V2V PHOTO OF THE WEEK 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: December 20, 2023
Captured on my way to interview a few fish traders at the Balugaon (Chilika) fish market, this poignant image encapsulates the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of fisherwomen in the coastal villages around Chilika Lagoon. The vibrant scene showcases these empowered women engaging in the sale of shrimps, a testament to their initiative in eliminating middlemen from the fish trade. In this vivid snapshot, a fisherman stands alongside these enterprising women, embodying the collaborative effort within the community. Their transition from traditional roles to directly selling fish speaks to their adaptability and underscores a strategic response to the vulnerability and viability challenges facing small-scale fisheries. Eliminating middlemen empowers these women economically, reducing dependency and ensuring a more direct and equitable return from their labor. By taking control of the marketing process, they contribute to the viability of small-scale fisheries in the region. Simultaneously, this move addresses the vulnerability often associated with reliance on intermediaries, fostering a more sustainable and resilient fishing economy. In the backdrop of the bustling fish market, the image reflects a paradigm shift—a shift towards self-reliance, economic sustainability, and community-driven solutions. It is a visual narrative of the dynamic interplay between vulnerability and viability in the context of small-scale fisheries, showcasing a community's innovative response to the challenges they face.
Photo credit and Contributor: Navya Vikraman Nair, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: December 13, 2023
These two photos were taken at the Tagonoura Port (田子の浦港) in Shizuoka, Japan. I bought a Shirasu don meal in the canteen near the mooring place which is open only from around March 21 to October 28 every year. There has been an official certification called GI to inform the public of the high quality of the local fish in this community, which effectively promotes this community and brings higher prices for the fish in pursuit of viability. As this community is located closer to the Mountain Fuji, the gushing water here is very icy which makes the meat of the fish firmer. Meanwhile, only one tugboat is used for each trawling, and the distance to the fishing ground is short, so the shorter trawling time results in higher quality and freshness. Although the pandemic harmed the operations and sales volume of the canteen a lot, year 2022 witnessed a tourism bloom for this canteen as the number of guests ranked second in the history of the canteen.
Photo credit and Contributor: Yinghao Song, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: December 6, 2023
This photo was captured at Patharghata sub-district of Barguna district in Bangladesh during research work. This coastal region is full of diverse natural wealth. However, scarcity, complaints and natural disasters are constant companions of this region. Most of the people have folk culture practices and strong devotion to God. Yet, amidst these challenges, the indomitable spirit of the people shines through, as reflected in their deep-rooted folk culture practices. Folk music also focuses on happiness, prosperity and their eternal fights with natural disaster. The proof of which can be found in this Bengali folk song-
“সাগর পাড়ের মানুষ মোরা, সাগরপাড়ে বাড়ি করি নাও-ডিঙ্গিতে চলাফেরা, নাইকো ঘোড়া-গাড়ি। মোগো সাগরপাড়ে বাড়ি। ঝড় বাদল আইলে পরে ডরাইনা ঝড়ে, কলাগাছের ভুর খিলাইয়া রাখছি ঘরে ঘরে । মোরা সাগরপাড়ের সবাই মিলে অবাদায় দিছি বেড়ি। মোগো সাগরপাড়ে বাড়ি। মোগো সাগরপাড়ে বাড়ি।“
“We are the people of the seashore; Our home is on the seashore. We always travel by boat, we don’t have horse and car. If storm comes, we don’t get afraid; Because we have made Banana tree boats in every houses. We all together the people of the seashore have put soil on the embankment. Our home is on the seashore. Our home is on the seashore.” How quickly a group of strangers can be embraced with love and compassion would have remained unknown if we hadn’t come to this area. In the relentless saga of hunger, thirst, and grief, remorse, an unwavering companion, offers no relief for these generous people. Because they believe in God lives in that gentle countryside far away.
Photo credit and Contributor: Md. Emon Rahman, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: November 29, 2023
This photo was captured during our visit to Chilika Lagoon, India, as part of the 2022 field school. The field school participants made several noteworthy observations about the women in the community. Women in Chilika appeared to adhere to a collective enterprise, indicating a sense of organization and adherence to a specific structure within their community. This organizational cohesion was evident in their interactions with us, where they displayed a remarkable level of comfort and confidence, providing clear and articulate responses to our inquiries. A significant aspect of their lives revolved around Chilika, their primary source of livelihood, underscoring their intimate connection with the lagoon. Despite their dependency on Chilika, these resilient women expressed a desire for a different future for their children, hoping to spare them the struggles with poverty that they had faced.
We interviewed different groups of women in the fisher villages who revealed a nuanced picture of their roles and activities. At the household level, it was noted that women typically did not accompany their husbands for fishing activities but played a crucial role in household management. However, exceptions existed, particularly among women of certain caste groups who engaged in fishing. Beyond household responsibilities, women actively participated in market activities, buying fish, sorting them, bargaining for better prices, and processing such as making dry fish. Notably, decision-making at the household level in Chilika villages involved both women and men, even in the absence of men due to migration, emphasizing a culture of collective decision-making.
Photo credit and Contributor: Maha Abdelbaset, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: November 22, 2023
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This photo was taken at the lagoon fishery in the Kurinjipitiya village at the Puttalam lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka. The Kalpitiya peninsula from the west and the landside of Puttlam from the east and south surround the lagoon. The majority of the residents in this area depend on either lagoon fishery or coastal fishery for livelihood and food. This photo shows a boat called “Theppam,” a non-motorized traditional craft used to fish in the lagoon. These crafts are navigated with small paddle rafts and wooden sticks and can only accommodate one person while carrying a smaller amount of fish and lightweight gear. “Theppams”, which used to be made of wood, are now made of fiber. In addition, fishers use small fiber boats called “vallams” with paddle rafts, wooden sticks, or sails, which solely depend upon the investment one can make. This mangrove-rich brackish water lagoon system of 35 km line is home to different types of fish and crustaceans like crabs, prawns, and shrimps. Fishers in this area are involved in fishing all around the year. However, they also restrict the fishing of certain species during their breeding periods of the year. Usually, the fishers are only involved in fishing and selling their freshly harvested fish to fishmongers at the landing sites “vaardi”. Even though lagoon fishery is the primary source of income for the lagoon fishers, some of them also engage in tourism activities using their “theppams” and “vallams” during the periods of the year when both local and foreign tourists flock to this area to indulge in the scenic coastal and lagoon ecosystem.
