The practice

Mosquito net fishing is a widespread yet overlooked practice across tropical coastal regions. Although frequently illegal, it persists because it provides immediate benefits to vulnerable households. Its broader impacts remain poorly understood, as few studies have examined its social, economic, and environmental dimensions together.

What we did

We investigated mosquito net fishing in Ranobe Bay, combining:

• Interviews with fishers
• Observations of fishing practices
• Catch and value-chain surveys

Key findings

Our results highlight a difficult trade-off: the practice helps meet immediate food and income needs, but may also contribute to long-term ecological degradation and persistent poverty — what is often described as a socio-ecological trap. The study also underscores the central role of women in fishing, processing, and marketing activities, and their contribution to household livelihoods.

Implications

Addressing mosquito net fishing requires integrated solutions that support vulnerable livelihoods, recognize gender roles, and promote sustainable, inclusive fisheries management. This work owes a great deal to Francéline Rasoanirina’s outstanding field engagement and leadership throughout the project.

FISHTAIL project page · Read the article Plain language summary IRD Press release (in french)

The question

How can Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and ecological connectivity enhance the resilience of coastal marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean to climate change?

Objectives

• Model future temperature and larval connectivity from Kenya to South Africa
• Test whether MPAs safeguard high-performance fish, heat-tolerant genotypes, and key species
• Assess whether MPAs can prevent biodiversity and fisheries from tipping into collapse
• Co-design MPA networks that enhance climate resilience
• Integrate local ecological knowledge and stakeholder visions into marine spatial planning

Approach

MESCAL combines physiology, otolith analysis, genomics, eDNA, ecosystem and oceanographic/larval modeling, and local ecological knowledge with socio-economic methods — underpinned by strong regional partnerships.

MESCAL project page · Official website · Read on LinkedIn