Coral reef protection and planning with Iconi Fishermen’s Cooperative / Coopérative des Pêcheurs d’Iconi (Comoros)

 

The community/organization and local perspectives on conservation and stewardship 

 

In the Comoros, small-scale fishing is commonly called artisanal fishing. Iconi is a coastal town with a population of roughly 10,000, located on the west of the island of Grande Comore, and is one of the Comoros’ fishing towns par excellence. Close to 40% of the population depends either directly or indirectly on fishing for their livelihood. About 70% of fishers are young people (16-30 years), and 90% of women involved in fishing are marketing fish.

 

Protecting the environment in general and the marine environment is one of the cooperative’s central concerns. We are concerned for the sustainability of local fisheries as a reduction in fishing catches is observed and related to the degradation of the environment. Another high priority for us is promoting cohesiveness among fishers and in the community, as given the difficulty and risks of fishing activity, environmental conservation must go through community cohesion to be widely accepted and practiced. We also consider livelihood sustainability a priority, and understand that this is dependent on a sustainably managed marine environment.

 

As such, the cooperative is concerned with the management of resources to ensure the sustainability of livelihoods. Thus 8 coastal towns and villages have agreed on the management of resources in the natural banks of the Raya reef (Raya is a large submerged volcano, extending 15km, and located 20 km west of Grande Comore). These towns are Hahaya, Pvanamboini, Hantsambou, Itsandra, Moroni, Iconi, Mbachilé and Moindzaza. We organize cleaning days at different times of the year.

 

Stewardship experience: Organization of shore fishing and site clean up

 

The issue or problem being addressed

Shore fishing is one of the predominant types of fishing practiced in the Comoros. It has its advantages but also its drawbacks such as the degradation of corals. The healthiness of the reefs is essential to support the entire local fisheries value chain.

The Comorian fishermen in general, and the Iconians in particular, note the increased distance of the fish because of bad practices occurring that impact the reef. The conclusion is that the remoteness of resources is related to the poor state of the environment, and a loss of nearshore habitats. In this context, there are the practices of dynamite fishing, tephrosia fishing (tephrosia is a plant-based toxin), mosquito-net fishing and especially the dumping of household waste in the sea. Sand collection/removal, which is a common practice, is the crowning damage on top of everything.

 

The activities

Beginning in 2015 the first steps which lasted almost 7 months were outreach and awareness raising efforts in the community, then followed by sessions of empowerment of members of the cooperative. Implementation only came as a last resort.

 

To address all these bad practices, we have carried out two main types of action:

1. Bringing together fishermen to make them aware of the negative impacts to fishing caused by dynamite fishing, tephrosia fishing, mosquito net fishing and sand collection.

2. Bringing together women of the city to make them aware of the impacts of throwing household waste into the sea. From this perspective, there are fish that were abundant even in the local coastal banks that are in the process of disappearing.

 

To remedy this:

3. The diaspora of France sent us a garbage truck to pick up household waste,

4. Clean-up sessions of the fishing site are organized 4 times a year.

 

The benefits/impacts including sustainability/environmental effects

Social protection and improved environmental conditions. The coastal environment now has a much better chance of recovery now that it has protection. The community has gained an understanding of their relationship with nature and has an interest in preserving it. Some specific outcomes include;

1. The community has increased capacity to makes decisions about what to do for anyone apprehended for removal of corals and sand.

2. Coral collection has been 100% stopped.

3. There has been a significant (90%) reduction in sand harvesting.

 

 

 

“Governments … must support local initiatives so that the efforts made by the communities bear fruit.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fishery Facts

(Below are the applicable categories of fisheries, environment, species, gear type and livelihood role.)

 

Fishery characteristics:

• Marine capture fishery 
• Multi-species 

The environment where fishing takes place: 

• Coastal – Nearshore / Coral

Main species targeted:

• Marine – Small pelagics (finfish) – e.g. reef fishes/herring/mackerel/sardines
• Molluscs (including bivalves and cephalopods – e.g. octopus/clams)
• Crustaceans (e.g. shrimp/prawn/lobster)
• Other animals (e.g. jellyfish/sea cucumber)

Gear types/ methods used:

• Pot/trap
• Line
• Beach harvest/gleaning (e.g. collection of shellfish/algae/mangrove crabs etc.)

Role of the fishery in local livelihoods:

• Main source of employment