Photo credit and Contributor: Nilushika Gamage, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: November 15, 2023
In Elmina harbour lies a scene that maybe has not changed in hundreds of years. Smaller wooden canoes dug out of a hollowed out log criss-cross the harbour, while larger boats with a wooden frame and planks come in with larger crews. Many of the boats in Ghana are still hand-crafted and each canoe is unique in design, representing the beliefs and dreams of its owner. Aside from the canoes having been adapted with motors and engines, the practice of going out to harvest fish and bringing them to market has been in existence for generations. It’s only 7:30am on a Sunday but the harbour walls are already filled with people waiting for the share of the morning catch. The fish will be sold fresh, others smoked or salted to be sold on the roads leading to Accra that our group will pass later in the day.
As we finish up attending the 3rd Conference on Fisheries and Coastal Environment, which focused on the Inclusive Blue Economy in Africa, we find ourselves looking at the number of people both working on the boats and higher up the value chain, working in markets and distributing fish. We ask ourselves how many livelihoods depend on the ocean and what role will these fishers play in the blue economy? It's as clear as the painted colours on the boats that fish are more than just food here, they are people’s lives, culture and central to a healthy economy and sustainable ocean. I find myself thinking – what does the blue economy mean for them, and how will benefits be equitably distributed for a future that continues to support such a thriving market?
Photo credit and Contributor: Ella-Kari Muhl, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: November 08, 2023
This photo was taken at the Tagonoura Port in Shizuoka, Japan. There is an engine on each fishing boat, as well as a built-in driving cab. As the definition of Japanese small-scale fisheries (SSFs) includes non-powered boats or powerboats of less than ten metric tons, all the boats, around 35 boats in total, were SSF boats. Shirasu was the main capture objective for SSF boats, while there has been a higher reliance on the side business for these boats, such as sightseeing tourism and tour groups visiting the village, especially the canteen near the mooring place. However, it has been harder to catch Shirasu, and there are no signs of recovery for this species.
Photo credit and Contributor: Yinghao Song, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: November 01, 2023
This photo was captured in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, during a fisheries resource survey conducted by the R/V Meen Shandhan, a government research vessel under the Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh dedicated to assessing fisheries resources in the region. The image depicts a traditional mechanized fishing boat engaged in fishing approximately 30 nautical miles away from the shore. Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a vital role in Bangladesh, accounting for over 80% of total marine catches and contributing around 3% to the national GDP. With about 12.9 million people employed directly or indirectly in the SSF sector and a reported count of 67,669 SSF vessels, these fishers are integral to the country's economy. Despite their significant contributions, they face various natural and human-induced challenges, leaving them vulnerable.
Recent initiatives in Bangladesh include the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and enforcement of seasonal fishing closures. While small-scale fishers recognize the potential long-term benefits of these conservation efforts, their immediate impact has caused distress within these communities. To address these challenges, the government is implementing community empowerment and livelihood transformation initiatives. These include developing community institutions, expanding alternative livelihood options, fostering businesses, connecting alternate livelihood markets, and involving fishers in conservation decision-making. Moreover, the identification and designation of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are ongoing in the marine environment. This approach, acknowledged as a fisher-friendly conservation tool in many parts of the world, seeks to address the unique needs of small-scale fishers.
Photo credit and Contributor: K M Shahriar Nazrul, 2018
V2V Photo of the Week: October 25, 2023
The photo below was captured in the Uroa fish market on Unguja Island, Zanzibar. It shows the moment when small-scale fishers are returning from being out on fishing. Fish vendors and locals are gathering to buy fish. During landing, many kids and youth are also gathering and helping on-loading the catch, and some are involved in fish cleaning, such as descaling and degutting. Children are working in the fishing industry, fish vending, and selling seashells in Zanzibar. Other drivers of child labor include poverty, negligent parenting, family dissolution, a lack of options for kids once they finish school, the desire of children to be financially independent from their parents, and ignorance of parents about the importance of education.
Photo credit and Contributor: Batuli Mohammed Yahya, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: October 18, 2023
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The photo was captured at East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) in the West Bengal state of India. Within the peri-urban ecotone (ecotone is a transition area between two biological communities) of rapidly urbanizing Kolkata city, there is a complex of natural and human-made wetlands lying east of the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, India. These wetlands are called the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) which consist of 254 sewage-fed water bodies interspersed with farmlands. Devised by local fishers and farmers, these wetlands served, in effect, as the natural sewage treatment plant for the city. Almost 80% of the city’s effluents are treated naturally in the ponds which are used for cultivating a variety of fish. It is good to mention that the East Kolkata Wetlands host the largest sewage-fed aquaculture in the world.
This resource recovery system receives sewage from the city and sends 20,000 MT of freshwater fish and 50,000 MT of vegetables annually to meet the city's day-to-day food needs and ensure food security. This robust system is also distinguished by the traditional knowledge, skills, and wisdom of the local fishers who cultivate and sell fish in the markets of Kolkata. Additionally, this vast socio-ecological setting is inhabited by diverse species of flora and fauna, which helps moderate the city's temperature gradient, sequester carbon, and regulate monsoon flooding. EKW was designated a "wetland of international importance" under the Ramsar Convention in August 2002 given its properties/features as a remarkable example of socio-ecological metabolism (set of flows of materials and energy that occur between nature and society, between different societies, and within societies) and reciprocal relationship between generated ecosystem services and livelihoods.
