WWF Fact sheet West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER)Dakar Sénégal, +221) 869 37 00 wamer@wwfwafrica.org

TRADITIONAL FISHERIES

Fish for lifeBackgroundOver the past three decades, traditional fisheries in West Africa have expanded tremendously. Landings by traditional (or non-industrial) fisheries in Senegal, for example, have increased six times in the last thirty years. Part of the increase in fishing is dependent on the changing climate in West Africa. During the past few decades, the drought-affected landscape has led many farmers to leave agriculture for an easier life as a fisherman. The free access to the sea, coupled with subsidised motors and fuel, have aided the migration to fishing sector, and now there is so much

fishing activity that it affects the long-term sustainability of the industry..

Location and situation The Western African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER) spans 3,500 km of coast in western Africa and includes the coastlines of six countries - Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea. These coasts present a wide variety of habitats from rocky cliffs, broad sand beaches, and extensive sea grass prairies in the north to dense mangrove forests and well developed estuaries in the south. Of the more than 22 million people living in the region, nearly 8 million people live along the WAMER coasts.

Among its most striking features are powerful coastal upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich waters from deep in the ocean that support one of the most diverse, and economically important fishing zones in the world. In Senegal

alone, over 600 000 men and women depend directly on fishing and fisheries related industries for their livelihoods.

The region boasts a wealth of marine habitats and species. Over 1000 species of fish have been identified along the WAMER coasts, as have several species of cetaceans including dolphins and whales, and 6 species of endangered marine turtles. The region is also home to a colony of 100 monk seals -- the largest breeding colony left on the face of the earth -- and the unique coral reefs of Cape Verde.

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Too many men so little fish

The free and open access to traditional fisheries in most WAMER countries has led to a loss of control for management measures (such as size of fish, quotas, numbers and duration of fishing expeditions). Recent modernisation in fishing gear had increased fishing efficiency, but also increases the pressure on bottom-dwelling species (such as white groupers). The result is a vicious cycle. While more and more well equipped traditional boats (motors and thermal boxes on board)

search for fewer and fewer fish, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of destructive, habitat-destroying fishing techniques like bottom trawling, dynamite fishing, fine mesh nets, huge beach nets and fish poisoning. As the fish are taken from the waters of the region, and the habitats are further degraded, the ecosystem's chances of recovery continue to decline.

Now, 80% of the Senegal’s catch, some 400,000 tonnes per year, is landed by non industrial fishers. While the situation is just the opposite in Mauritania (80 % by industrial fishers and 20 % by traditional fishers. The WAMER countries are well known for the mullets, tuna, sardines. ….. % of its global catch is sold outside Senegal, to more lucrative markets such as Europe and Asia.

The situation is more serious since traditional fisheries operate even in areas of fish reproduction and nursery zones. Like the species migration, fishermen are also migrating form one country to the other, following their food and source of living.

However, there are some important factors that can help resolve these problems. The Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (CSRP) is a potentially powerful advocate for sustainable fisheries as all the 6 countries of the WAMER ecoregion are members and represented at the ministerial level. One of its chief goals is to help harmonize policies that are relevant to traditional fishermen of the WAMER countries. Also, because fishermen see that resources are dwindling, they are gradually becoming more environment-conscious and open to ideas about marine and coastal resource management.

Kayar gives hope WWF has chosen to give support to a community of traditional fishers in the Senegalese village Kayar. The combination of reduced stocks and increasing awareness has led the Kayar fishing communities to voluntarily place limits on their daily catches. The limitation of numbers of captures, coupled to a minimal size of fish and a bottom price at the fish markets, are measures which appear to be paying off economically and environmentally. The Kayar fishers declare earning five times more money since their association took actions. WWF is supporting the Fishermen Committee of Kayar to strengthen their association and to spread the word.

HorizonThe dwindling of marine resources, notably the coastal demersal fish species so prized by artisanal fishers, is now widely recognized. Although artisanal fisheries have developed very quickly in Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, almost nothing has been done to regulate the level of effort

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(numbers of boats, seasons, etc.) Traditional methods of local management have largely broken down and present management regimes cannot cope with the new situation. Moreover, most of the countries in the eco-region have no long-term policy, with a clear vision of priority actions to be taken in order to maintain the marine and coastal resources.

WWF-WAMER program is determined to spread Kayar as a model of community methods of sustainable fishing in the ecoregion.

Photo 1:Senegal, WWF / Bas Beentjes

Photo 2: Senegal, WWF / Bas Beentjes

Photo 3: Kayar Senegal, by Alexi Fossi

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Published by the Communications Unit, WWF WARPO (WAMER West African Marine Ecoregion) Sacré-Coeur III, B. P. 22928, Dakar, Senegal © WWF WAMER 2003 Tel.: +221 869 37 00 Fax: +221 869 37 02 wamer@w wfwafrica.org

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