In the Comoros, where seafood accounts for more than 70% of protein consumed in rural areas, artisanal fishing is a cornerstone of food security and family well-being. However, fishing pressure, destructive techniques, and the effects of climate change are damaging coral reefs and reducing catches. Faced with these challenges, the fishermen and women of Anjouan are mobilizing to establish permanent reservesgiving ecosystems time to regenerate sustainably.
To ensure community buy-in, Dahari has integrated economic incentives allowing for the offsetting of the short-term negative impacts of reserves, while strengthening the fishing industry in the long term. This support – solar freezers, fish processing techniques, Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), agricultural support – is now part of Dahari's holistic approach to protecting the reefs without jeopardizing the livelihoods of the families who depend on them.
1- Solar freezers: less loss, more stability
Post-harvest losses are a major issue in the Comoros. Between 11% and 21% of fish products spoil due to a lack of suitable preservation methods and reliable access to electricity (2022 study). To address this, Dahari installed its first solar freezer in Vassy in 2023. The equipment allows fish to be preserved longer, produces ice, and generates income for the local association. In two years, the freezer has generated over €1000 in profit, some of which has been reinvested in community development projects and the maintenance of the permanent reserve.
A second solar freezer was delivered in 2025 to the isolated community of Maweni ya Nkangani. There too, the impact was immediate: less waste, better product quality, and concrete support for ongoing discussions on the creation of a future permanent reserve.
“Since it was given to us, this freezer has become one of the most useful pieces of equipment in the village. Compared to other aid we've received, I find this one particularly valuable because it allows us to preserve our food, such as cassava leaves or fish, and they freeze very well. I believe this freezer provides a real and significant benefit to our community.” This is highlighted by Ms. Chaambati Ousseni, president of the Ouvoimoja wa Dahari association of Maweni ya Nkangani.
2- Drying and smoking: adding value to the products
To reduce waste and diversify income, Dahari trains the women fishermen's associations Maecha Bora and Fikira Ndjema in fish drying and smoking techniques, as well as octopus drying. Dried octopus is particularly popular and sometimes even requested from neighboring islands, offering the women the opportunity to generate additional income while adding value to their fishing products.
The training programs are accompanied by technical support and equipment improvements, enhancing the quality of the products offered, as well as the organization of local fairs to promote these products. In 2025, the Maecha Bora association generated approximately 500 euros in net profit, part of which goes directly to the women who do the drying, with the remainder going to the association's funds.
Although competition from imported products – particularly from Madagascar – limits margins, the women emphasize that this activity provides a regular source of small income, while also improving household food security.
3- FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices): supporting offshore fishing and reducing pressure on reefs
When Vassy's first permanent reserve was established in 2021, Dahari installed a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) to improve offshore catches. This floating device creates an artificial habitat that attracts pelagic fish, thereby increasing catches and allowing fishermen to increase their catches while reducing pressure on coastal reefs and long sea voyages.
A new FAD, adapted to the needs of canoe fishermen, is planned to accompany the recent extension of the reserve, and another has already been installed in Kowe, where the community is discussing the creation of its own reserve.
Amir Soufi, a member of the Twama Ya Ulozi fishing association in Kowe, tells us more: "It's a little haven we've created for the fish, big and small, who come to play here. There's food on this FAD. Now a lot of fish pass through this area and we fishermen are able to fish peacefully. We often meet here, the fishermen in canoes and speedboats. There can be five or six of us fishermen and at the end of the day each of us manages to leave with at least 10 kilos of fish."
4- Agriculture as an economic safety net
In Anjouan, most fishermen and women are also farmers. Dahari supports them in their food and vegetable farming through agroecological practices adapted to local conditions. This diversification allows them to maintain a supplementary income, particularly during periods of low fishing, and helps reduce their exclusive dependence on the sea.
This agricultural support is reserved for fishermen engaged in marine resource management, which strengthens their involvement in community governance.
"This year what I took to heart was the cassava I planted, the watermelon and the pestai. It gave me great pleasure to see the yields this year. I eat, I earn an income, and people come here asking me for things, and I manage to give them what they need so they have the courage to come and join me in the work.” Hidaya Hakim, member of the Maecha Bora association of Dzindri.
In a nutshell
The economic incentives put in place by Dahari are not mere compensation. They strengthen the fishing sector, improve the economic security of households and support the commitment of fishermen and fisherwomen in the establishment of permanent reserves, a central tool for restoring the coral reefs of the Comoros.
Today, ten communities in southwestern Anjouan are working to consolidate or create their own permanent reserves. Other villages are drawing inspiration from the results observed in Vassy, where fishermen are seeing the return of certain species and an increase in catches around the protected reef. By working hand in hand with the communities and its partners, Dahari is helping to build a sustainable, replicable model adapted to local realities.