Photo credit and Contributor: Aishik Bandyopadhyay, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: October 11, 2023
This photo was captured in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, during a fisheries resource survey conducted by the R/V Meen Shandhan, a government research vessel under the Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh dedicated to assessing fisheries resources in the region. Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a crucial role in the marine environment, contributing significantly to global fish catches and employing a substantial workforce in the fisheries sector. The well-being of small-scale fishers holds the key to successful marine conservation endeavors. However, managing these fisheries is complex, with challenges stemming from both climatic and human factors, compounded by interactions with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Although MPAs have shown ecological and economic success, reports indicate negative impacts on SSF. In contrast, the introduction of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM), a novel conservation tool, is believed to address many challenges posed by MPAs.
Photo credit and Contributor: K M Shahriar Nazrul, 2018
V2V Photo of the Week: October 04, 2023
The photo was taken along the beach of Guet Ndar, in St Louis, Senegal. It shows women at the arrival of some pirogues. The confirmation of a significant gas discovery in 2015, amounting to 425 billion cubic meters in coastal regions shared by Mauritania and Senegal, initially brought hope for providing electricity to around 30% of Senegal's 18 million people lacking access. However, for local artisanal fishers in communities like Guet Ndar in St. Louis, existing struggles with challenges such as coastal erosion and sea-related fatalities were already present. Unfortunately, foreign industrial fishing vessels have made their difficulties worse by limiting access to productive fishing areas. Once a thriving economic activity alongside tourism in St. Louis, the fisheries sector has now faced a major decline. Communities are dealing with income loss, people leaving, and even secret prostitution as a desperate way to support families. This change represents a significant loss for the region, highlighting the tragedy emerging from the loss of ways to make a living.
For more context, visit https://www.mundusmaris.org/index.php/en/projects/2023en/2785-solidarity-en, and explore a past perspective at https://www.mundusmaris.org/index.php/en/projects/proj2013/672-coexistence.
Photo credit: P. Bottoni, 2013
Contributor: Cornelia E. Nauen
V2V Photo of the Week: September 27, 2023
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The photo was captured during the monsoon of 2022, near the banks of a small village called Kumirmari, in the Indian Sundarbans. It shows fishers' boats stationed at the riverbank that are tied with a sacred piece of red cloth at their top end, which is believed to be a spiritual practice for fishers going into the dense forest for their catch. The sacred piece of red cloth is used to protect fishers from the high risks of the Sunderban forest, and to survive upon limited means. Monsoon weather in the region remains very uncertain, where within minutes the clear blue sky can turn into grey hovering clouds. Monsoon weather is accompanied by strong winds, washing away the island banks and breaking away the embankments. Extreme weather events cause massive destruction to both the inland infrastructure and the economy provided for local inhabitants. However human destruction also remains a common phenomenon, due to the increasing economic plight in the region. In search of any little means to earn money during the off-seasons, fishers themselves knock down the embankments and participate in the rebuilding. Similar methods are applied with the planting of trees, uprooting, and replanting them along the shoreline. It is unfortunate that natural adversities go parallel with the exhausted economy.
Photo credit and Contributor: Poulami Ghosh, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: September 20, 2023
The photo shows the Sundarbans mangrove forest near Munshiganj, Satkhira, Bangladesh. The Sundarbans is known as the largest mangrove forest in the world. The forest is situated between Bangladesh (60%) and India (40%). Each year the forest protects the population of the South-Western part of Bangladesh from extreme natural disasters, acting as a natural bio-shield. It contains unique biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal, with a huge source of fisheries, agriculture, and wildlife. Thousands of small-scale fishers around the forest rely on the Sundarbans for their food and nutritional security, income, and livelihoods. They are, at the same time, the most vulnerable to climate change, poverty, inequity, and power dynamics. Small-scale fisheries are a pre-dominant profession for the communities that live near the forest, and the majority of them are engaged with this profession for generations.
Photo credit & Contributor: Md. Ruyel Miah, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: September 13, 2023
This photo was captured in Chilika Lagoon, Odisha state, India, during the Chilika-V2V Field School 2022. It depicts the practice of fishing in groups and the subsequent sale of the catch at landing sites – two pivotal aspects of small-scale fisheries. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, fishers were unable to fish in groups or vend their catch. This disruption had a profound impact on their livelihoods, magnifying their vulnerability during the pandemic. The convergence of COVID-19 as a stressor alongside pre-existing vulnerabilities created a cascading and synergistic effect that reverberated through small-scale fisheries. This unforeseen situation resulted in consequences that rippled across the entire value chain of these fisheries. For instance, the sale of fish catch was influenced by factors like market accessibility, restricted fishing hours, mobility of intermediate sellers, immigrant fishers, and the closure of HORECA (Hotel, Restaurants, and Catering) services. The intricate nature of this effect is substantiated by emerging literature and insights gleaned from in-person and online interviews conducted with field experts across different countries.
Photo credit and Contributor: Maha Abdelbaset, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: September 6, 2023
The photo was taken at the fishing community of Hann in Senegal. Poor fisheries governance along with unsustainable fisheries policies, has contributed to the degradation of ecosystems for the artisanal fishers through no fault of their own. Indeed, in Senegal, the fisheries policy that for decades favored fishing agreements without an adequate monitoring system has resulted in serious scarcity of resources. Since the end of the 1970s, Senegal began signing fishing agreements with the European Union, before diversifying its partners, such as Russia and China among many other countries. Although the authorities claim that they have frozen these agreements (which remains to be verified as foreign ship-owners can nationalize their fleets), the granting of these licenses for decades has decimated the stocks.
Photo credit: Seynabou Sall, 2023
Contributor: Aliou Sall, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: August 30, 2023
This photo was captured at the Krushna Chandra Jena Chilika-V2V Annual Field School that was held from August 12th to 19th, 2023. In a vibrant display of unity and shared purpose, a group photograph encapsulates the essence of The Krushna Chandra Jena Chilika-V2V Annual Field School on Environmental Change and Governance. Held against the backdrop of Chilika Nalabana Bird Sancturay, this snapshot freezes a moment of intellectual and cultural exchange amidst the serene beauty of the coastal landscape.
