Phase III – Global Markets and the Livelihoods of Coastal Communities in the WIO Countries: Implications for Sustainable Coastal Management

The liberalization of coastal resource use has resulted into varied impacts on the livelihoods of the majority in the coastal areas. Despite, knowledge on the magnitude and implications of the impacts of global markets on the livelihoods of individuals and communities that directly depend on the coastal resources in the WIO region is limited. This research project was designed with a view to understanding the changing structures and processes of coastal resource use and management as a result of global markets in the WIO region and their implications on the livelihoods of coastal communities. Specifically the study intended to (1) examine the demands that the global market exerts on the coastal resources, users and managers of the resources and their implications on sustainable coastal management. (2) Document the ways in which the aspects of global markets have been impacting the coastal area, its people and their livelihood. (3) Explore the manner in which different coastal resource users and managers have been grappling with the impacts of global markets. (4) Assess the vulnerability context of the poor majority in the coastal communities in terms of their livelihood, as a result of the impact of global market.

The study covered two countries in the WIO namely Tanzania and Kenya. At least two study sites were selected in each country to capture the urban – rural trajectory. The target beneficiaries included the local community, artisanal fishers, commercial fishers, firms exporting fish, fish processors, fish traders, hoteliers and those involved in auxiliary activities such as nut and boat making, food vending, fish processing and trading, the scientific community, decision and policy makers, and other relevant stakeholders in the WIO region.

This is both a descriptive and exploratory study that employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. The community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach has been used in engaging the managers and users (the local community) in data collection, analysis and dissemination of research findings. Specific methods used ranged from livelihood trajectories, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and review of documents to a social survey.

Findings suggest that most of demands created by global market for the two countries are similar, and include increased fish demand, increased demand for land along the beaches for tourist’s activities and population increase in coastal communities. Number of fishers in both countries has been increasing over time, and has doubled in Tanzania between 1995 and 2009. Findings suggest that global market forces have been creating demand for marine products such as sea cucumber, lobster, king fish, snappers, mackerel and squid. Global market has necessitated changes of fishing gears and vessels from rudimentary vessels i.e. canoe or wooden plank to engine/fibre-boats. The positive impacts of global market on coastal communities in the two countries include creation of employment opportunities, availability of market for locally produced goods and improvement of social infrastructure such as roads, health facilities and water. The negative impacts include inflation, restricted access to beaches, increased prices of land and fisheries resources, conflicts and declining of marine fisheries resource. Exploration and extraction of gas and oil is one of the economic sectors, which over the last fifteen years have been attracting more foreign direct investment along the coastal areas of East Africa. Another critical aspect of globalization is the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in communication, trade of fisheries products and money transfer. The use of ICT has also altered the management system of marine resources and to some extent made the management more complex and elusive. Another impact of global market on coastal communities is an increased resource use conflicts between different users and managers of resources.

The study further examined the extent of vulnerability of coastal communities to the global market forces. Head count index for Tanzanian sites indicate that poverty incidence, poverty gap and poverty severity indices are highest in Mtwara than the other studied areas. On Kenyan sites, head count index indicate that poverty incidence was highest in Vanga and lowest in Mahindi. Poverty severity index however, indicate that poverty was a very serious problem in Mombasa and Malindi. Generally finding suggests that the income inequality for Kenyan sites is lower than of Tanzanian sites. The study shows that respondents from both countries belong to some cooperative unions or association such as conservation related microfinance and spiritual groupings as a way of coping up with their vulnerability contexts.

The study has revealed that coastal communities lack education and technology necessary for them to tap and benefit from coastal resources in the era of global markets. Therefore they need more education and training as an enabling environment for them to benefit from coastal resources without compromising the sustainability of coastal resources. The findings also show that current management systems need restructuring and transformation in line with coastal communities’ livelihood interests and benefits in order to arrive at sustainable coastal management.