Marine protected areas and spatial fetishism: A viewpoint on destructive fishing in coastal Tanzania. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raycraft, Justin
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 133(2018)
• Page Start: 478
• Page End: 480
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Dynamite fishing -- Destructive fishing practices -- Spatial fetishism -- Political economy -- Tanzania -- Marine conservation; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper focuses on destructive fishing practices in coastal Tanzania. I argue that the dominant conservation narrative that increased capacity and 'political will' for enforcement of marine protected areas (MPAs) reflects a form of spatial fetishization, in that it overemphasizes the influence of space over social behaviour. I contend that Tanzanian MPAs offer bandage solutions to underlying structural problems that are contingent upon the inconsistent availability of social and financial resources for monitoring activities. I suggest that a paradigm shift is necessary, involving the de-territorialization of marine conservation discourse in Tanzania, and a movement towards addressing the underlying social, political and economic conditions that influence marine resource use.