The photograph radiates diversity, reflecting the convergence of up to 40 graduate students and early-career researchers from across the globe. Representing academia, government, NGOs, and coastal communities, these individuals share a passion for understanding the intricate dynamics of coastal existence. Their joint mission is to glean insights into crafting a just transition, one that bridges the gap from vulnerability to viability within aquatic social-ecological systems. At the heart of the event lies the theme, "Blue Justice and Coastal Livelihoods: Transitioning from Vulnerability to Viability." A theme that resonates deeply in an era where the concept of Blue Economy has swept the world's shorelines. The term "Blue (In)justice" takes center stage, embodying the struggle for fairness and equity in the face of the burgeoning Blue Economy agendas. It serves as a stark reminder that while progress surges, the principles of fairness must not be left behind.
As the shutter clicked, it captured the group's energy as they explored novel concepts, approaches, and methods to navigate the complexities of this transition. Against the backdrop of Asia's largest lagoon, Chilika, the field school seamlessly melds classroom education with hands-on experience. This immersive approach cultivates a deep understanding of the challenges faced by coastal communities and the potential solutions that lie within a just and equitable framework. In this photograph, each smile, each face reflects a commitment to embracing change, to advocate for fairness, and to stand as stewards of coastal ecosystems. The annual field school stands not merely as an event but as a testament to the power of collaboration, education, and inspiration. As the week-long journey continues, the photograph stands as a reminder of the potential that blooms when minds converge, ideas flourish, and the journey from vulnerability to viability is guided by the principles of justice and equity.
Photo credit and Contributor: V2V Global Partnership, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: August 23, 2023
This group photo was captured during a significant moment when over 80 dedicated individuals from around the world united for the V2V Global Partnership's inaugural in-person Project Meeting. Set against the backdrop of the coastal-temple town of Puri, nestled near the mesmerizing Chilika Lagoon along the East Coast of India's Bay of Bengal, the gathering unfolded from August 7 to 11, 2023. Marking a significant milestone, this event marked V2V's first face-to-face endeavor since its inception. Beyond the picturesque setting, the meeting held profound purpose – a platform for the five V2V Working Groups and the V2V Country Teams to synergize progress and chart future trajectories. Amidst the camaraderie, this assembly embodied the spirit of the V2V family, a momentous occasion to celebrate past achievements and collectively map the uncharted waters of shared endeavors.
Photo credit and Contributor: V2V Global Partnership, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: August 16, 2023
This photo was captured at Kunduchi landing site in Dar es Salaam, nestled along the coastline of the Indian Ocean in Tanzania. The image offers a glimpse of the diverse array of fishing vessels, with many utilizing outboard engines, while others are fashioned as dug-out canoes or rely on traditional sail-powered techniques harnessed by prevailing winds. Kunduchi landing site is a hub of multifaceted fishing practices, each tailored to target distinct fish species such as Tuna and the locally known "Dagaa Mchele" anchovy. The methodologies employed vary, with Tuna fishing utilizing both long lines with hooks and ring nets, while anchovy fishing predominantly employs ring nets during daylight and nighttime operations, often supplemented by Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS) featuring solar lamps for enhanced visibility during darker hours. Notably, Tanzania's unique geographical makeup, encompassing both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, has led to the implementation of distinct legal instruments for fishery management. This photograph is part of a comprehensive study that undertakes a comparative analysis of these legal frameworks, with the ultimate aim of transforming vulnerability into sustainability and ensuring the continued prosperity of these invaluable aquatic resources.
Photo credit and Contributor: Denice Dioniciusy Fredrick, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: August 10, 2023
The photo was taken on the coast of Moheshkhali, Chattogram, Bangladesh. It shows a fishing boat retires at dusk. With the Bay of Bengal on the horizon, the vessel depicts how people are connected to the sea, and also the loneliness of the small-scale fishers (SSF) which makes them vulnerable to multi-faceted shocks and stresses. Over the last few years, the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has been working with these SSF communities. Articles on the dual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 65-day fishing ban in Bangladesh can be found here and here.
Photo credit & Contributor: Haseeb Md. Irfanullah, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: August 02, 2023
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This photo was taken at the fishing port of "Chuburna Puerto" in Yucatan, Mexico in October 2022 during guided tours as part of the activities of the 4th World Small-Fisheries Congress. The photo shows the octopus landings, one of the most economically important fisheries off the coast of Yucatan that takes place from August to December each year. In Mexico, 90% of the national fishing fleet is made up of artisanal vessels between 8 and 12 meters in length, and some 300,000 people depend on small-scale fishing. However, as in other regions, fishing also carries its own risks, given the uncertainty of resource availability, hostile environmental conditions, increased market demand, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Both people and resources are exposed to these sources of risk, which can occur independently or with a synergistic effect, generating a condition of increased socioeconomic vulnerability for fishing communities.
Researchers from CINVESTAV-Merida-Fisheries Lab (https://bit.ly/3M883rt) in collaboration with To Big To Ignore Global Partnership (http://toobigtoignore.net/) are developing a project entitled "Socioeconomic impact of extreme contingencies in fishing communities of Yucatan, Mexico" to identify how fishers were affected after the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic (catches, prices, opportunity cost), and the main response measures adopted by fishers. This study focuses on the coasts of Yucatan, Mexico, where small-scale fisheries are multi-species, multi-gear, characteristics that make it more complex and difficult to assess and administer the resources. It is precisely in this type of fisheries where these sources of risk can have a greater impact. With an increasing number of people depending on this activity and being exposed to these stressors, these sources of uncertainty and risk need to be addressed.
Photo credit and Contributor: Juan Carlos Hernández Padilla, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: July 26, 2023
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This vibrant photo captures the picturesque beauty of Lake Chilwa, Kachulu Beach, in the Southern Region of Malawi. The sunny day with clear skies offers ideal conditions for fishing, but interestingly, most fishers around the Basin prefer to head out in the earliest hours of the day. By the time this photo was taken, around 12 pm, the fishers had already left for lunch or were occupied with other activities at the market. As a result, the boats are "docked" during this time. The fishing routine typically involves most fishers setting out between 2 am and 4 am, dedicating their afternoons to various livelihood activities such as tending to farms or selling their early morning catch at the market. The schedule varies depending on individual preferences and engagements. Some fishers may stay at the dock, continuing to sell fish or other products like maize and flour. Others might attend to their farms, engage in piecework to earn extra income, or simply head home after selling their fish, returning only when it's time to fish again. For the women, their day revolves around the fishing industry too. They often purchase fish around 6 am, taking it home for processing. By 8-9 am, they head to the market to sell their fish and return home for cooking during lunchtime. In the afternoon, around 2 pm, they return to the beach to purchase more fish, which they clean and process upon arriving home. The fish bought later in the afternoon is usually stored overnight to be sold the following morning.
