A learning exchange in Zanzibar encouraged Comorian women to form an association and organize a temporary fishing closure. Translation of an article published by our partner Blue Ventures. By Effy Vessaz
« All my life I have seen many and varied fish in the sea. There were always enough to feed all our families. Now the fish we used to eat has become rare. The young people in the village don't realize it, but some of the fish we eat now were not even considered edible before. I realized that we, as a community, had to do something. Some members of our community are completely dependent on shore resources because they do not have boats to go fishing elsewhere. We need to do something to preserve these resources for them. »- Elder of Tumbatu village, Zanzibar.
In Zanzibar – as in many other parts of the world – a growing population, a lack of alternative livelihoods and more efficient fishing gear have led coastal communities to overexploit their marine resources.
Some of these communities, with the support of our partner organization Mwambao, experimented with closing their octopus fishing grounds for three consecutive months and witnessed the financial benefits that this form of fisheries management can bring.
The opening of octopus fishing in Zanzibar after a temporary closure | Photo: Mwambao
In the Comoros, we support our partner organization Dahari with the development of community marine management initiatives, notably in three villages on the island of Anjouan: Dzindri, Salamani and Vassy. Women from these communities fish for octopus and other marine species on the flat, and they have noticed decreasing catches and a steady decrease in octopus size over the years. Aware that fisheries management could improve their situation, fisherwomen told us they were motivated to start managing their resources more effectively.
Octopus fishermen in Anjouan, Comoros | Photo: Garth Cripps
As Blue Ventures Comoros Project Manager, I had the opportunity to organize an exchange visit to Zanzibar in January 2018. The exchange group included four Comorian fishermen from Anjouan – Ma Marifka, Nadjib, Siti and Zaina -, a member of the Dahari marine team – Fatima – and myself. The purpose of this visit was, with the support of Mwambao, to meet the fishing communities of Zanzibar, exchange skills and experiences with them, and learn about their success with the temporary closure of fishing. octopus.
I discovered during our trip that there are many similarities between the Comorian language – shikomori – and the Zanzibari language – Kiswahili. For example, during a delicious meal prepared by our Zanzibar hosts, we learned that the rabbitfish we were eating was called “ntasi” in both languages. Similarities like this made communication smoother and created a comfortable atmosphere between Comorian visitors and their hosts.
Shared experiences: Zanzibar fishermen chat with their Comorian visitors
There are also cultural similarities, and listening to everyone laughing together, I could feel that they were all connected. Shared experiences were discussed, rooted in similar traditions and values, which significantly increased the impact of the exchange on Comorian fishermen. The Zanzibari stories resonated deeply in their own context.
Comorian fishermen, their Zanzibari hosts, and the staff of Dahari and Mwambao
During the exchange, we met three fishing communities from Zanzibar and discovered the different ways in which they came together and organized to manage their resources. Comorian fishermen were impressed to see how the benefits of temporary octopus fishing closures were shared within communities and how they financed projects such as building a school or an office for the fishermen's committee. Communities in Zanzibar also shared the challenges they were facing and highlighted the importance of social cohesion and communication when planning for a lockdown.
« It is very important to plan the steps carefully before closing, to think through all the details and to ensure that the fishermen's committee is made up of strong and honest people, to ensure transparency and respect. » Mtende Sheha, member of the fishermen's committee, Zanzibar.
We also had the opportunity to see the marine environments of Zanzibar up close. While walking on the flat at low tide, all members of the exchange group noticed the abundance of life compared to what they have at home in Anjouan. In Zanzibar, destructive fishing practices – such as the use of metal sticks or poisons – are prohibited and the ban is effectively enforced by the community, whereas these same practices are unfortunately common in Comoros. This moment really opened the eyes of the visitors.
Dau, traditional Zanzibar fishing boat, beached on the beach at low tide
« When I see all these fish, I realize what our seas could look like if we stopped using uruva (a poisonous plant) for fishing. Other members of our communities need to realize this and we need to act to stop it. »- Ma Marifka, Comorian fisherman
Comorian fishermen visiting a Zanzibar fish market
The entire exchange group left Zanzibar feeling inspired and well-equipped with stories and photos to share upon returning home. Ma Marifka, Siti, Zaina and Nadjib decided to bring their three communities together and initiate similar strategies on Anjouan to those they had seen in Zanzibar. They began planning the first steps to do this before the exchange was even completed – a scene that brought joy to my heart!
« We need to organize with the fisherwomen from the three villages, make sure everyone is on board, then mobilize as many people as possible to help improve our families' fishing. »- Zaina, Comorian fisherman
Upon our return to the Comoros, the members of the exchange group shared their enthusiasm with their communities by presenting their experiences in the three villages of Dzindri, Salamani and Vassy.
Siti, one of the fishermen who participated in the exchange, shared her experiences with her community in Comoros.
This effort to mobilize their communities was successful and, two months after the Zanzibar exchange, an association of women fishermen was born. It was named “Maecha Bora” – “peaceful life” in Shikomori – and includes more than 80 women from the three villages who decided to combine their efforts and collectively manage their marine resources. Zaina, who participated in the Zanzibar exchange, is the vice-president of the association!
I feel very proud to be able to support these women, because it is the first time in these three villages that women will be represented in fisheries management associations. They now have a say in decision-making and are able to bring about change, great success and well-deserved recognition for these fishermen.
The newly formed association wasted no time and met regularly, taking advantage of Blue Ventures' extensive knowledge of temporary fishery closures to plan their own and discuss logistics such as the closure area and monitoring system. . Alongside these meetings, the fisherwomen continued to mobilize people in their own villages and even began meeting with neighboring villages to discuss their new initiative.
The main members of Maecha Bora, the new association of women fishermen. Zaina, who participated in the Zanzibar exchange, is kneeling on the left.
At the beginning of May, the women fishermen's association, supported by Blue Ventures and Dahari, successfully organized the first temporary closure of octopus fishing in Anjouan, a remarkable achievement! To mark the occasion, a public celebration took place during which the fishermen performed a tari, traditional songs and dances.
The public ceremony on the occasion of the fishing closure
I know that I was not the only one to feel moved by their song, specially written for the occasion, and which underlined the importance of the management of marine resources: “The environment is priority; Maecha Bora is fully aware of reality; let us usher in a new era to reduce poverty; let's act for good returns and be independent together. »
Members of Maecha Bora completely “dry up”
Our partnership with Dahari over the past two years has been rooted in engaging Anjouan communities through participatory methods to improve their livelihoods. By acting with humility and putting communities first, we gained their trust and it was extremely gratifying to see them take control of the fate of their resources and organize this temporary closure of octopus fishing.
We hope that the success of this closure will further strengthen the commitment within Anjouanese communities for increased sustainable management of their marine resources and pave the way for broader conservation actions in the future. First of all, communities have a temporary closure to deal with, and Siti proudly told me:
« We must succeed in implementing this temporary closure, so that we can invite our Zanzibari friends to the reopening to show them what we have accomplished »
Effy Vessaz / Blue Ventures
The original version of this article in English on the Blue Ventures website:
Inspiring change: Comorian fisherwomen visit Zanzibar to learn about resource management
