands of the ship-owners and fishers of Cacheu, whose initiative is supported by CIPA and DGPA (General Direction of Artisanal Fishing) in order to better understand State devolution and resource management.

A biological rest was initiated in three rivers with the fishing communities :

Buba river
Cacheu river
Cacine river

For the month of September to October and the target species is the Barracuda. This is based on a study by the research centre, because from an empirical point of view, they proposed it together with the CIPA agents. They clearly showed that during this period, Barracuda enter the river to reproduce. Accordingly, it was agreed that during this period it is forbidden to fish with gillnets in this area.

The results of these measurements are as follows:

Reduce fishing effort on high-value commercial species such as: Barracuda (Sphyraena Spp.) Barbo (Polydactylus Quadrifilis), Djoto (Pseudotholithus Elongatus), Corvina (Argyrosomus regius);
Know the resource: Strengthen scientific knowledge on the biology of species with high commercial value, regular publication of results presented to the coordination committee;
Improve knowledge of the species’ reproduction sites, to ensure safe breeding;
Determine the average size of commercially valuable species;
Create fishing zones;
Consensus on fishing rules in co-management sites;
Prohibition on the use of monofilament nets;
Improve knowledge of the river ecosystem;
Identify the species that use rivers for feeding and breeding;
List of the main species present in the river; and
Know the shrimp fishing areas in the river.

With regard to the control of fishing effort within the framework of co-management measures, Guinea-Bissau has adopted the following measures:
Reduce the number of motorized pirogues in the co-management zone to 15 and establish fishing zones and rules in these zones.

ZONE 1 – Main channel

Pirogue engine: 15 hp maximum
60, 70, 80mm net: 500 m maximum
Mesh of 30 mm: 250 m maximum
Palangre : 500 m maximum et 500 hameçons n° 5, 6, 7 et 8

ZONE 2 – 2nd river

Motorized canoes: 15 hp maximum
60, 70, 80 mm mesh: 300 m maximum
Mesh of 30 mm: 200 m maximum
Palangre : 300 m maximum et 300 hameçons no. 5, 6, 7, 8

ZONE 3- Secondary inlet.

Motorized pirogue: prohibited
60, 70, 80 mm net: 100 m maximum
Mesh of 30 mm: 100 m maximum
Palangre : 100 m maximum et 100 hameçons Nº 5, 6, 7, 8

ZONE 4 : Tertiary inlet

Motorized canoes prohibited
Authorized only for subsistence fishing.
Hawk net
Angling

Ban on the river.

Fishing with engines over 15 HP
Use of monofilament netting on the river
Shark and turtle catches
Gillnetting during biological rest period (August to September)
Cutting mangroves in order to improve habitat
Ban on cutting mangroves
Prohibition of juvenile fish by setting minimum mesh sizes for each type of fishing

Mangrove reforestation
Improving value-added products ;

CIPA, responsible for sanitary quality control at landing sites;
Training in the handling and preservation of fish on board pirogues, and in marketing using isothermal boxes, refrigerated box carcasses and other methods of preservation.
Training in processing (fermentation/drying, salting/drying and smoking)
Training in the export of fish products.

Lessons Learned

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) continued to support co-management for 10 years. Co-management requires a lot of time to set up. Constant support is needed during the start-up phase.

Guideline chapter relevant to this case study

Chapter 3: Implementation of resource management measures.

3.1 Resource management measures

Situation to which this case study could refer

This case study is a useful reference for those starting to develop co-management in rivers with specific, well-detailed rules.

Case GB-1 Co-management supported by IUCN