Photo credit and Contributor: Vannessa Warren, 2021
V2V Photo of the Week: July 19, 2023
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This photo was taken at Satapada fish landing and trading place in Chilika Lagoon, India. Fishers are busy fixing the net as they have to go out fishing very early in the morning. The fishers of Chilika Lagoon primarily utilize a traditional fishing technique called "kanda Jal", which involves employing a filament twine net box. This method allows them to capture various types of fish that inhabit the lagoon's waters. In addition to the kanda Jal, some fishers in certain areas of Chilika Lagoon also employ cast nets to target larger fish.
Chilika Lagoon, with its vast expanse of brackish water, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and serves as a vital habitat for numerous species of fish, birds, and other aquatic life. The fishers of the lagoon play a significant role in sustaining the local economy and providing fresh seafood to nearby communities. The serene beauty of the Chilika Lagoon combined with the industriousness of the fishers depicted in the photo showcases the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, highlighting the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the preservation of this unique ecosystem.
Photo credit and Contributor: Sisir Kanta Pradhan
V2V Photo of the Week: July 12, 2023
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This photo was taken at Kunduchi landing site, located along the Coast of the Indian Ocean in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It depicts the drying racks that have been instrumental in helping numerous women mitigate post-harvest losses of anchovy (known locally as Dagaa Mchele), particularly during the rainy season. Ongoing studies are focused on finding ways to further prevent such losses, taking into account safety and cost-effectiveness, in order to sustain the livelihoods of women involved in the anchovy trade. One suggestion is the installation of anchovy-specific drying machines at each landing site, as anchovy has a tendency to spoil quickly after capture unlike other fish species.
Photo credit and Contributor: Denice Dioniciusy Fredrick, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: July 05, 2023
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Sundarbans. This is one of the sketches presented by Soumen to Dr. Amrita Sen during one of her field visits to the Sundarbans. Drawn with a pen on plain paper, the sketch not only reveals his life and material struggles around livelihood but also the everyday precariousness of the fishers inhabiting a globally protected tiger conservation landscape which is also the largest mangrove forests of Sundarbans. A large number of forest workers in the Sundarbans are reported victims of tiger attacks every year. According to him, “In this way, the fishermen of Sundarban are bound to die…”.
Photo credit: Amrita Sen, 2021
Contributor: Raktima Ghosh
V2V Photo of the Week: June 28, 2023
The photo was taken at Ilepete fishing community in Ugbo Kingdom Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. It shows a landing site with several canoes on the shore. The fishermen who have just returned from the sea are busy removing the catches from the net. The women involved in fish processing are there to buy the catches. The women processors at Ilepete fishing community buy the catch from the fishermen, who are often their own husbands. Some women come from other communities to buy particular species of fish, mostly caught at Ilepete, that may not be found in their waters. Ilepete fishermen sell fish to their women processors and collect their money immediately, while the processors also calculate the costs incurred during processing to determine their gain.
The prominent challenges faced by the Ilepete fishing community include sea surges/waves, water hyacinth, broken cranes blocking their path to the landing shore, and the difficulty fishermen face in landing the canoes. Most of the time, they help each other, along with their women, to drag the canoes to the landing shore before sorting out the catches. This process is energy-consuming and time-consuming because they tie a rope at one end to drag the boat, while others help in pushing the canoe out of the mud and onto the landing shore to facilitate sorting. Ilepete fishing community is viable because it is located on flat land, and diversity of fish species are found in their waters. Additionally, before reaching the landing shore, one can observe structures like tables. The fishermen informed that at a particular time (usually at intervals of two years), a whale comes from the ocean to the shore, and people take portions of its meat as needed. The bones seen are remnants of the whale, resembling natural tables decorated at the edges. Some companies come to buy the bones for bone meal. The Ilepete fishing community is also blessed with various mangrove trees.
Photo credit: Felicia Yetunde Eboka, 2022
Contributor: Foluke Omotayo Areola
V2V Photo of the Week: June 21, 2023
This photo was captured at the fishing port of "Chuburna Puerto" in Yucatan, Mexico during guided tours as part of the activities of the 4th World Small-Fisheries Congress. It shows a group of small boats dedicated to catching octopuses (Octopus maya and Octopus americanus) off the coast of Yucatan, Mexico. Usually, each boat can transport a smaller boat called "Alijo" to the fishing areas with which they optimize their fishing trips. The catch is made through bamboo rods called "Jimbas" in which up to 4 multifilament lines are used. Several species of crabs such as Callinectes sapidus and Libinia dubia are used as bait. The capture method is called "Gareteo" because during the fishing operation the fisher allows the boat to drift ("Al garete"), moving with the marine currents and the strength and direction of the wind. It is considered a sustainable capture technique, highly selective and without effects on the benthic ecosystem. In Mexico, 90% of the national fishing fleet is made up of artisanal vessels between 8 and 12 m in length, and 300,000 people depend on small-scale fishery.
Photo credit & Contributor: Juan Carlos Hernández Padilla, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: June 14, 2023
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The photo was captured at a public event on the Jun 08, 2023 at the University of Waterloo. The event was organized by the V2V Global Partnership where Dr. Manas Kumar Mandal (cognitive neuropsychologist serving as a distinguished professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur) talked about “Decoding Happiness: Understanding The Science Behind…”. Dr. Mandal explained that research in positive psychology suggests that happiness is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and individual factors. It is not solely determined by external circumstances, but rather, it is influenced by an individual's mindset, social connections, and adaptive coping mechanisms. Similarly, resilience is not solely determined by the absence of stress or adversity but is instead shaped by an individual's ability to adapt, maintain a positive outlook, and access necessary resources and support systems.
