Conflits Autour De L’exploitation Halieutique Du Fleuve Comoé Et De Ses Affluents

The purpose of this article is to identify the conflicts arising from the exploitation of the Comoé River. Côte d'Ivoire has a dense hydrography which is distinguished by four main rivers of which the Comoé River (1160 km) is one of them. This river area, which has always been exploited by the various villages bordering it, is perceived by the latter as their property. Thus, they ensure customary management in accordance with marked territories. The immense benefits of this river to village communities sometimes give rise to tensions and conflicts. What are the causes of these different types of conflicts with regards to the Comoé River? In other words, what are the conditions for their gestation? The objective of this study is to reveal the conflicts surrounding the fisheries exploitation of the Comoé River and to propose solutions for a sustainable fishery. This study is based on desk research and land surveys. It appears from the above that the exploitation of the aquatic area of the Comoé River generates sporadic conflicts. These conflicts arise mainly because of a poor implementation of the clauses of the contract between indigenous and non-native fishers, dominated by the monthly fee and the unhealthy practices of the actors. The management of these oppositions of interests is ensured by a traditional regulation, coupled with that of the administration when the situation is of great magnitude.

Avoiding conflicts and protecting coral reefs: customary management benefits marine habitats and fish biomass

One of the major goals of coral reef conservation is to determine the most effective means of managing marine resources in regions where economic conditions often limit the options available. For example, no-take fishing areas can be impractical in regions where people rely heavily on reef fish for food. In this study we test whether coral reef health differed among areas with varying management practices and socio-economic conditions on Pulau Weh in the Indonesian province of Aceh. Our results show that gear restrictions, in particular prohibiting the use of nets, were successful in minimizing habitat degradation and maintaining fish biomass despite ongoing access to the fishery. Reef fish biomass and hard-coral cover were two- to eight-fold higher at sites where fishing nets were prohibited. The guiding principle of the local customary management system, Panglima Laot, is to reduce conflict among community members over access to marine resources. Consequently, conservation benefits in Aceh have arisen from a customary system that lacks a specific environmental ethic or the means for strong resource-based management. Panglima Laot includes many of the features of successful institutions, such as clearly defined membership rights and the opportunity for resource users to be involved in making, enforcing and changing the rules. Such mechanisms to reduce conflict are the key to the success of marine resource management, particularly in settings that lack resources for enforcement.

Socioecological Approaches for Combining Ecosystem-Based and Customary Management in Oceania

This paper summarizes various integrated methodological approaches for studying Customary Management for the purpose of designing hybrid CM-Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) systems in Oceania. Using marine conservation in the Western Solomon Islands as an example, the paper illustrates various interdisciplinary human ecological methods that can assist in designing hybrid conservation programs. The study of human-environmental interactions from a socio-ecological perspective allows us to discern people's understanding of their immediate environment, differential forms of local resource governance and use (e.g., sea tenure and foraging strategies), and existing conflicts between various stakeholders, among other social and ecological factors. More generally, the paper shows how coupled studies of natural and social processes can foster management regimes that are more adaptive and effective and that move toward holistic, ecosystem-based marine conservation in the Pacific Island region.