Training and fisheries landing surveys

As part of the ‘The Sea, Our Life’ project, we organised a training in fish surveys for our community focal points. We have a team of six people, two women palaies or fish vendors and 4 fishermen from the following communities; Santo Antonio, Hospital Velho, Lapa, Burras, Campanha and Abade. The objective is to have a member within the community to start recording fishing data on a regular basis, to get insight into fishing efforts, composition of the catch and actual quantities per species, as well as going rates for selling it to fish vendors.

For a series of 14 indicator species, we actually ask them to record the actual size and weight of the individuals. These are species that have 1) become more rare or only small individuals are currently found – as is the case for several groupers, or 2) that are very important demersal or pelagic species in artisanal fisheries in Principe - such as snapper and emperor, or 3) that are important species in terms of consumption but limited data is known on how many are being caught – such as octopus and flying gurnard.

​We hope these data will allow us to get a first insight into the status of the species that can then eventually inform the fisheries sector to take appropriate measures to ensure sustainable management of these valuable marine resources. While this is only a first step and a trial phase, we are keen for an increased collaboration with fishermen communities as well as Regional Government in this joint venture. Omali Vida Non!