Growing Diversity – West Africa
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TITLE OF EXPERIENCE: Fishing in Ganvié: the sustainable management of biological resources by fishermen
AUTHOR: The community of Ganvié and ID - Fishing
COUNTRY AND REGION: Benin, Ganvié
ECOLOGICAL ZONE: Village on a lake
ABSTRACT
Ganvié takes up a large part of the Nohoué Lake which opens on to the Atlantic Ocean through the Totché channel of Cotonou . Fishing is the main activity. Villagers started using the lake for this activity in the 18th century as they fled the raids of the King of Abomey. The division of labour according to gender is very marked. While men are responsible for the manufacture the fishing boats, the capture of fish, the construction of fish holes and the development of tree planted parks known as Acadja, women are entirely responsible for all post- fishing operations and the maintenance of the home. They may also catch swimming crabs and collect oysters.
The traditional management of fishing rests on three basic premises: the belief in and fear of gods, the respect of elders' decisions and social control. Those that traditionally manage fishing are: the traditional chiefs, the chiefs of family collectives, the head fetishers and the establishment. The wooded parks or acadja poses less of a threat to the conservation of the biodiversity as they contribute to the regeneration of fish stocks. Restrictions have an important place within traditional development practices. Currently, cooperation from all sides contribute to the sustainable management of fishing through the action of fishing committees. But they are not very successful and this explains why co-management and participative management of fishing have started to take place.
The community of Ganvié is very hierarchical. Inheritances pass from father to son and practices linked to family ties are retained to this day wherever individualistic and community centred characteristics co-exist. Fishing communities use a variety of fishing techniques and tools. Many of them are destructive and have a negative impact. The traditional management of fishing resources involves specific development methods, with restrictions accompanied by sanctions.
CONTACT:
Pêcheurs propriétaires d’Acadja – Village de Ganvié
ID – Pêche, 03 BP 3558 – Cotonou – BENIN
Telephone: 229 32 42 36 Fax : 229 33 05 19 ; 229 33 84 34 ; E mail : idehy@yahoo.fr