Small-Scale Fisheries in Mozambique

Small-scale fisheries in Mozambique support approximately 280,000 fishers and are vital for rural food security, yet they face threats from overfishing, illegal practices, and external economic pressures. While the government has implemented co-management through Conselho Comunitário de Pesca (CCPs) and established a three-mile exclusive-use zone for small-scale fishers, these efforts are hindered by poor financial management of license and park fees. The sector is further pressured by top-down Marine Protected Area (MPA) management, which has created conflicts between fishers and tourism operators, and by high vulnerability to climate-induced droughts, cyclones, and flooding. The document recommends strengthening the role of CCPs in disaster risk preparedness, improving environmental impact assessment (EIA) monitoring, and enhancing cooperation between conservation authorities and fishing communities.

• Small-scale fisheries are a critical pillar of Mozambique's rural economy, employing roughly 280,000 fishers who support extensive networks of family members, processors, and traders.
• Despite the establishment of 600 co-management committees (Conselho Comunitário de Pesca or CCPs) to reduce damaging practices, these bodies suffer from a lack of funding because fishing licence fees and park fees intended for them are poorly managed and rarely distributed.
• Illegal fishing remains a significant threat, specifically the use of 'chicocota' nets—fine mesh nets made from discarded commercial shrimp nets—which indiscriminately capture species in estuaries that serve as vital breeding grounds.
• The creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been characterized by a top-down approach with minimal community consultation, leading to tensions between local fishers, tourism operators, and conservation authorities over the capture of specific species like sharks, rays, and groupers.
• Mozambique's small-scale fishing communities are highly vulnerable to climate change, facing direct threats from cyclones, flooding, and droughts, as well as indirect ecological impacts from changing ocean temperatures and rainfall patterns.
• While a legal framework for environmental management exists via Environment Law No 20/97 and the Ministry of Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), enforcement of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) is weak due to financial and technical constraints.

APA

Benkenstein, A. (2013). Small-Scale Fisheries in Mozambique. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Policy-Briefing-72.pdf

Chicago

Benkenstein, Alex. Small-Scale Fisheries in Mozambique. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Policy-Briefing-72.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Benkenstein |first1=Alex |title=Small-Scale Fisheries in Mozambique |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Policy-Briefing-72.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{benkenstein2013smallscale, author = {Benkenstein, Alex}, title = {{Small-Scale Fisheries in Mozambique}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Policy-Briefing-72.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }