20. The Consultation briefly discussed the sorts of traditional management that existed based on a presentation of the traditional systems of management and enhancement that had been discussed in a seminar held before the Expert Consultation. It was noted that much of traditional management of small-scale fisheries had been lost, though there were examples where management, within the norms of traditional communities, could control access to fishing grounds, establish closed seasons/areas, restrict particular fishing gear or fishing methods and limit the fishing effort of individuals. These were undertaken within a context of fees, sacrifices and other obligations to the village community.
21. It was also noted that traditional leadership within small-scale fisheries had been eroded by the centralized administration in the colonial and post-independence period. Traditional beliefs and taboos were becoming increasingly irrelevant as fewer people shared them. Political delineation had also eroded the traditional ownership rights of coastal, riverine and lacustrine village communities. Examples were discussed where the current resource dynamics and the migration of fishers presented issues that traditional management could not deal with.
