TY - JOUR

T1 - Using Participatory Methods to Assess Data Poor Migrant Fisheries in Kenya

AU - Ngao Wanyongi, Innocent

AU - Macharia, Denis

AU - Heenan, Adel

AU - Mangi, Stephen

N1 - The research was funded by Linnaeus University through COMARIO grant and WIOMSA through grant MASMA CR/2008/02.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1080/10871209.2018.1488304

DO - 10.1080/10871209.2018.1488304

M3 - Article

VL - 23

SP - 569

EP - 586

JO - Human Dimensions of Wildlife

JF - Human Dimensions of Wildlife

SN - 1533-158X

IS - 6

ER -