An Overview Of Our Solution
‘Octopus keeping’ an open sea farm for the poor coastal community.
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans/Coasts
Community Type
Suburban
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Africa
Problem
Describe the problem
‘Octopus keeping’ an open sea farm for the poor coastal community; the solution aimed at alleviating poverty of the local fishers to reduce pressure in the lagoon by overfishing and sand mining activities. Octopus keeping is an innovative concept just like beekeeping, rearing animals from the wild to derive income. Artificial reefs (AR) adapted the marine conditions were made from recycled material. ARs are given to fishers for octopus rearing. The fishers are responsible to place ARs outside the ‘No take Zone’. ARs place in the ‘No take zone’ ensure replenishment of stocks by protecting the individual to attain adult reproductive size. Results have shown that the ARs are ecosystem friendly, productive, replicable and can avoid conflict among fishers.
Biodiversity Impact
The octopus keeping project is based on sound ecosystem practices as the animal is reared in the natural habitat. ARs place in the ‘No-Take Zones’ ensure the replenishment of the spawning larvae from adults. The artificial octopus nests were used strictly outside the ‘No-Take Zone’. Fishers were given a limited number of artificial octopus habitats so as to maintain sustainable catch per fisher and an equitable distribution of the resource. The solution can protect natural habitat and coral damage by human intervention. The ARs are low cost and effective. ARs can be place at strategic locations to avoid competition. The artificial reef made of concrete can be used for a very long time and can be displaced easily. The artificial reef can be removed and keep in a safe place during bad weather condition such as strong tropical cyclones
Solution
The severe destruction of the marine ecosystem caused by sand mining activities in the late 1960s till the early 2000s has led to the destruction of the marine ecosystem including the natural habitats of octopus. The solution may give time and allow the recovery of the damaged habitat. Decrease in the illegal fishing practices such as dynamite and night fishing. Can also encourage ƒ??off lagoonƒ?? fishing. Can give more time to fishers to engage in other income generating activity The discarded electric poles were a visual pollution and also burden to the local community as the help in the proliferation of mosquitoes, therefore the reused of the materials for a good cause is good initiative. Decrease in undersize catch practices and overfishing // The pilot project has been implemented in only two fishermen coastal villages. The area covered by the project is about 1000 hectares of fishing ground within the lagoon and also include an MPA of about 250 hectares. This project can be extended outside the lagoon. We speculate that those burrows could help in the conservation of our local octopus. We think that the artificial burrows outside the lagoon and the MPA could be used exclusively for breeding octopuses .
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 6 years // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // We provide technical and scientific expertise to fishers as and when required. We are also at their disposition for any problem encountered. Prior to distributing the artificial burrows, we have also ensured that the fishermen have a good knowledge on their safe handling and use to prevent any damage to the marine ecosystem.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
The solution cut down on the cost of production. Improve harvest Monitor harvest to keep price stable in the local market. Networking to avoid conflict. Can give more time for fishers to improve livelihood by generating income from other sources. Some 30 fishers and their families have directly benefited from this project. We aim to extend this project to other coastal villages in the near future. // The fishermen manage their own artificial burrows. They have been given training and are free to move their burrows anywhere within the lagoons without causing any destruction. The self sustaining solution has the advantage of increasing cooperation and networking within the fisher’s community. We also have the responsibility to place and monitor the ARs in the ‘No take zone’ We monitor the animal size and weight sold to fish mongers in these coastal villages.