Small-scale fishery communities often face various challenges such as environmental changes, overfishing, market fluctuations, and limited access to resources or infrastructure. These challenges can impact the viability of their livelihoods and overall community well-being. In this context, resilience becomes crucial for small-scale fishery communities. Resilient individuals and communities are better equipped to cope with and adapt to the changing circumstances and stressors. They can bounce back from setbacks, maintain their emotional well-being, and find ways to sustain their livelihoods despite challenges. Moreover, studies have shown that factors contributing to happiness, such as social support, a sense of purpose, and positive relationships, can also enhance resilience. Strong social networks within small-scale fishery communities can provide emotional support, information sharing, and collective problem-solving, which are vital for resilience. When individuals feel happier and supported, they are more likely to remain resilient in the face of adversity and maintain their viability as fishers.
Conversely, vulnerability in small-scale fishery communities can lead to diminished happiness and reduced resilience. Limited access to resources, weak social networks, and a lack of adaptive strategies can increase vulnerability. This vulnerability can undermine their ability to cope with challenges, negatively impact their well-being, and threaten the viability of their livelihoods. To promote viability in small-scale fishery communities, it is important to focus on enhancing resilience and happiness. This can involve interventions that strengthen social networks, provide access to resources and education, promote sustainable fishing practices, and foster supportive policies and governance. By fostering resilience and happiness, small-scale fishery communities can better navigate challenges, maintain their well-being, and ensure the long-term viability of their livelihoods.
Photo credit: V2V Global Partnership, 2023
Contributor: Sevil Berenji
V2V Photo of the Week: June 07, 2023
The photo was captured in the Perhentian Islands, which are part of a marine protected area (MPA) within the Terengganu state in Malaysia. It shows elevated houses of local people built on the slopes of the island due to scarcity of land. Over the past two decades, the tourism industry has flourished in the marine park of Perhentian islands. As a result, the number of tourists, boats, hotels and other tourism infrastructures has been growing steadily. The main tourist activities are scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming. The increasing number of tourist arrivals on the islands has attracted people from the mainland who come to the islands to work and carry out business in the tourism sector. In fact, many of the hotels and dive shops are owned and managed by expatriates.
The Perhentian MPA consists of small islands that simply lack the capacity to support the amount of infrastructure that has been built. Shortages of land forced developers into direct conflict with conservation initiatives e.g., illegal development on turtle beaches. Excessive tourism activities and the establishment of hotels and other land-based infrastructures have led to a serious problem with pollution in the islands. The causes of pollution on the islands are waste discharges from chalets, littering on the beach, dumping of discarded fishing equipment, rubbish from restaurants, wastewater from households, and oil leakage from boats anchoring on the coral reefs. Inadequate water treatment and sanitation facilities also cause severe environmental problems on the beaches and in the waters surrounding the Perhentian MPA.
Photo credit: Betty Ngui Chiew Pieng, 2022
Contributor: Gazi Md Nurul Islam
V2V Photo of the Week: May 31, 2023
This photo was captured at Kutubjom Union of Moheshkhali Upazila, which is located in the south-eastern coast of Bangladesh. It profiles Md. Shahjahan, a local fisherman, who has been fishing for the past 16 years. He went fishing for the first time when his father got severely injured and sick during cyclone ‘SIDR’ in November 2007. Since then, fishing has been his way of earning livelihoods. He does not go into the deep sea for fishing and instead he mostly stay around the edges of the sea. For fishing in the deep sea, one would need a bigger boat or go on someone else's boat, but neither one of these is worth taking the risk as for a bigger boat he may need to take loan from ‘Mohajon’ (Mohajon are traditional money lenders who provide loan to fishers to buy or mend their boats, nets and other accessories for fishing). As he does not enter the deep ocean, the fishing trip usually takes 5-6 hours per day. He sets the 'fishing net' in poles in the morning and then come ashore. Either in the afternoons or sometimes at night, he goes back there to check for fish that got caught in the meantime. He collects the fish and sets the fishing nets again for the next day. According to this fisherman, the way of livelihood has changed due to the effects of climate change and it is no longer possible to catch fish in the river for a long time. Many times, they had lost their nets and boats in storms. As a result of climate change, fishermen like Shahjahan in this area are facing various challenges but no special programs have been introduced for them to build their resilience in the long run. The fear of a bigger crisis constantly looms over them.
Photo credit and Contributor: Md. Emon Rahman, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: May 24, 2023
The pictures was taken at the fishing community of Hann in Senagal using a drone with camera. It shows the resettlement site beside the Hann Bay cluttered with fish workers and their equipment. As seen in the photo, the erosion would not allow the workers to stay longer in this location, especially during the rainy season when the sea is rough. The site represents a case where displacement of hundreds of people, who usually work on the artisanal fishing wharf in the community of Hann, due to the construction of the refrigeration complex in the place where the community used to conduct their post-harvest activities earlier. Previously, this resettlement site was the landing site of the Hann fishing community and was roughly laid out but had a hard slab platform, covered by a roof, where pelagic fish (which represent 80% of the annual catch) were unloaded. Around this historical SSF port, various people outside the fishing world were active in their daily subsistence. This is the case for all activities directly and/or indirectly linked to artisanal fishing. However, since the beginning of the construction of the refrigeration complex, there has been a significant drop in the number of people present on the site. Once the harbor was appropriated, even the lorries that carried fish from Hann to rural areas in the interior of the country have no more space to park. Indeed, after relocating the users from the traditional quay, the authorities have assigned them another site that is not at all attractive for three reasons. Firstly, this resettlement site is part of the coastline that is most impacted by erosion. Secondly, it is a site traditionally considered a niche for criminals. Finally, this site is adjacent to the infamous Canal 6 in Senegal, which drains the most toxic solid and liquid waste from the capital Dakar into Hann Bay. The biggest victims of this inconvenience and injustice are the women who find it impossible to conduct their post-harvest fishing activities in the absence of access to the coastline. Important to mention that all or most of the post-harvest fish processing and micro-trading take place right on the beach and are the main activities undertaken by women.
