Eficiência da aplicação da lei na regulamentação da rede de arrasto para terra na praia de Zalala, província da Zambézia

Abstract

Artisanal fishing with shore trawling is one of the main economic activities of Zalala beach and is important for the subsistence of the communities in the region. Recently, maritime fishing regulations were approved prohibiting the use of shore trawling with the aim of protecting species caught during their growth phase and preserving the marine ecosystem, thus ensuring the sustainability of resources. However, no recommendations or fishing alternatives were made for fishermen who depend mainly on this fishing method. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the law's enforcement regarding shore trawling regulations, to understand the perceptions, difficulties, and main opportunities or fishing alternatives for fishermen, and also to describe the difficulties faced by the fishing authorities of Zalala beach. To this end, 53 individuals, including fishermen and fishing authorities, were interviewed in May, August, and September 2025. The results showed that 74% of fishermen were unaware of the prohibition on the use of shore trawling. Most fishermen (53%) are aware of the reason for the ban, justifying that trawling is being prohibited due to the capture of too many small fish. All fishermen interviewed stated that the law has not been well implemented, with 51% citing a lack of alternative employment. Regarding the changes that fishermen expect to see, 66% of those interviewed responded that there will be a lot of unemployment due to a lack of alternatives, and regarding improvements, fishermen (70%) believe that trawling should be maintained and the mesh size increased. In total, 72% of the fishermen interviewed use trawling due to a lack of employment and alternative fishing options, and gillnets would be an alternative to replace trawling. Fisheries authorities (46%) consider that the lack of means of transport greatly hinders the inspection process. The study concluded that the application of the law regulating shore trawling is not being efficient due to the lack of viable and sustainable alternatives for fishermen, and the main difficulty for the authorities to carry out inspections is also associated with the lack of provision of alternatives.