Case 3-10 Habitat improvement through the installation of artificial fish reefs: case study off the coast of Yenn, Petite-Côte

At the beginning of the installation of the artificial fish reefs, only 13 fish species were observed in the waters surrounding the artificial reefs; two years later, 60 fish species were observed. In 2005, a workshop was held with representatives of fishermen from the surrounding areas of Rufisk, Barny, Mbour, and Nianing to discuss how to manage the artificial fish reef area. The workshop let to the following four outputs: (1) an artificial fish reef zone (ZIRA [Zone Immersion Reef Artificial]) was established with 7 buoys in a 300-m radius and 11 buoys in an 800-m radius from the artificial fish reef;(2) a fisheries administration officer (Chef de Poste) and fishermen members were assigned to conduct monitoring and policing activities in the artificial fish reef zone; (3) a fishermen’s group was established in the artificial fish reef zone; and (4) it was decided to undertake participatory surveillance activities by the Chef de Poste and fishermen members to monitor and police the artificial fish reef areas.

In 2015, a PRAO project funded by the World Bank was implemented; in Yenn, facilities were built to strengthen fishermen’s organisations and surveillance boats were provided for monitoring activities. Moreover, the artificial reef was scaled up with 120 concrete blocks and 1,800 snake baskets; several monitoring teams consisting of one administrative officer and five fishermen members were formed to conduct surveillance activities at sea every five days. If an illegal fishing vessel is captured, the offender and the dispute mediator from the offender’s hometown will later appear before the Yenn Regional Dispute Mediation Committee for a discussion between the two parties. The results of the discussion will be reported to the Yenn Fisheries Branch and legal action will be taken.

The activities above continued even after the completion of the PRAO project, and the high motivation of the local people to engage in resource management activities has been an essential factor behind the long-term implementation of the artificial fish reefs as a tool for joint resource management since 2004. The core members of the CLPA Yenn have the following to say: ‘The artificial reefs off the coast of Yenn were built and sunk by the fishermen themselves. We wanted to inform more people about this resource management activity’. Their pride in their activities is evident in their words. The fishermen of Yenn are deeply involved in all activities, from the construction of the artificial fish reefs to their sinking and subsequent management. In other words, the local fishermen leaders have accumulated experience in all aspects of artificial fish reef construction, sinking, and management.

Resource management activities using artificial reefs have helped to deepen the unity among the fishermen and the seven villages in the Yenn community. It is fair to say that the artificial fish reefs are a symbol that has strengthened inter-village unity. Moreover, when plans were made in recent years to install artificial fish reefs in different parts of Senegal, the fishermen’s leaders in Yenn were asked to share their experiences. This is because the fishermen leaders and their communities have much know-how on the production, deployment, and management of artificial fish reefs as a tool for communal resource management. In essence, the symbolic artificial fish reefs are a pillar that has helped strengthen the unity of the organisation and promote local development.

This case suggests that the installation of artificial reefs to create and improve the habitat of fishery resources may have a symbolic value beyond their material functions, help strengthen unity within the community, and promote local development.

Chapter 3 Implementation of resource management measures

Methods to improve the habitat of the resource include the establishment of protected areas and restricted fishing areas to preserve the nursery grounds of juvenile fish, the creation of artificial fish reefs to create nursery grounds, and the planting of mangroves as nursery grounds.

In addition to being an effective example of the use of artificial fish reefs as a tool for communal resource management, this case is an example of how a tool for practice communal resource management can be a basis of internal organisational strengthening and community development.