Small Fish
A zona costeira de Moçambique tem registrado grandes problemas relacionados com a pesca de peixe pequeno, já que usam redes que ao arrastarem o pescado trazem para a costa tudo o que a rede apanha. Ao questionar os pescadores sobre o destino deste peixe pequeno, estes dizem que não se faz nada com este peixe, consideram-no lixo e deitam fora.
Esta consciência que os pescadores têm quanto ao peixe pequenino deve ser mudada de forma a que se incuta aos mesmo que este peixe que eles hoje chamam de lixo é o que amanha eles estariam a vender e lucrar para poder construir uma casa, uma vez que se deixassem o peixe crescer teriam maior lucro com a sua venda.
É necessario fazer-lhes entender que os peixes pequenos que eles juntam, cerca de 20 peixes por exemplo, para vender a um preço baixo poderia ser vendido por um preço mais alto se lhes deixassem desevolverem mais. Assim até mesmo o volume de peixe a ser vendido seria menor o que iria lhes conferir maior rendimento.
Neste ambito surge a questão, que meios podem ser usados para a erradicação desta prática e a aderência a um pescado mais saudável e sustentável?
Below is the English translation of this message
The coastal zone of Mozambique has experienced major problems related to fishing for small fish, since they use nets that drag the fish and bring to the coast all that the network picks up. By questioning the fishermen about the fishing of this small fish, they say they do not do anything with this fish, consider it trash and throw away.
This awareness that fishermen have to fish little fish should be changed so as to instill that same fish that they call garbage today is that tomorrow they would be selling and profit in order to build a house, since by letting the fish grow bigger the profit by selling them will grow.
It is necessary to make them understand that the small fish that they gather about 20 fish for example, to sell at a low price could be sold for a higher price if they leave them to grow more. So even the volume of fish to be sold would be lower which would give them higher income.
In this context the question arises: what means can be used to eradicate this practice and adherence to a healthier and more sustainable fish?
What means can be done to eradicate this practice?
What means can be done to eradicate this practice and steer the future towards a healthier and more sustainable fishing practices?
Better fisheries management is the only way to adhere to a healthier and more sustainable fishing and I think it can be achieved successfully through laws and regulations. There are laws and regulations guarding how animals are harvested commercially and recreationally. These laws are put into effect to help both the animals and people. For example, a fisherman from Mozambique should be made aware that fishing the small fish has a negative impact on the fish stocks as well as other marine animals. While some people consider small fish a by-catch and throw it away, the dolphins, seals and whales are now facing starvation. People need to be aware that nature needs a balance in order to survive.
The compliance of marine and coastal laws should be enforced and there are ways this can be done. One way can be to introduce open and closed seasons, another could be to introduce mesh size limitations which would be strictly enforced. In general I think that enhanced self management among fishers has a great opportunity to work well for the future.
RE: DLIST ASCLME: Small Fish
Better fisheries management is certainly very important for more sustainable fishing practises. Equally important is the regulation of those practises. What often concerns me though, is that it's always the fisher folk or subsistence farmers who have to be "regulated" and "monitored" for "over grazing" of the natural resource base. It therefore makes me wonder about the efficacy of these laws and whose interests they serve. In most cases, fisheries management is dominated by commercial interest. This, of course, needs to be overhauled if we are serious about changing the balance of forces towards a sustainable future for all.