Photo credit: Seynabou Sall, 2023
Contributor: Aliou Sall
V2V Photo of the Week: May 17, 2023
This photo was taken in Mirzapur village, Satapada, Chilika lagoon, Bay of Bengal, Odisha, India. It shows empty tourist boats on the shores of Chilika Lagoon waiting for tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic had unprecedented impacts on small-scale fisheries-based livelihoods in Chilika. The imposition of stringent lockdown measures coupled with a fishing ban during the pandemic and had left the marginalized fisher communities highly vulnerable for a substantial period of time. Eco-tourism, an important source of livelihood for the local communities, was severely affected during the pandemic.
Photo credit and Contributor: Janmejaya Mishra, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: May 10, 2023
The photo was taken in Lagos state, Nigeria. It shows a fish smoker (Mrs. Suliya Rasheed), a fisherman (Mr. Jehoshaphat Yomepe), and the director of the Department of Fisheries, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Mrs. Daisi Osunkoya) posing beside a prototype drum kiln that is fabricated by ID57 project team to primarily smoke and dry fish. The prototype is a 20-liter insulated drum kiln that is primarily intended to use biomass briquettes as an energy source, with charcoal as an alternative. It has four wire mesh trays, each of which can hold 5 kilograms of fish. Construction materials are locally sourced or available and relatively inexpensive. The prototype has a thermometer, and the components are relatively detachable, easy to maintain, and portable. It is versatile enough to smoke goat, chicken, mushrooms, crayfish, and other foods. Additional benefits include aesthetics, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for low-income fish smokers. Click here to read more about this project.
Fish processing is a female-centric occupation dominated by traditional smoke-drying technologies that exhibit occupational hazards and fuel inefficiencies. Among fish processors in the small-scale fisheries sector, there has been limited success in introducing home-grown technologies for adoption. Campaigns against using firewood and switching to charcoal have not been successful. Barriers to the adoption of improved fish smoking practices and sustainable energy use are influenced by cultural biases, and socio-economic and psychological factors. Additionally, the energy crisis has added another barrier to the adoption of charcoal due to increasing costs. Based on the identified challenges, this project adopted a transdisciplinary approach to conducting surveys and training workshops with fish processors, fishers, and other stakeholders to design a modernized fish dryer prototype and to evaluate the adoption of alternative biomass sources (e.g., recycling water hyacinth, agricultural wastes) for fuel.
Photo credit: Project ID 57 Research Team of the Gendered Design in Science, Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) for Low-Middle Income (LMIC) project (2020-2022), 2022
Contributor: Kafayat Adetoun Fakoya
V2V Photo of the Week: May 03, 2023
This photo was captured in Klidang Lor village, Batang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Klidang Lor village embraces one of the largest small-scale fishing communities in Batang Regency. The photo shows fishing equipment in the middle of the inspection and preparation stage during the day as small-scale fishers are getting ready to go out to sea at night. Fishers repair their gears before their voyage and stock necessary equipment and supply of groceries to use on their boats. The most common fishing gear used by fishers of this region is Jaring Tarik Berkantong (JTB), which is considered a more eco-friendly net compared to cantrang (the Indonesian term for seine net). Seine fishing uses wide nets weighted down to the seabed to scoop up large volumes of fish and its net typically has a 2.5-centimeter (1-inch) mesh size while the mesh size of JTB is required to be at least 5 cm (2 in).
Photo credit & Contributor: Arisanti Ayu Wardhani, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: April 26, 2023
This photo was captured in Miemia town in the Western Region of Ghana. It shows the result of coastal flooding, erosion, and sand harvesting that have destroyed properties and infrastructure of coastal communities as a result of severe storms. The main activities of the towns around involve mainly fishing and salt mining activities. This flood usually happens once a year however, in 2021, it happened about 3 times in the communities around, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. The flooding stops people involved in fishing activities from going to work while destroying their properties and infrastructure and, eventually, affected their livelihood tremendously. Ghana’s government is responding to the growing crisis by fortifying some coastal areas with seawalls, but researchers say relying on seawalls alone may do more harm than good.
Photo credit: Richard Adade, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, 2021
Contributor: Chineboaba Araba Afful
V2V Photo of the Week: April 19, 2023
These photos were captured in Inatori, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The left photo shows a Japanese young Kinme (Splendid Alfonsino) fisher (the 29-year-old Yuto Uchiyama) and his family’s newly started fishing tour business on their Kinme fishing cruise boat. This is an excellent Umigyo* activity and an effective way for the fishing communities to transit from one V (vulnerability) to another V (viability). This can be seen from the following words by Uchiyama which is full of pride and dreams: “The best thing is that customers can see the wonderful view of the Izu Peninsula from the sea. There are many people who experience fishing boats for the first time (right photo), and I am happy that they enjoy it. I find it rewarding to let people know that fishers don’t just catch fish, we can do many other things. I think it's great for us to be able to work during our off times (Feb 1, 2023).”
The word “Umigyo” is a combination of the Japanese words “sea (海) ” and “source of living (業)” and refers to a series of economic activities carried out by fishing communities or fishers’ organizations for meeting diverse needs from the marine and coastal resources. The word “fishing” in Japanese is a combination of “fishing (漁)” and “source of living (業)” and refers to a series of economic activities that utilize community resources, including aquatic resources, natural resources, cultural and historical resources, etc. for professional and lifestyle purposes and not the for recreational purposes.
Photo credit: Inanimaru, 2020
Contributor: Yinji Li
V2V Photo of the Week: April 12, 2023
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This photo was captured at Mposa beach (Mapira beach) on the shores of Lake Chilwa, Malawi. The photo shows a planked boat beside 'shed-like' structures that serve different purposes for small-scale fishers. They have been constructed by fishers to provide shelter during hot or rainy weather. Some fishers do trade in them and some cook, eat, and rest in them to save the time they would spend commuting between the beach and home. These structures can also serve as temporary storage space for fishing and trading equipment.
