a socio-economic baseline assessment of the mnazi bay - IUCN

2.3 Fishing
In 1996, the number of fishers in Mtwara Region was estimated to be 2050 (approximately 10% of the
total number of artisanal fishers in Tanzania) whose catch contributed to 7.8% of the national artisanal
catch (FFS, 1998).
NEMC (1998) suggests that fishing in the MBREMP area, as in other parts of Tanzania (Jiddawi, 2003),
is mainly small scale. However, Mtwara fishers contribute to the regional income by exporting fish,
prawns, lobsters, shells, octopus, sea cucumbers, shark fins and jaws (NEMC, 1998). For example
Guard (2002) estimated that 103mt of Octopus were caught annually in the Mtwara area (including
MBREMP) mainly for exported. Guard (2002) identifies the main octopus fishing area as Msamgamkuu,
which is located on the edge of the Marine Park and includes extensive reef areas in the Marine Park.
The UNDP/GEF (2000), Obura et al. (2004) and Richmond (2004) note the use of beach seines, nets,
spears, handlines, and tidal weirs in the Marine Park, similar to other parts of Tanzania.
Fishing activities in Mtwara Districts are carried out close to shore and are influenced by tidal and
climatic patterns (Guard, 2002) as in other parts of Tanzania (Shao et al., 2003; Malleret King et al,
2003). Mtwara has one of the highest tidal ranges on the East African Coast of over 3 m (Guard, 2002).
Guard (2002) notes that activities such as octopus fishing are mainly carried out at low spring tides.
The climate in Mtwara, as along the rest of the coast of Tanzania is dominated by monsoon winds,
which influence the weather and coastal current patterns such as the East African Coastal Current
(Guard, 2002). A longer rain period occurs in March to May, and shorter rainy season usually occurs in
November (Shao et al., 2003).
The Southeast monsoon ( ‘Kusi' ) winds prevail from May to October and the Northeast monsoon
(‘Kaskazi’) winds prevail from November to March (McClanahan, 1988; Shao et al., 2003). It was found
by Shao et al. (2003) that in Tanzania catches drop during the Southeast monsoon, partly because of
the adverse fishing conditions (e.g. very strong winds). The effects of monsoon winds were also
detected by Guard (2002), who found that octopus catches dropped in Msangamkuu during the
Northeast monsoon when the wind direction made it difficult for the local fishers to get to sea.
2.4 Resource status
For Shao et al. (2003) marine and coastal resources are highly degraded in Tanzania due to their
increased and unregulated use (increase demand for the resources, use of destructive gear,
demographic increase, migration to coastal areas etc.). For Linden and Lundin (1995) dynamite fishing,
the smashing of coral heads by nets and fishers trampling the reef, the use of poisons, the use of smallmesh
nets catching juveniles, trawling and the use of beach seines on sea-grass beds are of particular
concern to the marine environment. Semesi (1998) emphasised the fact that mangroves are also
heavily used and show signs of overexploitation.
Furthermore, despite declining fisheries resources, Anderson and Ngazy (1998) found that fishers are
reluctant to move out of the fishery, due to traditions, economic returns and the lack of alternative
opportunities.
The literature suggests that MBREMP marine resources have not escaped this fate. According to Obura
et al., (2004), coral reefs show signs of overexploitation (e.g. a lack of large fish in surveyed areas in the
Marine Park) and of degradation from destructive methods (e.g. beach seines and ‘juya’). In addition,
Wagner et al. (2004) note that despite the fact that the MBREMP mangrove forest is one of the largest
and in best condition in Tanzania, it already shows signs of overexploitation (e.g. shift in species
composition, small tree sizes in some areas). Finally, according to Richmond (2004), the intertidal area
is over exploited and Muir et al. (2003) state that the Marine Park turtle population has been decimated
for years.
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