Factors that influence effectiveness of local organizations in promoting community participation in artisanal fisheries management in Malawi: a case of mbenji island fishery

Abstract

While local fisheries organizations are crucial for fisheries resource management, functional local organizations can hardly ever be found in small-scale fisheries in Malawi. A study aimed at investigating and describing factors that influence effectiveness of local fisheries organizations in promoting community participation in fisheries management was conducted on the small-scale fishery of Mbenji Island, on Lake Malawi between April and December 2008. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 150 fishers, eight village heads and five staff of Department of Fisheries (DoF). Survey data was entered and analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Mbenji Island fishery is identified with four dynamic organizations that are actively involved in fisheries management. They are characterized by well-defined design principles, a measure of effectiveness of institutions governing their operations in the management of resources. Besides these organizations, some socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of sampled fisherfolk were also found to have important bearing on community participation in fisheries management. The study concluded that local organizations were effective in the area due to low population density, and monitoring of internal and external pressures on resources. It is therefore recommended that policy should provide for demarcation of great lakes into fishing grounds big enough for enforcement to be both effective and cost-effective, allocated to specific Traditional Authorities (TAs) or otherwise, where fishers of a particular locality will belong. This instills a sense of ownership, responsibility and accountability for resources.