Patron-client relationships, livelihoods and natural resource management in tropical coastal communities

Coastal and marine management cannot ignore the role of community livelihoods and vulnerability if it is to be effective and just, especially when the targeted coastal communities are highly resource-dependent. Previous studies have highlighted the potential role that patrons, or middlemen, can play as knowledge-brokers in marine natural resource management. On Zanzibar, where small-scale fishing is an important livelihood for many coastal communities, patron-client systems operate without regulation. This study investigates the roles patrons play regarding coastal livelihood vulnerability and natural resource management. It asks not only what patron-client relationships as institutions contribute to fishing households within the framework of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, but how these contributions differ across coastal villages. Furthermore, what do patron-client relationships mean for coastal livelihood vulnerability as well as marine natural resource management? Data was collected from 3 villages on Zanzibar with questionnaires, semi-structured key informant interviews, focus groups and participant observations. Although patrons have been identified in this and previous studies to be drivers of resource exploitation, they are also potential agents in identifying and activating sustainable solutions to environmental decline and improving fishing household resilience. Our results confirm previous findings that the role of patrons is mainly in providing fishing equipment and short-term relief in times of hardship, either through food or money. Our findings also indicate that there are small but significant differences in the type of contributions patrons make to coastal households.