Fisheries management systems involve both formal (government) and informal (traditional) institutions. Traditional management systems entail the regulation of fisheries activities and resources by traditional authorities or communities.
These groups are united by common beliefs or norms, languages and interests. In traditional management systems, an individual has no exclusive right to the resource and cannot dispose or sell part or whole of the system or resource being managed.
Traditional Fisheries Management System
Traditional fisheries management methods describe the self-regulation by communities based on traditional practices with the aim of controlling fishery exploitation.
Traditional fisheries management systems are management systems operated by the traditional authorities such as the Bulamas,Sarkin Ruwasor the village heads. This is effective at the community level. Ita (1993) described two types of fisheries management systems as:
Inadvertent (unintentional), e.g. water tenure, ritual prohibitions, taboos and magic.
Intentional strategies, e.g. gear restrictions, closed seasons and floodplain intensification.
Traditional methods of managing fisheries are based on social agreements where individuals, groups or communities have rights to resources.
Property regimes determine the rights, responsibilities of stakeholders and provide incentives to preserve or invest into the resource.
Property regimes, other prevailing norms and values, provide the framework for management of the resource.
In the traditional system, the fisheries are classified as common property resources in that use-rights for the resource are controlled by an identifiable group (e.g. local community who may exclude others) and are not managed by government or the state.
The objectives of the traditional systems in Nigeria (Neiland etal., 1997) include:
The control of fishing rights and reduction of conflict.
Generation of food and income for the community.
Conservation of fish stocks.
The main method of management is the control of access. Local leaders or traditional authorities or the community makes the rules although all users can have inputs into the process (“bottom-up” approach), under some circumstances.
Features and Objectives of Traditional (or Community-Based) Fisheries Management Systems
Fisheries activities are regulated by traditional rules, beliefs, customs and authorities based on indigenous knowledge.
This is easy where water has defined boundaries – lakes, floodplains, lagoons and reservoirs. Those responsible for fisheries management are traditional rulers, religious leaders, shore masters, fish watchers or chief fishermen.
The whole community observes and enforces compliance to set rules which are effective because of the acceptability and legitimacy of local authorities (Olomola, 1993).
The main objective of fisheries management in the traditional system is to protect the interest of the community.
In the traditional system:
Individuals within the community have access to the resource but cannot sell or dispose of part or whole of the fishing ground temporarily or permanently.
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The village head and council of elders make decisions on behalf of the group and such decisions are communicated to the people.
This system is effective where population density is low and there is little internal and external pressure on the resource.
Access to resources, harvesting and consumption of fish are subject to socially determined regulations and form part of resource management and allocation.
Traditional authorities control entrance into the fishing grounds, e.g. during fishing festivals. Seasonal closures, acceptable gear and other regulations are set by traditional authority based on experience.
Traditional authorities have no licensing systems but fisheries management regulations are rooted in the social concept of resource-sharing, allowing every member to benefit from available resources.
Sanctions include fines, seizure of gear and social sanctions.
Supernatural’ beings are often believed to set rules for resource utilisation and enforce rules.
Management Measures Used in Traditional Fisheries Management
Traditional fisheries systems exploit several management measures such as:
Access control-The most common traditional fisheries management measure is to restrict the right of withdrawal in order to quantitatively limit fishing pressure. Access may also be granted as a territorial use right.
Ban on capture of immature fish.
Restriction or ban of some fishing gears permanently or temporarily such as cast nets, pole and lines.
Prohibition of fishing in some water bodies regarded as sacred grounds (closed areas) and on some festive days which inadvertently protects such fish stocks.
Prohibition of fishing with chemicals owing to health concerns.
Prohibition of magical power in fish harvesting.
Emphasis on rituals for replenishing fish stock. Sacrifices are offered for release of rain, receding of floods and for permission to fish.
Some fish species are not eaten and are taboos to some consumers and fishermen. Such fish are not caught.
Use of closed seasons allowing only short periods for fishing during fishing festivals.
Closure of sensitive areas during breeding seasons, e.g. mangrove swamps or other nursery areas (Ita, 1993; Olomola, 1993; Neiland, etal,1994).
Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Traditional Methods of Fisheries Management
Traditional knowledge is accepted in traditional fisheries management for example allowing fingerlings to grow before harvest.
The rules agree with traditional beliefs and customs or well established social systems like kinship, language, etc.
Easy detection and prompt sanctions for offenders.
Policing of communal territorial waters.
Limitations of Traditional Authority
The dependence of traditional management on traditional authority has the following limitations.
The declining authority of traditional institutions due to changes to modern societies with lower adherence to traditional rules, urbanization and migration.
Traditional authority over resources is limited to a defined territory. Where fishing grounds fall into more than one traditional territory, proper management requires co-ordination between the different authorities which often leads to conflict.
The overlapping and conflicting roles of traditional and modern institutions undermine the functioning of the traditional system.
The taxation of fisheries by local or state governments could reduce offerings and weaken traditional authorities
In summary, traditional fisheries management system is an informal one in which the management of water and its fisheries are completely controlled by traditional authorities or religious bodies.
Members of such communities have similarities in language, religious or traditional belief system, or common interests. They are able to abide by the rules and regulation of such fisheries because of their respect for such authority.
These systems are however being challenged by changes in modern societies and challenges of modern societies.
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