New habitats
The artificial reefs technique was successfully deployed on the Japanese coast. It is precisely on the advice of Japanese buyers that some Senegalese fishermen took the initiative to immerse piles of clay pots, thus creating a habitat conducive to the development of local marine biodiversity, especially octopus.
Note that octopods lay eggs in holes along the rocky bottom, thus protecting their eggs from currents and predators. The pots, therefore, constitute alternative nurseries that are effective and beneficial to the development of their populations.
20,000 jars
This system promotes increased catches, both in quantity and quality. It is no wonder that the local artisanal fisheries Council does not hesitate to generalize this technique, which is gradually spreading along the Little Coast.
“From 300 submerged pots in 2006, we increased to 15,000 pots in 2019 and 2020, and 20,000 in 2021,” explains Ndiaga Cissé, director of the local artisanal fisheries Council. “It is a sector that has become important and which improves the incomes of many people: fishermen, fishmongers, transporters, and exporters. Not to mention the 300 women who make the clay pots. "
Women's economic group
Senegalese fishermen decided to use traditional clay pots from the region, rather than using imported plastic pots, essentially for ecological reasons but also to limit costs.
The pots are made by f a women's economic interest group. The production of these pots will remain sustainable because the earthen pots, once submerged, are replaced every two to three years.
Management
This economic development project has been supported by the European Union since 2014, in the framework of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement concluded with Senegal. This support mainly funds the production and immersion of the pots and the coordination of the project.
Scientific monitoring is one of the aspects i stakeholders would like to develop: "This is our request," continues Ndiaga Cissé. “It is extremely important for the long-term survival of this activity which is now essential! We want a scientific assessment of the octopus population so that we can plan our real exploitation possibilities. "
Food production is an important traditional sector of the blue economy. But tradition does not prohibit innovation nor a rigorous, or scientifically assessed, balance between the three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental conservation.
More examples will be demonstrated at BlueInvest Africa.