Case 3-23 Enhancing sustainability by introducing alternative income sources (4): case of shrimp joint shipment in the Saloum Delta
Key words | Saloum Delta, shrimp distribution network, middlemen, agents, environmental NGOs, WAAME, IKA GEL |
Context | Shrimp traders began to appear in Senegal in the 1970s, when processing and freezing plants were built, and shrimp were collected and sent to Europe. In the 1990s, shrimp were also collected for export in the Saloum Delta in central Senegal. Fishmongers stationed their agents in the villages where the shrimp were collected to weigh and buy the shrimp landed by the fishers. The agents then delivered the shrimp to the fishmongers who transported them to the fish exporting companies. The shrimp distribution network was established in this way in the Saloum Delta. In 2001, a local environmental NGO supported the shrimpers’ activities by organising joint shipping groups. This case study presents the detail of the activities, and the lessons learned from them. |
Content | The West African Association for Marine Environment (WAAME), an environmental NGO based in the Saloum Delta, formed shrimp collection groups in eight villages in the Saloum Delta in September 2001. WAAME negotiated with IKA GEL, a shrimp exporting company based in Dakar, to start direct delivery of the collected shrimp. To encourage villagers to participate in mangrove planting activities, WAAME provided fishers with the means to fish for shrimp and provided the joint shipping groups with initial purchase funds to buy the shrimp caught from the fishers. The project aimed to improve the shrimp distribution system in the Saloum Delta, which was relayed through agents and fishmongers, and to better secure the interests of the fishers by selling the shrimp directly to fish exporters through joint shipping groups. Just over three months after the project began, it was abandoned due to several problems. (1) The shrimp caught in the villages upstream of the Delta were smaller in length and took longer to collect, which meant that they tended to be less fresh. Therefore, shrimp of different sizes and freshness were collected together. As there was no difference in the purchase price between villages, more members became dissatisfied. (2) As some of the villages were located in areas far from the main road, there were frequent incidents where, due to lack of communication, when the collected shrimp were brought to the villages, the collection trucks had already left. (3) The time taken to collect the shrimp caused the ice purchased in Dakar to melt and the quality of the shrimp deteriorated. (4) IKA GEL paid in cash two days after delivery, so it was not possible to remit funds for the purchase of the shrimp. |
Lessons Learned | To encourage environmental conservation activities through mangrove planting, which is a spawning ground and nursery for young fish for fisheries resources, an attempt was made to introduce a livelihood activity through joint shrimp shipping. However, the project was not successful due to inadequate handling and transportation of shrimp products and dissatisfaction among shrimp fishers due to the purchase of shrimp of different commercial values at one price. The joint shipment project introduced as an incentive to the fisheries resource management activity of mangrove planting was not successful as a project because it revealed flaws in the project plan and activity methods. |
Guideline chapter relevant to this case study | Chapter 3 Implementation of resource management measures 3.2 Measures to strengthen the sustainability of resource management 3.2.2 Introduction of alternative sources of incomeAlternative income-generating activities will be selected based on consideration of their profitability, technical appropriateness, contribution to resource management activities and fishing communities, and budget amount required. The management style, business plan, and income and expenditure prospects of the project to be introduced will be thoroughly discussed. |
Situation to which this case study could refer | This case is an effective reference for organising shrimp fishermen and introducing a joint shipping business as an incentive to motivate them to participate in planting mangroves, an environmental conservation activity that serves as a spawning ground and nursery for juvenile fish. This case study also indicates that, without a detailed business plan and specific activity methods, it will be difficult to continue the business when introducing an alternative source of income. |