Stakeholder roles: rights, responsibilities and returns

The stakeholders’ roles (rights, responsibilities and returns) have been assessed in order to explore relationships between the different groups (Table 4).

Table 4: Stakeholders’ roles

Stakeholder Rights Responsibilities Returns

CHICOP

of Fisheries -Banning of illegal fishing gear and

for Tourism -Approval of project.

-Issue/cancel

-Approval of project. -Organize school excursions.

-Attend meetings. -Pilot study for waste management.

IMS -Conduct research. -Baseline study.

-Notify research and publication of studies.

-Scientific control site.

-Monitoring site.

Department

of Forestry -Approval of project. -Monitoring of coral-rag forest.

-Introduce the endangered antelope, Addis duiker.

-Attend meetings.

-Conservation of coral-rag forest.

-Interact with the tourists. -Salary.

Local people -Employment.

-Education. -Teach other community

members about conservation. -Improved ecosystem.

-Improved environmental

ZIPA -Approval of lease and tax holiday.

-Authority to cancel

DoH -No legal rights. -Minimizing disturbance to the reef by boats and visitors.

-Monitor distance kept by approval by the various government departments. The CHICOP management has ownership and revenue collection rights over the ecotourism enterprise, and can exclude other actors from access and management. Enforcement rights, that the rangers hold, are essential because the value of the reef is high and enforcement costs are low. Fishermen have been deprived of their traditional property and usufruct rights in the area, so many oppose the new rules. Researchers at IMS and other academics have a right to conduct research on the Chumbe reef, and local people have a right to access the island, to environmental education and to employment. The other stakeholders have no significant legal rights corresponding to CHICOP.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the CHICOP management are to fulfil the initial objectives of the Management Plan 1995-2005 (CHICOP 1995). It needs to apply for all permits and permission prior to commencing an activity, and inform the different government departments about these in a quarterly report. Researchers at IMS have an advisory role to the Government of Zanzibar on coastal and marine affairs, and have to send copies of research and monitoring projects to CHICOP and other interested agencies.

Copies of all reports as well as research should be stored in a library at the CHICOP office.

CHICOP is also obliged to arrange meetings with the Advisory Committee (established for crisis management in the initial phase and includes representatives from DoF, DoFo, DoE, IMS and local fishing communities), provide training for the

staff, invite schools and satisfy tourists’ expectations. The public and private sectors should both attend the meetings and respond to reports. Both CHICOP and the Government, mainly represented by the DoF and DoH, have a role to play in the protection of the CRS, in particular in the publicising of the legal status and regulations applying to the MPA and in enforcing these. The Government is responsible for announcements and for providing information on education and extension measures with user groups who have an interest in Chumbe Island. Also, the management has to hold open days when members of local communities can visit Chumbe to see the latest development, ask questions and discuss the project.

Duties for the rangers are to protect the reef, dissuade fishermen and boatmen from fishing and anchoring on the reef, operate the boats and transport workers and visitors to and from the island and assist researchers. They also have an obligation to provide assistance to fishermen in emergencies. Adverse activities have to be reported to the DoF, DoFo and DoE, which has resulted in an extensive database of poaching activity. In addition, the rangers have to control nature trails and swimming activities in the reef and guide and help tourists.

An overall distribution of responsibility is between the state and local, primary stakeholders. It is the responsibility of DoF to make sure that all fishermen hold a license according to the Fisheries Act of 1988, and that their vessels are registered.

Prior to issuing registration, DoF should ensure that the vessel does not engage in illegal fishing (based on previous records). DoF has also an authorization to protect the ocean from misuse and to maintain both biodiversity and a healthy reef, as well as to enforce fishing rules. It is the responsibility of fishermen to follow good methods of harvesting marine resources. Illegal methods include the use of small mesh size, dynamite, poison, spears and guns and beach seining. Fishers have an obligation to sell their marine catches at the landing site they belong.

Returns

Returns a stakeholder hold relative to the coral reef can be both material and non-material. CHICOP has obtained funds from NGOs and more than 10 awards. It also receives all the revenues accrued from the ecotourism enterprise. However, the occupancy rate varies with season and year, and is affected by political instability.

CHICOP also pays for student visits, workshops and meetings (unless funded by NGOs), its employees, various supplies to the island, the lease of the island, residence and work permits, membership fees to ZATI and taxes. Returns to the enforcement of the boundary still warrant the effort in terms of improved status of corals, fisheries and the forest that attract tourists, as well as increased environmental awareness for local residents.