Disentangling the Net: the Socio-Ecological Dynamics Of
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Imperial College London Department of Life Sciences Disentangling the net: The socio-ecological dynamics of mosquito net fishing Rebecca Ellen Short A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Imperial College London September 2018 1 Abstract The use of mosquito nets, largely handed out for free in efforts to control malaria, as fishing gear is anecdotally widespread. Mosquito net fishing (MNF) is condemned as a threat to food security and biodiversity due to its assumed but unsubstantiated ‘indiscriminate’ nature. A number of countries have banned the activity though no empirical investigation of the impacts or drivers of MNF exists. In this study I conduct a holistic investigation in to MNF, using a socio-ecological systems approach to characterise MNF, assessing its relevance to Sustainable Development Goals. I first review relevant assumptions of negative social and ecological impacts of MNF; discussing potential for positive impacts in terms of food and nutrition security, livelihoods and social equity. I present a conceptual framework which is then utilised to direct policy analysis across relevant sectors in a workshop setting through expert knowledge elicitation. Potential strategies to address MNF across health, development and fisheries governance structures are presented. I also conduct the first global assessment of the prevalence and characteristics of MNF, highlighting its widespread nature. Using a case study in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique I test both entrenched and emerging theories on the drivers and impacts of MNF in a coral reef fishery. Using a rapid assessment of fish landings I demonstrate the likely impact of MNF on catches of legal gears and biodiversity. MNF is a gendered activity, whereby predominantly androcentric methods show potential for negative impacts but gynocentric methods show limited resource overlap. I then use a household survey to contextualise the food security and livelihoods contributions of MNF. MNF is shown to be an important part of household livelihood profiles and particularly in adaptive strategies beyond subsistence in mixed agriculture and fishing communities. The research legitimises concern over MNF sustainability but highlights recklessness in current management based on broad, unsubstantiated assumptions; particularly ineffective enforcement policies. I demonstrate opportunities for MNF to enhance wellbeing and discuss this in light of relevant paradigm shifts, highlighting the critical need for further investigation. 2 Declarations This thesis results entirely from my own work. The work of all others is appropriately acknowledged and referenced in the text. Rebecca Short, September 2018 Copyright Declaration The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives licence. Researchers are free to copy, distribute or transmit the thesis on the condition that they attribute it, that they do not use it for commercial purposes and that they do not alter, transform or build upon it. For any reuse or redistribution, researchers must make clear to others the licence terms of this work. 3 Acknowledgments I never thought I would believe in a higher power until I embarked on the journey that has produced this thesis – but I see no feasible explanation other than there is someone up there messing with me. However, in Her unfathomable wisdom I have been blessed with the most incredible support I could have hoped for. Thanks first to my supervisors: E.J. Milner-Gulland for being an unflappable and wholly understanding influence, even when I decided to move several hundred miles away; Nick Hill for a reassuring open door policy which he will probably long regret; and Marcus Rowcliffe for tactfully bringing things back down to earth when all too necessary. I have had the great privilege of spending time with numerous academic communities during my PhD and they have been universally wonderful to be a part of. To my ZSL colleagues thank you for kicking me off (or out?) Dave Curnick, I’m pretty sure this was all your fault but you made up for it with your calming dengue diagnoses over WhatsApp, and all the pints. Mike Hudson, cheers for being an excellent first office buddy, especially the mid-afternoon dumping of a bottle of wine on my desk during a particularly hairy period. For navigating the halls and pubs of Oxford with me, an always welcoming sofa and a partner in jam-related crimes, thank you to ICCS and my fellow intrepid explorers; Beccy Wilebore, Emilie Beauchamp, Sam Earle and Tom Hart. To everyone at Exeter for being so welcoming when I turned up unannounced and then never left; thank you for making Cornwall the perfect antidote. A big shout out to George Swan for a mixture of supportive and dependent house-matery, and Katie Shanks for pretty much never letting me say no to anything, especially if it’s scary and high. Huge thanks to the ZSL and AMA Mozambique teams for their support during various bouts of panic, also to Anouk Neuhaus without whom Mozambique would have been much harder. Jamen Mussa, I do not know where I would be without you. I certainly wouldn’t have any data, but more than that the 257 games of s**thead on the beach were critical to sanity – I still can’t believe you beat me by 5 games; the student truly did become the master. Also, massive thanks to the rest of my data collection team: Veronica Tome, Vasco Lino, Juvencia Manda, Mamudo Abudo, Isildo Nganhane. To the wonderful and welcoming people of the villages of Malinde and Quirinde; thank you, I hope for your safety every day. Thanks of course to my parents, particularly for your support in purchasing Jan the van without whom my sporadic bouts of homelessness would have been significantly colder and wetter. To the best Gang a girl could have: Alicky Davey, Sara Green, Dean Gallears, Jono Handley, and Sophie Persey. Without the confident knowledge that I always have some wonderful adventure to look forward to with you all, I’m absolutely sure I would be miserable. And without your constant above-and-beyond friendship and support there’s also a significant chance I would be dead. Thomas Hennessy Jones. You were a bit late to the party but you certainly brought the candles. I’ve never been so well looked after in all my life as during these months of the final push. Thank you so much for your love and belief in me, facilitating rejuvenating (if sometimes forceful) coast path walks, and for expertly knowing when I need a Negroni, some Ukulele orchestra, or a bit of both. Finally, my dearest B (O’Brien). You have been the most wonderful, consistent, and unconditional supporter through this and I can state categorically that I would not have been able to do it without you. You should probably have your name on the front. I don’t know how other people get through life without you as a best friend, but I also don’t care because you’re mine. If you think that finishing this PhD means I’ll stop showing up on your doorstep, drinking all your gin and sleeping on your sofa you are sorely mistaken – to many more years of that. 4 Abbreviations and Acronyms ADNAP Administração Nacional das Pescas AIC Akaike Information Criterion AMA Associação do Meio Ambiente BH Balanced harvest BMU Beach management unit BOFFFs Big Old Fat Fecund Females CCP Conselhos comunitários de pesca (community fishing council) CORDIO Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean CPUE Catch per unit effort DRC Democratic Republic of Congo EBM Ecosystem based management eDNA Environmental DNA FAO Food and agriculture organisation GLM Generalised linear model ICCS Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science IDEPA Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Pesca e Aquacultura IIP Instituto de Investigacao Pesqueira ITN Insecticide treated net KAA Key affected area LLIN Long-lasting insecticide-treated net M&M Morbidity and mortality MN Mosquito net MNF Mosquito net fishing NMCP National malaria control programme nMNF Non-mosquito net fishing NMP National malaria plan NMST National malaria strategy OSOL Our Sea Our Life project PCA Principal Components Analysis PMI President's malaria initiative (US) RBM Roll Back Malaria SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SPACES Sustainable poverty alleviation from ecosystem services SSF Small-scale fishery TL Trophic level UNDP United nations development programme UNEP United nations environment programme WHO World health organisation WIO Western Indian Ocean ZSL Zoological Society of London 5 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................2 Declarations ..................................................................................................................................3 Copyright Declaration ....................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments .........................................................................................................................4 Abbreviations and Acronyms ..........................................................................................................5 Contents .......................................................................................................................................6 List of tables ................................................................................................................................ 11 List of figures