Dakar/Fatick/Rome, 5 July - Artisanal fishing communities and regional authorities have decided jointly to establish and extend biological rest periods for three species that are key to the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Fatick region: ark clams, oysters and shrimp.

The closed season for shrimp has been extended by a month - from 1 July to 31 August – while a biological rest period is being introduced for ark clams and oysters for the first time this year, from 1 June to 30 November.

These measures were endorsed by consensus on 30 May during a meeting of the Regional Development Committee chaired by the Governor of the Fatick region, Ms Seynabou Guèye, and were made official by ministerial decree on 26 June.

A participatory and inclusive process

The FAO Coastal Fisheries Initiative in West Africa (IPC-WA) has supported the Senegal Ministry of Fisheries in determining the appropriate periods to observe biological rest for these three species.

They were chosen based on the results of participatory research carried out by CFI-WA in partnership with the Dakar-Thiaroye Oceanographic Research Center (CRODT, in its French acronym) and the University Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (IUPA, in its French acronym).

The CRODT conducted participatory research on shrimp to determine optimal times for the growth of juveniles as well as the selectivity of fishing nets.

After nine months of sampling and data collection, a technical report was produced and shared with fisheries actors in January. A second meeting was held in March, in which the 11 Local Artisanal Fisheries Councils (CLPAs, in their French acronym) of the Fatick and Kaolack regions were represented. During these meetings, a broad consensus was reached to extend the biological rest period for shrimp by a month.

In addition, the IUPA conducted participatory research on the eco-biology of ark clams and oysters in the Saloum Islands. The results were shared with the CLPAs, local communities and authorities in two workshops in March, during which all stakeholders agreed to establish closing seasons for these two species from June-November.

This was followed by a series of awareness-raising meetings in May in the coastal communities of Bassoul, Bettenty, Djirnda, Foundiougne, and Ndangane Sambou. The idea was to reach as many people as possible to inform them about the new biological rest periods and why they are important. The meetings were held under the leadership of Mr Ibrahima LO, Head of the Fatick Regional Fisheries and Surveillance Service.

An act of responsibility

The establishment and extension of the biological rest periods was hailed as a responsible act that will help preserve and regenerate the region's fisheries and ensure their sustainability.

“We welcome this decision. If the CFI-WA is ready to support us in restoring our resources, we can only be delighted,” said Mr Souleymane Thiaw, Coordinator of the Palmarin-Djiffère CLPA.

“We thank the CFI-WA project for its support. These measures were discussed for several months, and adopted by consensus,” adds Mrs. Ndèye Isseu Ndiaye, a seafood processor from Foundiougne.

"It's not easy to go that long without working. But as they say, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. We will see the usefulness of it when the resources become plentiful again,” she explained.

The CFI-WA intends to put measures in place to support fishers, fishmongers and seafood processors through these biological rest periods.

“These measures concern participatory monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of the closed seasons, and support for better access to funding for the CLPAs, among others,” explained Mr Amadou Oumar Touré, CFI-WA Project Coordinator in Senegal.

About the CFI

The CFI is a collaborative global effort funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It brings together fishing communities, international conservation organizations, governments, United Nations agencies and the World Bank with the goal of achieving sustainable coastal fisheries and conserving marine biodiversity in six countries: Cabo Verde, Côte d Ivoire, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru and Senegal.

In West Africa, the CFI is implemented by FAO in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Abidjan Convention.