23. Increasing the added value of the octopus by improving on-board processing
In Senegal, octopuses are caught with lines and artificial bait. Previously, once caught, octopuses were beaten against the hull of the boat to weaken them and then left on board, exposed to direct sunlight. They were not iced and were left in stagnant water at the bottom of the boat. Octopuses immersed in stagnant water absorb water, causing them to swell and deteriorate in quality. There was also a widespread practice of fish traders allowing octopus to absorb water before shipping to increase the weight of their products. JICA’s PROCOVAL project from 2014 to 2017 aimed to improve on-board processing of octopus catches, encourage fishermen to export high-quality octopuses to foreign markets where prices are higher, and strengthen the management of the octopus resource.