Anjouan – June 12, 2025: The town of Moya hosted a unique forum bringing together around fifty fishermen from 11 coastal villages. Organized by the NGO Dahari, with financial support from CEPF (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund), of TUSK and the fondation McPike-ZimaThis event aimed to share local experiences in marine resource management, inspire participants, and lay the groundwork for a collaborative network among fishing communities.
Co-designing governance by fishermen
In Anjouan, as throughout the Comoros, the lack of strong institutions makes the establishment of inclusive and appropriate governance systems crucial. Our objective is to co-design a governance system led by fishers, representative and adaptive, in order to ensure compliance with conservation measures. This approach aims to empower fishers within the decision-making process and to include all the various groups of fishers in discussions and representation.
In this context, we organized a forum for fishers from 11 villages in the southwest of Anjouan to share their experiences—including successes and challenges—related to the management of marine resources, and to explore how they might collectively strengthen these initiatives.
For Dhouria Rakibou, a fisherwoman from the village of Imeré, this day will remain etched in memory:
“The event left a deep impression on me. I hadn’t expected to feel so at ease while surrounded by people from ten different villages. And yet, thanks to the support from Dahari, everything unfolded naturally. The fact that we were frequently encouraged to mingle and communicate with one another helped me immensely in building confidence—not only in myself, but also in the group. This experience truly opened my eyes to the power of exchange and collaboration.”
Throughout the day, the fishers shared several innovative initiatives implemented in their fishing areas:
- Temporary closures octopus fishing,
- Creation of No-Take-Zone,
- Adoption of more sustainable fishing techniques, such as the use of wooden harpoons instead of iron harpoons, in order to protect the corals when fishing for octopuses.
Vassy, an exemplary permanent reserve
The account from the Vassy community has made a particularly strong impression. In 2021, this village established the very first permanent community-managed reserve in the Comoros. Four years later, the positive effects are already visible. As Ansoya Mohamed, president of the Vassy-based fishermen’s association "Malezi Mema," points out:
“We are starting to see the return of species that hadn’t been seen for years. And more fish are being caught around the reserve.”
The discussions highlighted persistent challenges, notably the monitoring of protected areas to ensure their effectiveness. A team-building activity strengthened the sense of solidarity among the participants, fostering an atmosphere of trust and mutual support.
This forum represents a key step toward establishing a learning network among fishers committed to the community-based management of marine resources. In the long term, the goal is to create a network of permanent reserves in other villages to ensure the preservation of reefs, and to strengthen coordination among fishing communities through a network for exchange and support.
All participants expressed a desire to continue these exchanges, convinced that collaboration between communities is essential to ensuring the sustainability of artisanal fishing and preserving the Comoros’ marine heritage for future generations.
