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Is community-based management of small-scale fisheries in Sierra Leone the answer to their problems?

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  • Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka
  • Gray, Tim

Abstract

With increasing decline in global fish stocks and the possibility of extinction of many small-scale fisheries (SSF) partly because of over-fishing by large-scale industrial fishers (both licensed and unlicensed) and partly because of harmful fishing gear used by small-scale fishers themselves, researchers are focusing on alternatives to the prevailing top-down systems of fisheries management. One such alternative that is receiving attention is the community-based approach to the governance of SSF, which maintains that small-scale or artisanal fishers have a special attachment to their geographical area which makes them better managers of their fish resources. This study investigates the viability of this approach in Sierra Leone’s Tombo and Goderich fishing communities. Fieldwork was carried out during 2017 and 2019 when a total of 51 key informant (KI) and 14 telephone interviews (TI) were conducted, and 200 survey questionnaires (SQ) were distributed in the two communities. The main finding is that although several community fisheries organisations (CFO) try to manage coastal stocks, they have no power to curb industrial over-fishing, and their power to stop artisanal fishers using harmful gear is compromised by government interference and by conflicts between CFOs. The study concludes that both top-down (governmental) and bottom-up (communitarian) approaches to SSF management have flaws, and each side needs to acknowledge its flaws, and work together with the other side to eliminate them.

Suggested Citation

  • Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka & Gray, Tim, 2021. "Is community-based management of small-scale fisheries in Sierra Leone the answer to their problems?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wodepe:v:21:y:2021:i:c:s2452292921000060
    DOI: 10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100292
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tim Kelsall, 2011. "Going with the Grain in African Development?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 29, pages 223-251, January.
    2. Andrew Dyck & U. Sumaila, 2010. "Economic impact of ocean fish populations in the global fishery," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 227-243, October.
    3. Doulman, David J., 1993. "Community-based fishery management , : Towards the restoration of traditional practices in the South Pacific," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 108-117, March.
    4. Hauck, Maria & Sowman, Merle, 2001. "Coastal and fisheries co-management in South Africa: an overview and analysis," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 173-185, May.
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    1. Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor & Tim Gray, 2021. "Interpreting Perceptions about Coastal Fisheries in Sierra Leone: Scapegoats and Panaceas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.

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