Text and photos by rich press
Rich is an American science writer and photographer with an abiding interest in fisheries and people who make their living on the water.
People in the fish business are always racing against time. That’s especially true in places like Grand Béréby, a fishing town in the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire, where fish spoils quickly in the equatorial sun.
In Grand Béréby, many women make their living processing and selling fish, and they are constantly buying ice. That cuts into their already slim profits.
Now, some cool relief is on the way. The women fish processors of Grand Béréby and nearby towns are set to receive a refrigerated truck, a solar-powered refrigerated container, and a high capacity ice making machine.
“This equipment will allow women to sell a higher quality product at a better price,” said Micheline Dion, president of the Union des Sociétés Coopératives des Femmes de la Pêche et assimilées de Côte d'Ivoire, or USCOFEPCI, an umbrella organization that represents women fish processors throughout the country.
Michel Kwaho, loads ice, made by filling and freezing plastic bags, onto his pirogue before heading out on a 3-day fishing trip. From the moment he pulls in his nets, it’s a race against time. Photo: RP.
The Ivorian organization Conservation des Espèces Marines, or CEM, spearheaded efforts to acquire the refrigerating equipment, in collaboration with USCOFEPCI and Action pour le Développement. CEM works with community organizations in the Grand Béréby area to protect endangered sea turtle populations and promote sustainable development. The container was financed with a 600,000 Euro grant from the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation.
ENSURING A CONTINOUS SUPPLY OF FISH
The area of Grand-Béréby and San Pedro, located towards the Liberian border and 300km West of Abidjan, is one of the most rich in fish in Côte d’Ivoire. Many women fish processors across the country seek a supply of fish from that area. However, due to the lack of facilities, much of the artisanal fisheries landed catches are lost. Refrigeration allows women to store larger quantities of fish and continue supplying and processing fish even during the low fishing seasons.
In July 2020, through a fund set up under the EU-Côte d'Ivoire Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), USCOFEPCI purchased a refrigerated container (see banner picture). Only two months later, women could already see tangible results: there was a continuous flow of fish supply to Abidjan, though women had to carry the fish in cool boxes. (Below are three pictures of a supply from 31 December 2021 from San Pedro to Abidjan).
In October 2020, USCOFEP-CI had said that a refrigerated truck was next on their priority list. The equipment secured with support of CEM and other partners will be a further step ensuring quality and fresh supplies.
OTHer preservation methods
Besides ice, fish can be preserved by salting, smoking or sun-drying. If fish has already spoiled, it can be used to make a concoction of salted, fermented fish called adjovan. Also called “African Maggi,” for the famous bouillon cube brand, adjovan is used to flavor sauces, soups and stews. But fresh fish commands the highest price.
Mami Gini, a member of the women’s fish processors cooperative in Grand Béréby, transforms spoiled fish into adjovan, or “African Maggi.” Photo: RP.
The new equipment will also give the women more market power. Fish catches fluctuates from day to day. When boats come in with a bigger-than-usual load of fish, traders from Abidjan and other cities swoop in to take advantage, knowing that the women have to sell the fish or watch it spoil. With new refrigeration equipment, the women will be able to hold out for a better price.
Jose Gomez Peñate, CEM’s founder, said that he expects the new equipment to be in place by mid-2022.
West Africa has pioneered several decades of artisanal fisheries management reform. Yet there are still major obstacles to co-management: a lack of political will reflected in low budgetary allocations; inadequate and poorly targeted support for fisher organizations; poorly defined roles and responsibilities of fishers in co-management; lack of enforcement of inshore exclusive zones; and inadequate defense of human rights and particularly the important role of women.