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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Promoting Sustainable Fisheries: National Awareness Programme in Support of the First Temporary Octopus Fisheries Closure in Mauritius (Funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by UNDP)

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Non-governmental organization (NGO)
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#OceanAction41679
    Description
    Description
    Fishing is a way of life along the coastlines of the Republic of Mauritius, an Island State comprising of mainland Mauritius and a number of outer islands, the island of Rodrigues being the next largest one. However, overfishing, climate change, insufficient measures to regulate marine activities and lack of enforcement are the main causes in the decline of marine species and subsequently incomes associated with artisanal fishing in Mauritius. Octopus cyanea is native to Mauritius and is the most common species of octopus fished in the Indian Ocean waters. It represents the majority of the commercial production of octopus in Mauritius. Unfortunately, its population has not been spared from the above mentioned threats. Despite the regulations governing the octopus`s fishery, a significant decline in this precious commodity has been noted in the Mauritian lagoon over the last 10 years. This trend is not only due to lack of compliance with existing laws but also due to little knowledge and information that local people have about the octopus`s life cycle. In addition, regulations that cover this type of fishing are no longer sufficient and appropriate to ensure the sustainability of our marine resources. As a result, the main octopus`s collectors have expanded their range by fishing all over the lagoons, thus leading to rapid exploitation of octopus and a drastic decrease in catch.

    In this context, EcoMode Society (EMS) proposed to implement the national awareness campaign with support from the 3 other above NGOs (Reef Conervation, Eco-Sud and MMCS). The FAO/Smartfish/IOC committed its support to the tune of around Rs 4M (USD 113,000) to cover the design and production of national communication material and activities and the sensitization sessions in the specific 2015 pilot region by the MMCS. Financial support was requested from the GEF SGP to support the sensitization sessions in the other regions by the other 3 NGOs through EcoMode Society. The targeted villages for the project are mainly located close to the lagoon and the awareness campaign is addressed to the coastal village communities composed of fishermen, traders (banyans), and the community at large, including women and youths. Selection of villages was based on those having biggest records of catch. We noted that not all fishers are dependent on octopus. In fact, most of them carry out fishing activities outside the lagoon and collect octopus on a less frequent basis. Only a small group of fishers relying solely on octopus was identified. Also, not all fishers have a license. Sometimes amateur or occasional fishers also fish for octopus. This diversity of actors justified the holding of a targeted awareness campaign. It allowed them to deepen their knowledge of the cephalopod and its lifecycle, the identification of male and female, the minimum allowed catch size, the authorized techniques and, finally, to better understand and accept the interests of the national closure. The main aim was not only for coastal communities to experience an increase in their octopus catch but also for them to be able to manage their own octopus`s fishery in a sustainable manner in the future.
    Partners
    The GEF Small Grants Programme (Mauritius) implemented by the UNDP, the Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine ressources, Fisheries and Shipping, the EU Indian Ocean Commission/Smartfish Programme

    Goal 1

    End poverty in all its forms everywhere

    Goal 1

    1.1

    By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

    1.1.1

    Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)

    1.2

    By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

    1.2.1

    Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age

    1.2.2

    Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

    1.3

    Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable

    1.3.1

    Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable

    1.4

    By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance

    1.4.1

    Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services

    1.4.2

    Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure

    1.5

    By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters

    1.5.1

    Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

    1.5.2

    Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP)

    1.5.3

    Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

    1.5.4

    Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

    1.a

    Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions

    1.a.1

    Total official development assistance grants from all donors that focus on poverty reduction as a share of the recipient country's gross national income

    1.a.2

    Proportion of total government spending on essential services (education, health and social protection)

    1.b

    Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions

    1.b.1

    Pro-poor public social spending

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
    Monitoring/Meetings prior to Closure
    Focus Group Meetings
    Monitoring and Surveys on project outcomes
    Season Opening Meetings
    In-kind contribution
    122000
    Financing (in USD)
    50000
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 April 2016 (start date)
    01 December 2016 (date of completion)
    Entity
    EcoMode Society
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Fisher community island-wide
    Ocean Basins
    Indian Ocean
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    Mauritius
    Mauritius
    Contact Information

    Nadeem Nazurally, Mr