Assessing the Socio-Economic Impacts of Marine Conservation on Livelihoods: Insights from the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, Zanzibar.

Assessing the Socio-Economic Impacts of Marine Conservation on Livelihoods: Insights from the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, Zanzibar.

Marine conservation interventions particularly Marine Protected Areas play a vital role in conserving marine biodiversity, supporting fisheries activities, also reducing environmental threats. Regarding the significant ecological benefits of Marine Protected Areas, conservation strategies primarily focus on ecological goals rather than local livelihoods which causes conflicts for resource users, economic displacement, and changes in fishing practices.

Also, the socioeconomic insinuation of these interventions on coastal communities remains unclear and ongoing debate. This study will assess the effect of marine conservation on fishery dependent livelihoods in the Pemba Channel Conservation Area. It will study how conservation strategies affect income, employment, food security, and community attitude toward resource management.

The study will use a mixed methods approach by combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques that include participant observation, in-depth interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. 

347 fishers from eight Shehias within PECCA will be sampled using Yamane's formula to ensure representativeness. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, Common Pool Resource Theory, and the Social-Ecological Systems Framework will provide the base of theoretical foundation for analysing conservation livelihood dynamics. These frameworks will help to understand the interaction between resource access, governance structures, and socioeconomic well-being.

The results from this study will contribute to the existing knowledge of conservation effects on livelihood and inform policies that balance marine protection while ensuring the resilience of fishery-dependent communities. By understanding effects associated with PECCA, the study focus to address sustainable conservation strategies that will aid ecological sustainability while safeguarding the socioeconomic returns of coastal communities in Zanzibar.