Fisheries governance, management and marginalisation in developing countries: Insights from Botswana
By Ketlhatlogile Mosepele and Oluwatoyin Dare Kolawole
Abstract
Globally, fish
is a key source of food and nutrition security for all marginalized
riparian communities. This is particularly so for Sub-Saharan Africa and
South Asia. Indeed, debates about power relations on fisheries
governance underscore issues bordering on the quality of life and
livelihood opportunities for marginalized, riparian communities. The
fundamental problems impeding the ability of fisheries resources in a
developing country like Botswana to contribute to food and nutrition
security are governance issues and poorly-thought out management
approaches. This study reviewed relevant literature and key informant
interviews to elicit secondary and primary data on the management of the
fisheries sector. Despite its middle income status, Botswana is still
faced with food and nutrition insecurity. These can be ameliorated by
increased supply of fish, especially to marginalised riparian
communities. However, the fisheries sector is maligned in terms of
access to human and financial resources. Governance of the sector is
also misaligned between food production needs and conservation
imperatives. Consequently, poor physical infrastructure (due to low
government support and investment) has limited the optimal performance
of the sector in enhancing people’ livelihoods. Key recommendations from
this study include: (i) realigning fisheries legislation and
governance, (ii) paradigm shift in management, (iii) increase funding
for research and marketing, (iv) infrastructural development, (v)
cultural shift in fish valuation, and (vi) participatory inclusion in
decision-making. Ultimately, marginalisation can be reduced through
devolution of power from the centre to the margins. This would
contribute towards alleviating food and nutrition insecurity in the
developing world.
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