Modern issues facing coastal management of the fishery industry: A Study of the effects of globalization in coastal Benin on the Traditional fishery community

The high density of population in the coastal region of Benin imposes a considerable pressure upon the fishing grounds and is exacerbated by industrial fishing. Industrial fishing is characterised by more modern and intensive fishing methods and different acting rationalities incompatible with traditional fishing. For traditional coastal fishing societies, this means a non-sustainable intensification of the catch; resulting in declining productivity and living standards, a disorganisation of the traditional societies and increasing socio-economic vulnerability. Many young, traditional coastal fishermen are forced to look for additional sources of income or emigrate to secure their livelihood. The present paper examines the current development of the Beninese coastal fishing with regards to its economic, ecologic and social impacts as a precondition to evolving an adapted fishing management system to develop counter strategies against the marginalisation and expulsion of traditional fishing societies which is currently being observed.

Source de publication: Ocean & Coastal Management 53 (2010) 428 - 438

Contacts du ou des auteurs: Vogt J, Teka O (oscar_teka@yahoo.fr) . & Sturm U