Socioeconomic viability of estuarine and lagoon fishing in Southern Benin

Inland fisheries make an essential contribution to the income and livelihoods of
millions of people worldwide. Given the low barriers to entry that characterize the
generally shared water resources where fisheries are practiced, there are various
competing uses for these resources. This imposes the need for resource management
innovation, including co-management approaches. In southern Benin, inland fishing
is practiced around the lagoon and estuary complexes by the Pedah, Toffins, Goun,
and Pla populations, settled since the 15th century. It contributes to more than 60% of
animal protein resources and occupies an ever-growing population of fishers. Given
the history of their settlement, there were no regulations; fishers established their own
rules and norms related to housing and the exploitation of Acadja. These areas are
transferred through the generations and kept in the family. Population growth soon
led to an explosion in fishers and fishing pressure, with its many negative
consequences for the sustainability of aquatic resources. This thesis aims to assess
southern Benin's socioeconomic viability of inland fisheries. Based on the framework
of the socio-ecological system, this research included the sustainable livelihood
approach, the theory of collective action, and the interactive governance theory. A
literature review and three rounds of data collection were conducted. Using a
sustainable livelihood approach, we found that the fishers could be categorized into
three types: intensive sedentary fishers, sedentary semi-intensive fishers, and
extensive subsistence fishers. This thesis also investigated the fishers' perception of
individual well-being satisfaction. It demonstrated that job satisfaction and ownership
of water bodies (in contradiction to Ostrom's advocation for commons management)
affected fishers' individual perceived well-being satisfaction. Based on these results,
this thesis used the discrete choice experiment method to assess the factors influencing
small-scale fishers' willingness to adopt property rights co-management options in
southeast Benin. The results show that 44% of fishers are willing to adopt property
rights co-management options. This willingness is determined by their involvement
in the co-management committee, access to a subsidy, and livelihood diversification
options. Finally, this thesis used the Analytical Hierarchy Process to assess
stakeholders' perceptions about the type of co-management to apply and the
sustainable options for diversifying fishers' livelihoods. The results show that
stakeholders preferred cooperative co-management. Besides, aquaculture is the most
adaptable alternative for diversifying fishers' livelihoods. Agribusiness and
Ecotourism followed it. To make inland fishery viable in southern Benin, the
strategies must include institutional agreements for the co-management establishment
and increased fishers' participation to successfully operationalize Aquaculture and
Agribusiness implementation to support fishers in their livelihood diversification,
with capacity-building.