Benin small fishing communities engaged in research about sustainable nets 'seine'

I n July 2003, Aido Beach, Benin a Tiny fishing communities along this coconut palm-lined coast were engaged in a scientific research that officials believed held the key to the sustainable future of beach seine fishing.

The current seines, with their one-inch mesh, scoop up juvenile fish in millions along with mature fish. It is estimated that a crate of undersize fish caught in the nets, widely used along the West African coast. If these undersise fish were left to grow to maturity, they would equal four crates a year later.

FAOCs Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme supported a research project in the Aido Beach community and others like it in neighbouring Togo and Ghana. Based on the principle that seeing is believing. The fishers were testing seines with two-inch mesh that leaved undersise fish behind.

With more room in the seine for mature fish, the nets catch a greater number of higher-value large fish, increasing the fishers's income. The new nets were also cheaper and easier to pull in, since the smaller volume of material creates less drag.

We were conscious that we were on the way to emptying the sea, said Henri Hounna, leader of a group of 38 villagers in this community 50 kilometres west of the capital, Cotonou. Behind him on the beach was a crew of men and women playing out the seine in a three kilometers line into the Atlantic ocean, before spending the afternoon slowly pulling the net back to shore.

The challenge was to convince small-scale fishing communities to switch to the new nets. The sustainable livelihoods approach promoted the principle of grassroots participation not only at the planning stage of the development activities but throughout the process. Participating fishing groups tested the nets themselves for 18 months, with a technician living on the beach with them to measure the size and value of the catch. Once the communities were convinced by the test results, ministries of fisheries used them as a peer-on-peer sales force to convince neighbouring fishing communities to convert to the large-mesh seines.

Preliminary results at Aido Beach are encouraging. In one month, using the new net, the group brought in 24 tonnes of fish in 9 outings, earning CFAF 873 526 (US$140). In the same month, a control group, using the small-mesh net, caught 30 tonnes of fish in 9 outings, but earned only CFAF 471 000 (US$75).

The results spell out good news for the environment, but the extra income divided among so many villagers is unlikely to reduce their poverty by much. The community has no electricity or dispensary, and villagers must carry fresh water 4.5 kilometres from the nearest tap. They live in huts made of palm fronds.

The Aido Beach community has always raised oysters in the nearby lagoon. As part of the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme, which encourages communities to diversify and expand how they make a living, the project has taught improved production techniques. Villagers have also expanded a sideline of selling coconut meat to Nigerian biscuit factories.

One local woman with six children said Increased earnings went towards education and food for the household. "We saved money for the hungry season, when there are not many fish, said Victoire Ade-Agbo. Had we make enough money we could have had drinking water piped in the village.

We hope to help get the seine adopted by other communities that said no to taking part in the experiment, said Hounna, who appeared both confident and relieved at the end of the trial.