Understanding non-compliance in small-scale fisheries: Shark fishing in Myanmar’s Myeik Archipelago

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 572 - 585
• Main Authors: MacKeracher, Tracy, Mizrahi, Me’ira, Bergseth, Brock, Maung, Khin May Chit, Khine, Zin Lin, Phyu, Ei Thal, Simpfendorfer, Colin A., Diedrich, Amy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-03-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Archipelagoes; Atmospheric Sciences; Compliance; Conservation of Natural Resources; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Fish conservation; Fisheries; Fishing; Fishing communities; Food; Food security; Humans; Incentives; Myanmar; Noncompliance; Physical Geography; Poverty; Research Article; Resource conservation; Seafood; Sharks; Small-scale fisheries; Myanmar; Myanmar (Burma); Small-scale fisheries; Compliance; Shark conservation; Livelihoods; Shark fishing
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01400-1

Achieving fisheries compliance is challenging in contexts where enforcement capacity is limited and the incentives for rule-breaking are strong. This challenge is exemplified in Myanmar, where an active shark fishery exists despite a nationwide ban on targeted shark fishing. We used the Kipling method (5W1H) to gather a complete story of non-compliance in five small-scale fishing communities in the Myeik Archipelago. Among 144 fishers surveyed, 49% were aware of the nationwide ban. Shark fishers (24%) tended to be younger individuals who did not own a boat and perceived shark fishing to be prevalent. Compliant fishers were motivated by a fear of sharks and lack of capacity (equipment, knowledge), whereas food and income were cited as key motivations for non-compliance. The results of our study emphasize that in resource-dependent communities, improving compliance for effective shark conservation may require addressing broader issues of poverty, food security and the lack of alternatives.