Grants :: Small Grant Facilities :: Strengthening Community-Based Fisheries Management at Miani Hor
Demarcation of area © MFF Pakistan
Declare a no take zone/sanctuary in Miani Hor for protection and sustainable management of biodiversity of the area to enhance community based fisheries management practices.
Fishery is the main economic activity in Miani Hor (Sonmiani area) as it employs more than 95 % of the population of the area. It’s a lagoon system and considering its biological diversity it has been declared as a Ramsar site in May 2001. Miani Hor is being considered as lifeline for fisheries dependent communities. Community is well aware of the adverse effects of overfishing and use of illegal nets. There are other marine resources including mangroves, shrimp, crabs, and wild animals (mainly resident and migratory bird) which are still indiscriminately being exploited. From scientific point of view fisheries management at Miani Hor has received clear attention of users as well as managers for sustainably of resources and it has been realized that fishermen and other stakeholders need to be educated and trained on better management practices.
The project is aimed to develop strategy for use of sustainable gears, raising awareness about fishing gears and for sustainable biodiversity management of fisheries resources. For that purpose involving stakeholders demarcation of one site locally named Safe Doori, 179 ha, will be done as to create No Take Zone/Sanctuary by making it a legally and socially protected in Miani Hor. Management of sustainable biodiversity and use of beach and boat seine will be examined specially and right based management approach will be adopted. Community based watch and ward system will be established and joint resources monitoring will be carried out for developing confidence stakeholders’ knowledge on the benefits of fisheries management through protected areas approach.
The project thus will bring a major change in management of lagoon/marine resources. It will also help in developing set of rules, biodiversity list of important biodiversity resources of declared area and same will be published for mass awareness.
The project helped in the protection and conservation of the fisheries resources of the Miani Hor through a process of sustainable biodiversity management No Take Zone of the Miani Hor Area. Beneficiaries included about 15,000 of the fishermen of the Sonmiani, Damb and Bhera settlements around the lagoon. Fisheries Department will benefit from this initiative that has to play a vital role in the implementation of the No Taking Zone concept. Indirect beneficiaries included fish traders, transporters and those involved in marketing of the fisheries products.
Achievements
Under the project Eco-DRR training was imparted to the participants from academia and local CBOs to strengthen their knowledge and capacity in community resilience, climate change and ecosystem based adaptations for better management of disaster risks. Also, due to establishment of no take zone, the ecosystem structure and functions will be strengthened to make them resilient to the impacts of climate change. The long run improvement of natural resource base due to sustainable management will also contribute to reducing conflicts over resource use in Miani Hor.
The project engaged women folk in mangrove plantation and exposure visits to sensitize them about natural resource management issues, and provide them equal opportunity of participation in project activities.
Winder, Tehsil Sonmiani, District Lasbela
15th Apr 2016 to 14th Apr 2017
PKR 2,003,800
Coastal Association for Research and Development (CARD)
Coastal Association for Research and Development (CARD)
Mr. Muhammad Anwar
Executive Director, CARD
Coastal Association for Research and Development (CARD) Winder City, Jam Yousif Colony, P.O. Winder, Tehsil Sonmiani, District Lasbela, Balochistan, Pakistan
Tel: 0345-8848305
E-mail: card.org.pk@gmail.com