210 million people benefit from mangroves-associated fisheries

Some 210 million people live in low elevation areas within 10 km of mangroves and many of these directly benefit from mangrove-associated fisheries. Yet, these people are often unaware of the key role mangroves may play, especially if the associated fisheries are offshore.

A new study by Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy and the University of Cambridge concludes that mangrove conservation and restoration in areas close to human populations will render the greatest return on investment with respect to enhancing fisheries. The fisheries value of mangroves is site specific as it depends on how many fish a mangrove produces, how many fish are subsequently caught by humans, and then what the fisheries value is, both in economic terms, as a food supply or through the livelihoods that they support.

This reports highlights the key role of mangrove-associated fisheries as an effective strategy for ensuring food security, which enables communities to become more resilient to disasters. It asserts that the loss of mangroves does not only lead to loss of a coastal defense system, but also to loss of livelihoods and food security. The report discusses some of the ecological processes which underpin the key role of mangroves in fisheries enhancement, and gives an exploration of the different mangrove-associated fishery types.