4. Discussion
Our findings indicate that there are differences in the degree to which coastal communities depend on patrons across Zanzibar. In addition, we find that patrons (or middlemen) have a potentially important function in natural resource management and poverty alleviation in coastal communities and are therefore crucial for mitigating vulnerability and driving effective coastal governance. We asked three important questions: firstly, what are the benefits that flow within this dyadic relationship? Secondly, in which parts within the SLA pentagon do patrons have the most influence on small-scale fishing households? And finally, how important are patroneclient relationships in determining the livelihoods of these
households? Patroneclient relationships in Zanzibar are multi-stranded, resting predominantly, according to the hardship scenario analysis, on client access to fishing equipment and assistance when fishing equipment fails. If we are to place the patron influence on client households within the SLA framework, the question arises whether access to fishing equipment is to be categorized as a physical or financial asset, given that fishermen can and do form alternative networks to acquire funds for more efficient technologies (see below). A patron has the financial capacity to invest in nets, boats and engines and thus provides fishermen not only with the equipment but also saves them the trouble of collective action
to apply for government funding schemes, thus lowering transaction costs. Patrons, as seen in Indonesia and elsewhere, provide fishing households with fishing equipment, a good that encapsulates physical, financial and, in Zanzibar at least, social livelihood assets.