The small pelagic fishery of the Pemba Channel, Tanzania: what we know and what we need to know for management under climate change

Small pelagic fish, including anchovies, sardines and sardinellas, mackerels, capelin, hilsa, sprats and herrings, are distributed widely, from the tropics to the far north Atlantic Ocean and to the southern oceans off Chile and South Africa. They are most abundant in the highly productive major eastern boundary upwelling systems and are characterised by significant natural variations in biomass. Overall, small pelagic fisheries represent about one third of global fish landings although a large proportion of the catch is processed into animal feeds. Nonetheless, in some developing countries in addition to their economic value, small pelagic fisheries also make an important contribution to human diets and the food security of many low-income households. Such is the case for many communities in the Zanzibar Archipelago and on mainland Tanzania in the Western Indian Ocean. Of great concern in this region, as elsewhere, is the potential impact of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems in general, and on small pelagic fisheries in particular. This paper describes data and information available on Tanzania's small pelagic fisheries, including catch and effort, management protocols and socio-economic significance

Occurrence and vulnerability of a giant sea catfish, Arius thalassinus (Rüppell, 1837) (Siluriformes: Ariidae) in Mafia Island, Tanzania

The distribution and some biological characteristics of commercially important giant sea catfish, Arius thalassinus (Rüppell, 1837) were studied in Mafia Island from October 2010 to October 2011. Samples were collected from artisanal fishing gear, mainly longlines, sharknets and ringnets, which yielded a total of 2,723 kg comprising 756 A. thalassinus individuals with the largest specimen measuring 1,000 mm TL. The species occurred only on the western coast of Mafia Island with the highest catch rate of 19.3 kg/fisher/day in March when murky water predominates. The reproductive biology of A. thalassinus was investigated to infer its vulnerability to fishing. A. thalassinus reached size-at-first maturity at (LM50 = 520 mm TL) and exhibited lower mean (± s.e.) batch fecundity of 65.6 ± 3.37 eggs per female of size range 605 – 970 mm TL comprising large-sized hydrated oocytes with mean (± s.e.) diameter of 15.2 ± 0.12 mm. A. thalassinus spawned once in a year during February and April under heavy precipitation conditions (124 - 499 mm). We therefore conclude that restricted distribution, large-bodied size, lower fecundity, late maturation, and reported high trophic level signify that A. thalassinus is potentially vulnerable to fishing pressure. It is therefore recommended to restrict fishing A. thalassinus during spawning season for its sustainability

Age, growth and mortality of the anchovy Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède,1803) (Clupeiformes) caught off the coast of Tanga, Tanzania

The population dynamics of Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède, 1803) from a ringnet fishery operating off the northern coast of Tanga Region were evaluated based on monthly length-frequency data collected from August 2016 to August 2017. The total length (TL) and total weight (TW) of 14,410 individuals ranged from 22 to 130 mm and from 0.39 to 14.64 g respectively. S. commersonnii exhibited a negative allometric growth pattern with the length-weight relationship model: W = 0.00001 x L2.886. The von Bertalanffy growth function was Lt = 86.03 x (1 – e–1.19(t – (–0.01))) using ELEFAN I from the FiSAT II software tool package. Growth performance index and longevity were estimated at (ɸ) = 3.9 and Tmax = 2.5 yrs, respectively. The total (Z), fishing (F) and natural (M) mortalities were determined at 1.39, 0.53 and 0.86 yr-1, respectively. The current exploitation rate (Ecur) was estimated at 0.38. S. commersonnii exhibited a year-round breeding pattern, with two recruitment peaks in March and June/July. Length-at-first-capture (Lc50) and length-at-first-sexual maturity (Lm50) were 40.51 and 57.35 mm TL, respectively, suggesting growth overfishing. The stock of anchovy indicates an overfishing scenario requiring management intervention such as reducing fishing effort levels, increasing mesh sizes and introducing seasonal closures during peak spawning periods

Reproductive biology of the anchovy (Stolephorus commersonnii, Lacepède, 1803) and spotted sardine (Amblygaster sirm, Walbaum, 1792) from Tanga Region, Tanzania

The present study investigated the reproductive biology of Stolephorus commersonnii and Amblygaster sirm at two landing sites in Tanga on the northern coast of Tanzania. Fish samples were collected on a monthly basis from ringnets operated by artisanal fishers in the nearby coastal waters. Spawning seasons were determined using gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonadal maturity stages. The size at first maturity was 57.7 mm and 66.2 mm total length for male and female S. commersonnii respectively. Male and female A. sirm were estimated to attain first maturity at 147.7 mm and 169.2 mm respectively. The spawning seasons of both species were protracted. S. commersonnii demonstrated a year round spawning cycle with peaks in August, October and January. The peak spawning season for male and female A. sirm was recorded in August and September respectively. Both species exhibited skewed size-dependent sex ratios with females predominating in the larger size classes. A. sirm had a higher fecundity rate with a maximum of 96,500 eggs in the largest female fish of 258 mm as compared to S. commersonnii (10,055 eggs) in the largest fish of 98 mm. The mean (±SE) total fecundity of S. comersonnii and A. sirm was 5,134.7 ± 136.9 eggs, and 47,029.03 ± 1,435.13 eggs in females of sizes 68 mm to 98 mm and 170 mm to 258 mm respectively

