Case 2-8 Establishment of information sharing opportunities through regular Zoom meetings: case study of a campaign to release juvenile cymbiums

COPAO, a JICA project, conducted a campaign to release juvenile cymbium in four villages (Lompoul and Fas Boye on Grande-Côte, and Djifer and Nianing on Petite-Côte) in order to raise the residents’ interest in cymbium resources.

Both the commercialisation stage of cymbium and the empirical knowledge of resource management activities differ between Petite-Côte, where fish exporters have purchased and exported cymbium since the early 2000s, and Grande-Côte, where cymbium is only a by-catch for bottom gillnet fishing in 2023.

Thus, a Zoom meeting was held once a month for the four villages implementing the campaign to release juvenile cymbium, providing the villages with an opportunity to exchange information, convey Petite-Côte’s experience to Grande-Côte, and strengthen cooperation among the fishing communities in Petite-Côte and Grande-Côte.

In 2003, which is the first year of JICA’s development study, resource management was introduced in Nianing for octopus (setting a closed season and introducing octopus pots for spawning) and cymbium (setting a closed season and releasing juvenile shellfish). In 2004, this activity was also implemented in the neighbouring villages of Mballing and Pointe Sarène. In Petite-Côte, which includes these villages, cymbium had already become an export commodity in the early 2000s and, in addition to cymbium pepo, which is mainly for domestic consumption, has become a target species for many fishermen to catch. Therefore, the period since the commercialisation of cymbium has been long, and in the context of the recent decline in catch, the trading price of cymbium, once XOF 400 per kilo, has jumped to between XOF 800 and 1,300 per kilo in recent years.

This has led to a high level of interest in cymbium as a commodity among the people of Petite-Côte. As mentioned above, the people of Petite-Côte have a high level of experience in cymbium resource management activities because such activities have been conducted since the early 2000s. In contrast, in Grande-Côte, the trading price of cymbium on the beach is as low as XOF 300 per kilo, as the fishery companies did not target cymbium for purchase until 2023. Fishermen in Lompoul and Fas Boye have little interest in cymbium as a commodity because it is only a by-catch. Thus, cymbium has not been a subject of resource management in Grande-Côte, and the people in the area know little about resource management activities. Interviews in Lompoul revealed that some female seafood processors release juveniles from the mother shellfish into the sea without knowing why such measure is necessary.

However, given the commercialisation stage of cymbium in Senegal, with the recent decline in the catch of cymbium landed at Petite-Côte and the increase in the transaction price, it is reasonable to assume that seafood export companies will start buying cymbium at Grande-Côte. Thus, it would be prudent to implement the same campaign for releasing juvenile cymbium in Grande-Côte (2 villages) and Petite-Côte (2 villages), and use the monthly Zoom meeting, which connects the pilot activity sites, to share information and experiences among the sites regarding cymbium resource management, and exchange opinions in a more in-depth fashion. The Zoom meeting is likely to be effective in promoting resource management activities.

To bridge the differences in commercialisation stages and empirical knowledge of resource management activities for cymbium between the fishing communities of Grande-Côte and Petite-Côte, it is important to establish opportunities for information exchange and promote stronger collaboration among the communities. Such opportunities would help advance the cause of sustainable use of fisheries resources.

Chapter 2 Establishing and strengthening the resource management implementation system

2.3 Strengthening the collaboration between several fishing villages

It is desirable to provide the fishing communities with an opportunity to meet, identify problems, and discuss coordination of resource management activities. If a problem has already occurred, the intervention of a third party, such as a government agency, may help in making discussions constructive. Some fishing communities may not be interested in resource management activities if no problem has surfaced. In such case, leaders of fishing communities that have already implemented resource management activities can share their experiences, including the meaning, methods, necessity, and benefits of resource management, as well as how they have overcome technical and economic challenges. Such activities will help educate the fishing communities that have not shown interest and build momentum for collaboration.

Even if the resource to manage is a well-established one, there are differences in local residents’ awareness of the target resource and their experience and knowledge of resource management. Such differences are caused by varying commercialisation stages of the target resource depending on the region or area. This case study will be helpful in establishing opportunities to enhance cooperation between different regions and promote sustainable use of the target resource.