Quick and cost-effective mapping of subsistence and artisanal fishing areas within and adjacent to a marine protected area

Spatial information on artisanal fisheries is largely lacking, making subsequent management and threat or impact assessments difficult. Local knowledge, current readily available mapping software Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques were used to map small-scale (subsistence artisanal) fishing areas within adjacent the western boundary of Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve in southern Mozambique. Data habitat types collected field combined with literature. Thirty-one identified mapped resulting a total area 293.1 km2 perimeter 396.7 km, from Inhaca Island lighthouse north Maputo River mouth south. Habitats included isolated intertidal sand banks, seagrass beds, estuarine channels, as well muddy coast. The covered average 9.5 (SD=12.0) varied immensely size (0.3–50.1 km2). Overall, 58.4 % (171.2 km2) was located inside reserve. Costs associated data collection equated an U$D 3.61 per 2.63 km tracked. method found be quick, cost-effective easily replicable elsewhere.