The Shellfish Small-Scale Fisheries of Zanzibar: From Catch to Consumption and Traditional Conservation

The Shellfish Small-Scale Fisheries of Zanzibar: From Catch to Consumption and Traditional Conservation

Introduction

The demand for fish as a source of nutrients has increased and will likely grow about a population increase of 43% by 2030 (Peart et al., 2021). Small-scale fisheries (SSF) (including shellfish) make critical contributions to the livelihoods, food and nutritional security (Alasalvar et al., 2011; Béné et al., 2015) and fill micronutrient gaps in the diets of many nutritionally vulnerable communities in developing countries that are scarce in plant based-diet (FAO, 2022; Obiero et al., 2019). Few studies have been conducted on invertebrates (shellfish) in Zanzibar. None of these studies has focused explicitly on determining shellfish catches and catches composition, nutrient level, consumption pattern perceptions and traditional ecological knowledge. Based on this gap, this study aims to estimate shellfish total catches and catches composition from local gleaners/fishers, determining their consumption aspects such as analysis of nutrient levels, socio-cultural factors influencing household consumption patterns, and conservation by bridging Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Conventional Scientific Knowledge (CSK) of coastal communities in Zanzibar. 

General Objective. 

This study aims to estimate the total catch and catch composition of shellfish from local gleaners, determining their consumption aspects, and conservation by bridging TEK and CSK of coastal communities in Zanzibar.

 Specific objectives

  1. To estimate the total catch and catch composition of shellfish from local gleaners along the coast of Zanzibar.

  2. To determine selected important micro and macronutrient levels in Portunus pelagicus, Scylla serrata and Anadara antiquata along the coast of Zanzibar 

  3. To assess socio-cultural perceptions influencing the local consumption pattern for shellfish in coastal communities of Zanzibar.

  4. To investigate the importance of TEK of the local shellfish gleaners on catch patterns and bridging the gap with CSK for their management

Significance of the study 

This study's outcome will help address knowledge gaps in understanding shellfish exploitation by providing valuable information on shellfish catches and catch composition. Additionally, the study will shed light on the current circumstances of shellfish nutrient status and their contribution to nutrition and food security for local coastal communities in Zanzibar, and its feedback will foster community appreciation for shellfish beyond its association with poverty. Moreover, the outcome of the assessment of TEK and consumption perception will help to identify appropriate policies and management approaches on the issue of shellfish and their nutritional value perceptions, particularly for the current blue economy policy of Zanzibar.

Sampling and Data Collection

For the first objective, the local gleaner/fishers involved and recorded record their daily catches and carefully write the date, time (hours) used, place, gear used, species name, and only length twice a month during spring tide due to the lunar circle, which drives tide flow throughout the year. For objective two, a total of 270 actual samples have been transported for laboratory analysis for analysis of Four important minerals and trace elements (Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Calcium), vitamins (A, B12), proximate composition (ash, protein, fat, moisture) and heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Pb). In addition, Assessment of social-cultural perceptions influencing shellfish consumption patterns. Semi-structured questionnaire, interviews, focus groups, and participatory mapping have been used to collect data on socio-cultural perceptions influencing the consumption pattern of shellfish in the Zanzibar coastal communities, and TEK and how it will be bridged with Conventional scientific knowledge. 

Data analysis

Both qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and recorded for analysis of normality and homogeneity of variance by using Shapira Wilk and Levene’s tests, respectively. A computer program, Pasgear2, will be used for data entry and first-level analysis, while FiSAT II will be used for further analysis in case there are modal progression signs in the incoming data.