How Artisanal Stake-seine Fishery Survived for Last 300 Years in the Dynamic and Competitive Environment?

Abstract

Despite to the high fishing pressure; use of illegal fishing methods; deforestation, manufacturing, tourism and even the dynamic market environment, an artisanal stake-net fishery, which operates for shrimps, has been able to survive since 1721 in Negombo lagoon in the western Sri Lanka. The key strength of the stake-net fishery is its community-based management systems which closely related with the ecosystem. But sustainable-utilisation is practically difficult in developing countries because assessing resources, setting limits on their utilisation, monitoring and enforcing complex regulations is not easy where government agencies do not have sufficient capacity for collecting data. Therefore, the present status of stake-net fishery management system in present competitive environment was evaluated. The Rapid Appraisal method was used, in gathering information on the community-based management system, by contacting active fishermen; community leaders; fish collectors; and auctioneers from 2011-2013. The equitability of sharing resources by a rotational lots drawing system for distributing access rights to fishing sites among members was identified as the key feature in limiting the fishing pressure resulting low conflicts and sustainable resource usage. Access right is tightly restricted to "culturally-homogeneous" eligible members. Loyalty of fishermen to uphold the Stake-net fishery management system remains strong. Loss of fishing sites due to siltation dramatically increased over the last 4-5 years. However, there is no guarantee that the cumulative past experience of a society will necessarily fit them to solve new problems & threats. Anyhow, successful community-based stake-net fishery management provides a useful blueprint upon which the management of other fisheries might be based.Keywords: Management: Community and Co-management, Fisheries Management, Fisheries Economic