Local fishers gain management rights to protect marine resources in Madagascar

The Vondron’ny Mpanjono Mateza Ampanasina fishing group received official management rights for marine and coastal resources in Ampanasina, a village in the Ambilobe district of Madagascar.

This transfer of management for fishery resources (TGRH) aims to shift responsibility for conservation directly to the local community. The initiative follows a trend where land-based natural resource management is common, but marine resource management remains less developed.

Officials want to increase the use of TGRH to ensure that coastal communities have a say in protecting the sea. In the Diana region, many families rely on marine products for their livelihoods, making sustainable fishing a priority for the local economy. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) supported the project through the SWIO Fisheries 2 initiative. The group received a two-year management agreement that can be renewed based on future evaluations.

The goal is to encourage responsible exploitation of the Ambarobara Bay and to ensure that local fishers follow environmental regulations. Authorities provided the group with tools to carry out their new duties. The Ambilobe fishing service gave the community surveillance agents life jackets. The group also received a 15 CV outboard motor to help them conduct daily patrols of the bay.