Towards the operationalization of the internal regulations of the Gadoule marine protected area
Enda Energie organized, on March 20 and 21, 2019 in Foundiougne, a pre-validation workshop of the internal regulations of the Gandoule marine protected area (MPA). This activity is part of the project “Technical support for the municipality of Djirnda in the Saloum islands in Senegal, for the experimental implementation of a sustainable artisanal fishing sector”.
The organization of this workshop “constitutes a strong action of the project whose objective is to design effective measures to better regulate artisanal fishing within the Gandule MPA through a multi-actor approach which favors dialogue and consultation between the different stakeholders,” underlined Mr. Ousmane Gning, responsible for implementing this program at Enda Energie, during the official opening ceremony.
To take into account the concerns of all stakeholders, this meeting saw the participation of several categories of actors: fishermen, institutions, CBOs and NGOs, CLPA, women processors, among others.
The technical support project for the municipality of Djirnda, implemented in partnership with the Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable – IFDD and the MAVA foundation, serves as a framework for exchange between the different fishing stakeholders on a set relevant and coherent management measures guaranteeing the sustainability of fish species and the marine environment within the Gandoule MPA.
The absence of effective resource management and control tools represents a real obstacle to the sustainability of the exploitation of fish species in island areas and particularly in the Gandoule marine protected area.
It is now recognized that the degradation of natural resources is a serious problem in Senegal, particularly in island areas that are very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In the municipality of Djirnda, the vulnerability of fisheries resources and the estuarine ecosystem continues to increase over time, with unsustainable fishing techniques and non-compliance with management and safeguarding measures.
Faced with these major challenges, a concerted effort is therefore necessary so that best practices become commonplace so that the implementation of a sustainable artisanal fishing sector can contribute to the revival of the local economy and better respond to the Objective of Sustainable Development 14 “Conserve and sustainably exploit the oceans, seas and resources for the purposes of sustainable development”.
It is with this in mind that Enda Energie launched this project with its partners.
This concerted effort is necessary for best practices to become commonplace so that the implementation of a sustainable artisanal fishing industry can contribute to the recovery of the local economy.
The two days of meeting made it possible to improve and strengthen the internal regulations of the MPA, which after its validation, will serve as a legal and regulatory instrument based on the principle of co-management and orientation towards sustainability and above all will allow the curator and the management committee to have a working tool based on clear legal, social and environmental bases.
For better appropriation of this tool, stakeholders were invited to take up the challenge of raising awareness among local populations, fishermen, women processors of fish products and all users of natural resources for better sustainable management of fisheries.
