Growing Diversity – West Africa

TITLE OF EXPERIENCE: The management of fishing resources by the young people of Lomé

AUTHOR: Young Fishermen from Lomé Group

COUNTRY AND REGION: Togo, Lomé

ECOLOGICAL ZONE: Coastal

ABSTRACT

The group of young fishermen from Lomé is a co-operative which was formed in April 1994. This group follows the traditional African division of labour for fishing activities according to gender: men are responsible for finding fish in the water, while women are responsible for treating, preserving and selling the fish. The founding members were trained in these roles by the Ministry for Rural Development. Those involved are small scale fishermen, livestock and crop farmers, and market gardeners who exchange their work experiences.

In the fishing zones at sea, a person is designated according to their qualities and experience to find shoals of fish. The shoals of fish are detected using a tradtional method - watching where sea birds perform their aerobatics and stab their beaks at the fish in the water. Once detected, depending on its size, the shoal is rapidly encircled with a net and traditional fishing manoeuvres begin. Even though the group of young fishermen are working in the town of Lomé, they have opted to use traditional fishing and processing methods, in order to ensure the sustainable use of fishing resources.

The group have adopted a strategy of awareness raising, providing information and training to its members and local communities. These fishing activities have considerably improved the life of the members of the group. Some of them have received foreign grants from international institutions and have been trained up to the level of ship Captain. The group advises other young people to get together to form well organised, well structured, credible cooperatives with a sound and rigorous management.

CONTACT:

Groupement des jeunes pêcheurs de Lomé, BP 61 831 – Lomé – TOGO, Tél . 228 227 40 75 – 228 902 73 31 Email : tchabeti@yahoo.fr