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Bay of Ambaro (Madagascar) - Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries

The 2004-2007, the Master Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture considered some principles of the ecosystem approach to fisheries. Several issues identified are being addressed through projects or mechanisms, incuding the integration of the environmental dimension and ecological equilibrium into management systems, and involvement of stakeholders and private sector in the decision making process. Adaptive management relies particularly on regular updating of the status of resources, stresses and biology / ecology. To reduce impacts on non target species, the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) and bycatch reduction devices (BRD) is mandatory in shrimp trawl fishery since 2005. Unfortunately, no measure has been taken for other key top predator species, in particular sharks.

The implementation of two Biologically Sensitive Shrimp Zones in 2009, under Arrêté n°2055-2009, respectively at Ambavanankarana area (18,9 nm2) and Ankazomborona area (49 nm2) aims at “ensuring a long term protection of biological diversity, promoting viable management practices for a sustainable productivity, and preserving the natural shrimp resources from any use that may impact negatively the biological diversity”. The Group of Shrimp Aquaculture and Fishing Companies participates in decision makings and collaborates with the Fisheries Department on any management measures to be implemented and any data to be collected. To achieve conservation objectives, local coastal communities bordering the bay volunteered to take over the management responsibility of adjacent mangrove ecosystems through official transfer of management from the Government under a specific law adopted in 1996. The contract includes a management plan, a “dina” (by-law or social convention) and a chart of responsibility. To gain in strength, these local communities are grouping into federations, and their networking is expanding. Mangroves are also enacted as sensitive areas and any intended investment that may negatively impact these ecosystems requires a full EIA. Mainstreaming of fisheries issues (including social implications) into local integrated development plans is now common in all coastal communities.

Currently, the Fisheries Department is updating the fisheries law to accommodate the EAF approach.