Case CD-2 Co-management experiment in the Aby lagoon

【2. Côte d’Ivoire】

Context	In the Aby lagoon, located east of Abidjan, fishers, feeling threatened by the decline in resources, have taken the initiative of co-management. This case study presents the details.
Content	In the area, 24 village committees have been set up in all the villages bordering the Aby lagoon. The following co-management activities have been implemented in the Aby lagoon : Organize information and awareness-raising workshops in all villages bordering the lagoon; Bring together the main actors involved in fisheries management in the Aby lagoon and submit to their analysis all the management proposals resulting from the studies conducted; Initiate a participatory approach to decision-making by beneficiaries and consider mechanisms to ensure their more active involvement. The following resource management measures are currently in place. These measures were decided in a participatory approach, adopted by consensus and ratified by a prefectural decree. Introduce a seasonal closure; Determine the mesh size of the various fishing gears to be used; Creating reserves; Banning fishing with toxic products; and Create village fishing committees. Monitoring and surveillance were carried out by village fishing committees in their respective zones, and by fisheries officers throughout the lagoon. As far as possible, the fishers themselves provided the time and resources needed for monitoring and surveillance. A number of issues need to be addressed to strengthen co-management. Insufficient resources to support village fishing committees Fishing committees not formalized by administrative authorities Co-management not considered by the former regulatory system Today, the law on fishing and its regulations stipulate participative management of water bodies, namely co-management. For this to be effective, the co-management structures to be set up must be formalized, and the administration must provide genuine support For this to be effective, the co-management structures to be set up must be formalized, and the administration must provide genuine support For this to be effective, the co-management structures to be set up must be formalized, and the administration must provide genuine support For this to be effective, the co-management structures to be set up must be formalised, and the administration must provide genuine support.
Lessons Learned	Co-management of fisheries resources is still in its early stages in Côte d’Ivoire. However, examples of co-management of fisheries resources in areas where the COPAO project has not been involved have been identified. This case study will be useful for considering the dissemination of co-management of fisheries resources in Côte d’Ivoire in the future.
Guideline chapter relevant to this case study	Chapter 3: Implementation of resource management measures
Situation to which this case study could refer	This case study can be used to initiate or strengthen co-management in semi-enclosed lagoons.