Phase III – Migrant Fish Workers: Migrant fishers and fishing in the Western Indian Ocean: Socio-economic dynamics and implications for management

Coastal marine ecosystems in the WIO region are under threat due to various factors, and this has consequently resulted into decline in fisheries catches in many near‐shore fisheries across the region. The task of managing coastal fisheries, particularly at the local level, is complicated by spatial mobility of fishers across local and national boundaries.  Very little is known about the extent and pattern of these movements, the underlying drivers of migration, and the potential impacts of migration are on communities of both origin and destination. The aim of this project was therefore to: (i) establish the migratory patterns followed by fishers, (ii) determine factors influencing the choice of destination areas, (iii) assess the impact of the migrant fishers on communities of destination, and (iv) determine the social and economic issues facing migrant fishers. This project was implemented in five different countries around the WIO region; Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros, and Madagascar. The report on Madagascar is appended as a separate report. The projected targeted local communities, the scientific community, and decision and policy makers.

This project employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative methods, in the form of surveys, were designed to elicit data across a larger section of the populations of migrant and local fishers at each site, and to be able to examine relationships between e.g. demographic characteristics of fishers and their migration patterns, attitudes or other relevant variables on which data was collected. Qualitative methods included key informant interviews as well as focus group interviews.

Results indicated an existence of both long time-scale migrations where migrants essentially live permanently and semi‐permanently in the area of destination as well as circular migrations where migrants are returning to their home communities, either once a month or every few months. Circular migrations constitute the larger portion. Fishers migrations appear to be largely related to either monsoons, type of fishing gear used or type of targeted species. Drivers of fisher’s migration included economic reasons such as earning more money, improving one’s life, and better market at destination due to more traders and better prices for fish. Ecological reasons included better fishing grounds/conditions (not only in terms of more abundant resources also closer fishing grounds requiring less travelling time and effort) at destination. Social reasons included travelling and living in a new place hence gaining new life experiences as well as joining family or friends that were already at destination. Social capital is manifested in information flows and knowledge sharing about fishing opportunities and social support structures to help migrants establish themselves when they first arrive at a new location.

The growing demand for fish and limited ability of local fishers to meet this demand creates enabling conditions for migration, as local communities are more likely to accept migrant fishers. Other institutional aspects that seem to facilitate migration are community fisheries management institutions such as BMUs. In Kenya for example, BMUs authorize migrant fishers to fish in exchange for fees and levies. However, legal and institutional aspects can act as a constraining factor in fisher’s migration. Most countries have clear fisheries, labour and immigration laws that condition the entry of foreign migrant fishers; the application of such existing laws is however, weak. The implementation of MPAs together with tourism are placing constrains on the movement and activities of migrant fishers through reduction of areas available for migrant fishers to fish as well as for setting up fishing camps.

The positive impacts of migrant fishers on communities of destination include contribution to local economies through trade, revenues (levies and fees) and other business opportunities. Social impacts include easy integration of migrants into local communities, forming friendships with locals that are mutually valued, and often intermarrying. Experience and knowledge sharing and technology transfer were also recognized across the region as benefits of having migrants. Conflicts over resources constitute negative impact of migrant fishers, however, such conflicts are rare. Negative experiences associated with migration include being away from home, not seeing the children for prolonged periods of time as well as missing other members of the family, such as the wife and parents.

This project has provided some preliminary information as it regards the dynamics of fisher’s migrations in the WIO region, the information necessary for management of fisheries resources at local levels. Future studies should consider a more systematic data collection over a longer time periods, as well as linking the findings of this project with others that touch on migrant fishers issues in various ways in order to fully understand the dynamics of migrant fishers. It would be very interesting to understand the degree to which fishers’ migrations are linked to knowledge and targeting of fish spawning aggregations. Knowledge about fishing grounds, gears used by migrants, how these gears are deployed and how this affects targeted fish stocks is essential for informed recommendations on restrictions of migrant fishing operations.