Engaging local fishers and community members in the management and conservation of endemic fish species in Madagascar
Project overview
The project is in the Maevatanana/Ambato-Boeni region of Madagascar where local communities are highly dependent on fishing for food and income. However, the range and abundance of endemic species have declined dramatically. Reasons include current harmful fishing practices, such as habitat degradation and loss through siltation and pollution due to deforestation and poor agricultural practices; and a demographic shift that has led to overexpansion in the local human population. The Damba Mipentina fish is listed as Critically Endangered, but no laws protect the species from being harvested nationally or internationally.
Threats
Habitat loss & degradation
Over-exploitation of natural resources & prey depletion
Pollution
This project seeks to reduce the threats to native and endemic fish species by raising community awareness of laws and regulations regarding fishing; educating local communities on how their activities impact natural resources; and training to improve fishing skills and agricultural techniques. Establishing a monitoring system to prevent off-season fishing, overfishing and inappropriate fishing gear will help fish stock improve. We will also assist local communities with income and food security by creating work for women to make approved fishing nets and helping to create new sources of income and food. Finally, a reforestation project and the creation of a no-fishing area populated with endemic fish will support species recovery.
Project objectives
The project’s overall objective is to reinforce endemic and native fish populations whilst reducing threats and pressures on the target species. To achieve this there are several objectives within the project including:
- Improved awareness within the local community of the importance of natural resource management and the existing laws and regulations relating to fishing.
- Increased knowledge within schools regarding endemic fish species, the environmental problems affecting freshwater fish and how everyone can take action to protect species & habitats.
- A reduction in the threats to fish species by supporting fishers to adopt improved fishing practices.
- A reduction in habitat degradation and increased stability in food production by supporting local people to adopt improved agricultural techniques.
- An increase in endemic fish populations.
Project activities
Project activities are community-led and include:
- Employing local women to make regulation-approved fishing nets to be used by the fishers to replace harmful gear such as mosquito nets. This will provide local women with an income and the opportunity to engage with the project whilst also supporting the fishers to use appropriate fishing gear.
- Employing local rangers to patrol the area during the closed fishing season, and representatives from the fishers to monitor fishing practices and conduct surveys. This will increase compliance of existing laws and regulations and increase the capacity of local people to manage natural resources sustainably.
- Training and supporting local communities in improved agricultural techniques such as organic compost making and the benefits of agroforestry. Using climate-smart techniques will help local communities improve food production, especially by supporting families during the closed fishing season. Improved practices will also reduce harmful agricultural impacts on the waterways and lakes.
- Reinforcing the existing endemic fish population through restocking native species. This will help stabilize the fish population.
- Providing environmental education to local schools. This will enhance the knowledge of the younger generation about the focal species and the action they can take to protect the species and their habitat.
This project is implemented by The Aspinall Foundation.
