30 June, Maputo City – Representatives from the Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), the Ministry of Land of Environment (MTA), through the Maputo National Park, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Municipality of Maputo, Fishing Port Authority, University Eduardo Mondlane, representatives from NGOs, namely FOSCAMC, WWF, WCS, AMA, RARE, the fishing industry (industrial and semi-industrial) and representatives from the Fisheries Community Councils of Marítimo, Machangulo (Santa Maria and Mabuluku), Ka-Nyaka and Ka-Tembe participated in the "Stakeholders Consultation Workshop for the development of the Management Plan for Maputo Bay based on an Ecosystem Approach", which took place in June 30, at Maputo City. The workshop was hosted by the National Fisheries Administration (ADNAP) with the support of FAO as part of the Partnership Project between the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission and the Nairobi Convention (SWIOFC-NC PP) funded by Sweden. The objective of the workshop is to appraise the baseline report and discuss the problem matrix developed in preparation for the Management Plan for Maputo Bay, based on Ecosystem Approach.

Co-management is one of the key principles adopted in the fisheries and environment policies and legislation in Mozambique. The Ecosystem Approach (EA) includes as one of the key steps in the development of a management plan the stakeholders' engagement, and ensuring participation of the key actors is the paramount step for a successful design and implementation of the management plan and measures.

The coastal communities along the Bay were identified as the key stakeholders, considering that they are the most affected by the management measures and have considerable influence in its implementation. Hence, empowering local communities to participate in and influence the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources has been at the heart of recent reforms to national fisheries and conservation policy and legislation in Mozambique. The main innovation of the current policy framework is the establishment of Community Conservation Areas and Community Managed Fishing Areas, which can include introduction of measures such as no take zones and development of Management Plans for Artisanal Fisheries. Embedded in the policy and legal framework is also the Ecosystem Approach, to help communities manage their fisheries in a holistic way that recognizes linkages between different parts of the ecosystem, and promotes collaboration across sectors and groups to secure long-term sustainable and equitable use of coastal and marine resources.

Following the decision taken by the II National Steering Committee of the SWIOFC-NC PP, organized in August 2022, in which it was recommended to merge the critical habitats and fisheries management plan for Maputo Bay, a task-force composed by fisheries and environment experts from Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA) and Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) prepared the baseline report, based on existing information, data-sets from the landing sites and research cruise data. In addition, a problem matrix was developed through consultations with the key stakeholders, in particular the coastal communities engaged in the fisheries co-management (Community Fisheries Councils – CCP), conservation of natural resources (Natural Resources Management Committees – CGRN) and the fishing industry. The problems identified on environment management include issues related to other sectors, namely tourism, transport and shipping, agriculture, industry and trade, among others.

In his introductory speech, the Director General of the National Fisheries Administration (ADNAP), Mr. Cassamo Hassane Júnior, welcomed the participants, and highlighted in his remarks that the development of the Management Plan for Maputo Bay is a milestone for the fisheries sector, since this is the first management plan for this important ecosystem, which is the second most important fishing ground for the shrimp fishery and contains a rich biodiversity with mangrove forests, seagrass and endemic species, such as dugongs, sea turtles and sharks.

In the discussions, the main issues raised by participants, among others, was with regards to the impact of intertidal activities and trawling fishing to the seagrass; development of local / community management plans for mangrove forests, including alternative solutions for communities for firewood and construction of houses and boats; land based pollution affecting mangrove forests and fisheries resources; lack of capacity for surveillance in both fisheries and conservation sectors; use of harmful fishing gears; fishing in the estuaries and river mouth; free access, namely, absence of catch / effort limits for artisanal fisheries leading to overfishing; zoning of the bay to reduce conflicts within the fisheries sector and with other sectors. The recurrent flooding as a result of climate change and variability, was also regarded as an important factor affecting the fisheries sector.

Agostinho Matsinhe, the Chair of CCP of Mabuluku at Machangulo refer that "lack of surveillance at the nursery grounds is undermining the sustainability of the fisheries resources, hence we need support to restore the buoys to bound the sanctuaries and means to undertake surveillance patrols".

Following the consultation workshop the baseline report will be reviewed to incorporate inputs from the meeting in particular the issues of concern, taking in consideration the ecological (biological and ecosystem), human (socio-economic) and Governance dimensions of the EAF concept. The discussions will also inform the prioritization of issues and development of the management options and development of the action plan, including budget and the Monitoring and Evaluation tool.