Preliminary findings on the food and feeding dynamics of the anchovy Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède, 1803) and the Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) from Tanga Region, Tanzania

Small pelagic fishes play an important role in the ecosystem by linking planktonic production and higher trophic level predators, and provide a livelihood to both the small-scale and commercial fisher communities. This study analyzed the food and feeding habits of Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède, 1803) and Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) from the ring-net fishery in Tanga, Tanzania. A total of 1 434 and 320 stomachs of S. commersonnii and R. kanagurta respectively were examined for gut contents using the relative volumetric method. S. commersonnii was found to be a planktivorous carnivore, feeding principally on planktonic penaeid shrimps (48.6%), fish larvae (33.2%) and zooplankton (12.3%). R. kanagurta was found to be carnivorous, feeding predominantly on fish (60.6%), mainly S. commersonnii, while penaeid shrimps, juvenile fish, and juvenile stages of squids formed 26.5% of the total number of food items in R. kanagurta guts. Both S. commersonnii and R. kanagurta exhibited ontogenic diet shifts, where they fed exclusively on small prey as juveniles and consumed larger food items as they grew. The index of vacuity was higher in S. commersonnii (46.1%) than in R. kanagurta (16.6%). This study revealed the importance of penaeid shrimps as food for S. commersonnii, that in turn formed the main food for R. kanagurta. This implied that the two species were able to coexist in the same niche by avoiding interspecific competition for food

What Happens after Conservation and Management Donors Leave? A Before and After Study of Coral Reef Ecology and Stakeholder Perceptions of Management Benefits

<div><p>The coral reefs of Tanga, Tanzania were recognized as a national conservation priority in the early 1970s, but the lack of a management response led to damage by dynamite, beach seines, and high numbers of fishers until the mid 1990s. Subsequently, an Irish Aid funded IUCN Eastern Africa program operated from 1994 to mid 2007 to implement increased management aimed at reducing these impacts. The main effects of this management were to establish collaborative management areas, reduce dynamite and seine net fishing, and establish small community fisheries closures beginning in 1996. The ecology of the coral reefs was studied just prior to the initiation of this management in 1996, during, 2004, and a few years after the project ended in 2010. The perceptions of resource users towards management options were evaluated in 2010. The ecological studies indicated that the biomass of fish rose continuously during this period from 260 to 770 kg/ha but the small closures were no different from the non-closure areas. The benthic community studies indicate stability in the coral cover and community composition and an increase in coralline algae and topographic complexity over time. The lack of change in the coral community suggests resilience to various disturbances including fisheries management and the warm temperature anomaly of 1998. These results indicate that some aspects of the management program had been ecologically successful even after the donor program ended. Moreover, the increased compliance with seine net use and dynamite restrictions were the most likely factors causing this increase in fish biomass and not the closures. Resource users interviewed in 2010 were supportive of gear restrictions but there was considerable between-community disagreement over the value of specific restrictions. The social-ecological results suggest that increased compliance with gear restrictions is largely responsible for the improvements in reef ecology and is a high priority for future management programs.</p></div

Management preferences, perceived benefits and conflicts among resource users and managers in the Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania \ud

Conflicts between resource users and managers are common and well documented on Mafia Island (Tanzania), where there has been a history of unresolved conflict over marine conservation initiatives. The perceptions of fisheries and park restrictions among resource users and managers were evaluated to try to understand the underlying causes of these conflicts. Responses concerning management preferences of government officials employed by the Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP), personnel of the fisheries department, and heads of households in three villages in and out of the Park were compared. The largest differences in perceptions were found between villagers and managers, but all respondents agreed that minimum fish lengths and gear restrictions were beneficial and that benefits increased along the scale of the individual – community – national government. Villagers and government officials differed most in their perceptions towards area- based management, spatial and temporal closures, and species restrictions. Perceptions of management restrictions and benefits were only weakly correlated with the socioeconomic status of the villagers, but more strongly correlated with their living in or out of the Park and their family’s economic options. The most negative perceptions towards restrictions were found in villages near fisheries closures, where there was a heavy reliance on marine resources and a higher numbers of jobs per household, but less reliance on cash crops, animal husbandry and tourism. The lack of these three options appears to have produced lower levels of support for MIMP and associated restrictions, and might be overcome by (1) using gear and minimum size restrictions more than fisheries closures and (2) increasing access to tourism, cash crops, animal husbandry and salaried employment, \ud rather than simply increasing livelihood diversity. \u

The collaborative management areas (CMAs), year of establishment, the reefs within the CMAs and the year of closure of reefs within the CMA in the Tanga Region (a), and the physical characteristics of the study sites (b).

<p>The study sites and the villages adjacent to these sties are shown in bold.</p

The changes in the biomass of finfish in different size classes.

<p>The biomass (mean kg/ha) was estimated for eleven common finfish families sampled in 1996, 2004 and 2010.</p