Using Participatory Methods to Assess Data Poor Migrant Fisheries in Kenya

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  • Innocent Ngao Wanyongi
    Linnaeus University
  • Denis Macharia
    Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO), Mombasa
  • Adel Heenan
  • Stephen Mangi
    Cefas, Marine Climate Change Centre
Spatial information is limited for artisanal fisheries management and almost entirely absent for migrant fishers. Here, we addressed this data gap for East African migrant fishers via participatory mapping methods. We worked with 14 migrant fishing vessels operating from four fish landing sites in Kenya. We monitored individual vessels using GPS tracking to produce fishing ground intensity maps. We then generated fishing preference maps via focus group discussions. The fishing intensity maps provided high-resolution spatial information on fishing activities, whereas the fishing preference maps identified preferred fishing grounds. These two techniques generally showed high agreement. By further integrating these two fisher coproduced maps with supplemental vessel logbook data, it is clear that any spatial management measures would most affect migrant fishers using ringnets, hook and line, and cast nets gear. Our successful application of low-technology participatory mapping techniques to provide geospatial fisheries data have broad application to data poor fisheries worldwide.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)569-586
JournalHuman Dimensions of Wildlife
Volume23
Issue number6
Early online date26 Jun 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
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