Listening to the voices of Namibia’s recreational anglers to improve shore-based fishery resource use and management

In most fisheries, the traditional centralised, top-down management approach is still prevalent despite its limited success. While a bottom-up ecosystem-based approach is increasingly preferred, a shift in focus from purely ecological considerations to a socio-ecological system approach is necessary. The latter approach requires understanding interrelationships between fishers, the environment and legislative bodies. We conducted an onsite survey of shore-based anglers in Dorob National Park, Namibia, in 2023, to assess angler motivations, compliance, behaviour and perceptions regarding the regulations and management of the fishery. Among the 234 anglers interviewed, the main subgroup comprised recreational anglers who fished primarily for recreation and food (but not subsistence). Only a small portion (n = 6 anglers, ∼3% of the sample) said they fished solely for livelihood support, and thus constituted small-scale or subsistence fishers. Twenty percent of the anglers reported deliberate non-compliance behaviour, attributing this to declining catches and a need to support their livelihood. We thematised the anglers’ perceived reasons for declines in primary target species (namely, silver kob Argyrosomus inodorus, west coast steenbras Lithognathus aureti and galjoen Dichistius capensis). The four most-cited themes were: (i) inadequate regulation of commercial boat fishing or recreational ski-boat fishing; (ii) non-compliance, overfishing or illegal fishing; (iii) climate/human-induced environmental changes; and (iv) poor enforcement of the fishing regulations. The anglers’ top suggestions for improving the shore-based fishery in Namibia included stricter or revised harvest control rules and improved enforcement. From these data we conclude that it is imperative that the suggestions and concerns of shore-based anglers be addressed by all stakeholders in the fishery, and that regulations aimed at promoting sustainable fishing should incorporate the ecological and social/human dimensions if the stock status and management of Namibia’s shore-based fishery is to improve.