The declining significance of seagrass-associated invertebrate gleaning for providing food security in Kaole, Tanzania

Abstract: This thesis applies the food security concept to assess the significance of seagrass-associated invertebrate gleaning for providing food security in Kaole, Tanzania. It assesses the availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability over time of this food source. To explore this, a multi-strategy research design was used. Structured interviews were held with 30 gleaning women in Kaole, using a self-developed questionnaire designed to address the four components of the food security framework. Two focus group discussions were thereafter held to explore how local ecosystem services, in particular seagrass meadows, and their food provisioning services have developed over time. The findings show that a great majority of the women who engage in seagrass- associated gleaning in Kaole rate this activity as important or very important for providing food to the household. The seagrass-associated gleaning activities were perceived as important, despite the fact that most women also glean in the mangrove area and that almost all women have alternative incomes. However, seen from a strict food security perspective, it is questionable how significant this activity currently is for food security. The study found that availability has decreased and it is not a food source that is stable throughout the year. The findings also suggest that the mangrove-associated Terebralia palustris may be easier to utilise, considering that you can store it in a sack, without being kept cold. If mangrove related gleaning hence seems to play an increasingly important role in local food security, and is a fishery that is available in all seasons, this area is less accessible to potential gleaners with small children, elderly and people with physical disabilities. The study also found that the decline in seagrass-associated gleaning activities have coincided with a number of human stressors and deteriorating seagrass meadows. Despite its’ declining signinficance for food security, most women rate the seagrass-associated gleaning as important and want to protect this food source. Action should therefore be taken to sustainably preserve this provisioning resource. Bearing in mind the fine balance between ecological and food security needs, such measures need to be interdisciplinary. It also needs to involve different community members, as well as other stakeholders. More research would be needed to determine the nutritional content and potential toxic contents in the most fished invertebrate species.