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Is Co-Management Still Feasible to Advance the Sustainability of Small-Scale African Inland Fisheries? Assessing Stakeholders’ Perspectives in Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Sydney Kapembwa

    (School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe 10101, Zambia)

  • Jόn G. Pétursson

    (Environment and Natural Resources, Faculties of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sociology, Anthropology and Folkloristics, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Alan J. Gardiner

    (Applied Learning Unit, Southern African Wildlife College, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa)

Abstract

Co-management has been promoted as an alternative approach to the governance of small-scale inland fisheries resources and has been implemented in many African countries. It has, however, not proven to be a simple solution to improve their governance; hence, most African inland fisheries are still experiencing unsustainable overexploitation of their resources. As such, there is a need for reassessing the application of governance strategies for co-management that should strive to strengthen the participation of stakeholders, primarily the local fishers, as they are fundamental in the governance of fisheries resources. Therefore, this study set out to explore the prospects of a co-management governance approach at a Lake Itezhi-Tezhi small-scale fishery in Zambia. Focus group discussions with fishers and semi-structured interviews with other stakeholders were used to collect data. This study revealed that the stakeholders perceive co-management as a feasible approach to governance of the Lake Itezhi-Tezhi fishery. However, the feasibility of the co-management arrangement would be dependent mostly on the stakeholders’ ability to address most of the ‘key conditions’ criteria highlighted in the study. This study also identified the need to establish a fisheries policy to provide guidelines for the co-management, coming with decentralisation of power and authority to the local fishers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sydney Kapembwa & Jόn G. Pétursson & Alan J. Gardiner, 2021. "Is Co-Management Still Feasible to Advance the Sustainability of Small-Scale African Inland Fisheries? Assessing Stakeholders’ Perspectives in Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:24:p:13986-:d:705375
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sen, Sevaly & Raakjaer Nielsen, Jesper, 1996. "Fisheries co-management: a comparative analysis," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 405-418, September.
    2. Nunan, Fiona & Hara, Mafaniso & Onyango, Paul, 2015. "Institutions and Co-Management in East African Inland and Malawi Fisheries: A Critical Perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 203-214.
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    Cited by:

    1. Imikendu Imbwae & Shankar Aswani & Warwick Sauer, 2023. "Socio-Economic and Environmental Challenges of Small-Scale Fisheries: Prognosis for Sustainable Fisheries Management in Lake Kariba, Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.

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