Strategies Used by Local Fishers to Ensure access to and Control over Scarce resources in Galu and the Wider Implications for Marine Resource Management.

Abstract

An analysis of livelhoods and production systems in the community of Biga, Galu sub-location, showed that there was a high degree of socioeconomic differentiation within the community. Differences related to production methods. These included different fishing methods, land use activities, economic activities or different combinations of the above. The processes by which fishers tackled problems of resource access and control were investigated for three situations: the attempted implementation of the Diani-Chale marine reserve; the grabbing of Trust land earmarked for fisheries community use at Mwaepe; the conflict between local Digo fishers and migrant Wapemba fishers. Using social network analysis the importance of different actors (groups, individuals and organizations) in solving the fishers' problems was determined. The results showed that some unexpected actors, such as those without natural resource management remits, were very important in the process. The social network analysis also showed that although people's resource access and control are shaped by many interacting institutions, adhoc processes, where people simply seek whatever path is necessary to solve their problems, also play an important role. The wider implications for marine resource management relate to creating socio-political and institutional environments that enable problems to be solved. Discussion includes the need to have a better understanding of what is going on at the local level, both in terms of livelihoods and institutional arrangements. It also questions the validity and effectiveness of current over structured approaches to management that impinge on peoples' ability to safeguard their food security.