Holistic Management to create sustainable, climate change resilient, small-scale fisheries in Jangamo, Mozambique

Small-scale fisheries in the southwest Indian ocean are historically underreported despite comprising 75-80% of the total landings of marine species in Mozambique. Civil and political unrest has meant little data have been collected on Mozambique's fisheries over the past decades. Mozambique has a 1500-mile coastline, notoriously difficult to monitor. Lack of management resources have resulted in unlicenced, illegal and unreported fishing effort and catch. Climate change has been demonstrated to alter community structures around the world, yet little is known on the effects of climate change on Mozambique's reefs, and the potential implications for meso- and apex predator presence. The results from this PhD will enable the case study partner NGO Love The Oceans, government and local community to make evidence-based decisions regarding the legalisation and management of the MPA, both of which are crucial to successful conservation and will aid Mozambique's mission of protecting 30% of the coastline by 2030. LMMAs are widely used across the globe and this approach could lead to improvements in marine ecosystem productivity and thus increase food security for local populations. LMMAs take a holistic approach to conservation as the local stakeholders are also the managers and the beneficiaries. This project is important because it will fill the scientific knowledge gap for the future of Jangamo, and empower communities to make informed conservation decisions. The project can also form the framework for upscaling local management strategies along the Mozambique coastline with the potential application to neighbouring countries and across the southwest Indian Ocean.

Proposed chapters for research and publication:
1) Management of small-scale fisheries - a review of conservation and management strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa to increase the sustainability of small-scale fishing communities.
2) An investigation into the effect of climate change on the balance and productivity of the marine ecosystem in Jangamo bay, Mozambique.
3) A quantitative assessment of Jangamo, Mozambique's small-scale fisheries.
4) Intervention: exploring how Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) could improve marine resource availability and food security for Jangamo's communities, with a specific focus on engaging local communities.