Photo credit and Contributor: Vannessa Warren, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: April 05, 2023
This photo was taken in Gulf of Asinara (Golfo dell'Asinara), Sardinia, Italy. It shows "nassa", a fishing gear mainly used to capture octopus. The first nassas were made of dried rush weed, and the making process has been considered an art that gets passed from one generation to another. The nassa in the picture is the type used today by small-scale fishers and is made with plastics. While the plastic nassa is comparatively cheaper, readily available, and durable, some fishers still prefer the traditional version as it would be less harmful to the environment if they lose it at sea.
Photo credit and Contributor: Maria Bernadette Battaglia, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: March 29, 2023
This photo was taken at the shore of Dionwar in Senegal. It shows a biological shellfish sampling technique practiced before the harvest by women, the main actors in seafood harvesting. It assesses the quantity and weight of mollusks found on the mudflats. The technique is performed at low tides with the help of dials (wooden instruments). Once dials are placed, they have what is called "a plot". This technique determines the quantity and weight of the resources harvested for each plot (square or rectangle). This technique allows the harvester to make an extrapolation (knowing the amount they are going to harvest for a small surface of the plot) and to know how much they will get when they are going to harvest when covering a defined area (1 ha, for example).
Photo credit: Dr. Alassane Sarr, Director of Institutes for fisheries and Aquaculture (IUPA /UCAD), 2022
Contributor: Khady Yama Sarr
V2V Photo of the Week: March 22, 2023
The photo was captured in the Perhentian Islands, which are part of a no-take marine protected area (MPA) within the Terengganu state in Malaysia. Being a part of a no-take zone (NTZ) in an MPA means that direct human disturbance, such as fishing and extraction of natural materials (e.g., collecting coral or removing marine life), dumping, and dredging or construction activities are strictly prohibited, while a variety of non-extractive uses (e.g., like snorkeling, diving, and boating) are permitted. The photo shows chalets on the island that are built due to the tourism industry that has flourished in the marine park of Perhentian islands over the past two decades. This growth of tourism in the MPAs has brought many economic benefits and opportunities to the local people. Nevertheless, the NTZs caused much hardship for small-scale fishers by depriving them of the means to make a living. Even greater difficulty is created during the monsoon season when strong winds and heavy rain make it unsafe for fishing in the open sea. Although the main objective of the MPAs is to conserve marine resources, it is equally important not to neglect their social, cultural and economic impacts on the local community.
Fishing has been the only source of income and food for the artisanal fishers in the offshore islands of Peninsular Malaysia for generations. Their traditional fishing grounds were the waters surrounding islands, where coral reefs provide sheltered habitats for fish and other marine resources to feed, breed and grow. Following the 1994 establishment of no-take MPAs, fishing is banned for a distance of up to two nautical miles from the shore of the MPA islands. The Department of Marine Park have imposed a set of rules and regulations to protect and conserve marine biodiversity. However, the fishing restrictions in the MPAs has made a serious adverse effect on the livelihoods of fishing households. The traditional fishers are not capable of fishing beyond two nautical miles with their small fishing boats and traditional gears. The local fishers are among the poorest and most marginalized groups in the country.
Photo credit and Contributor: Gazi Md Nurul Islam, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: March 15, 2023
This photo was taken one morning at Ouémé River, which is located in Bétérou town, Borgou Department of central Benin. The photo shows a small-scale fisher collecting his gillnet that was placed in the water overnight. A gillnet is a wall of netting that hangs in the water column, typically made of monofilament or multifilament nylon. Mesh sizes in gillnets are designed to allow fish to get only their head through the netting but not their body. The fish's gills then get caught in the mesh as the fish tries to back out of the net.
Photo credit and Contributor: Edéya Orobiyi Rodrigue Pèlèbè, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: March 08, 2023
This photo shows Ama (The Freediving Fisherwomen of Japan) of the seaweed fishery in the Inatori community, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Ama (meaning “women of the sea” in Japanese) are Japanese divers that make a living from the ocean collecting seaweed, shellfish, lobster, octopus, sea urchins, pearls, and abalone to sell at the market. Once there were thousands of Ama divers across Japan. But their numbers are fast falling as the newer generation of women is shunning away from the profession of their mothers. According to a 2010 survey, there are only around two thousand Ama divers left in the nation. Most of them live around Toba and Shima in the Mie prefecture, where there is a cultured pearl firm.
Japan’s Ama divers are known as one of the earliest freediving cultures on earth. During Japan's Heian period (794 to 1185 AD), Ama were known to dive for seafood and were honored with the task of retrieving abalone for shrines and imperial emperors. Traditionally, the Ama dove wearing only a fundoshi (loincloth - all-white sheer diving uniform) and a tenugi (bandana) to cover their hair to ease movement in the water. While diving and it was believed to ward off sharks. They tied a rope around their waists that would connect them to the boat or a wooden barrel (used as a buoy). A rope attaching them to a boat or battel would help them to find their way to the surface of the water, rest and catch their breath between dives. The tradition is still maintained across many coastal parts of Japan and some have embraced modern technology such as black wetsuits and flippers.
Ama work in multiple shifts, spending a total of about two hours a day underwater. Between shifts, they spend time on the beach warming up under the sun or by a fire. Local fishing regulations require them to work no more than 4 hours a day, but in the past, Ama divers spent as many as 6-8 hours in the water every day. Girls born into Ama families start training when they are only a few years old. They learn the skills from their mothers and other elder women in the family. By the time they reach 14, they are usually ready to dive. Ama uses a unique breathing technique called the Isobue or “sea whistle”. The Isobue is used to relax the Ama during their surface intervals, which are very short, typically less than 60 seconds. The whistle is a long and slow exhalation. Ama equalize hands-free via ‘Beance Tubaire Volontaire’ BTV maneuver as their masks do not feature the flexible nose pocket.
Photo credit: Inatori Branch of Izu Fisheries Cooperative Association (FCA)
Contributor: AmusingPlanet & Yinji Li
V2V Photo of the Week: March 01, 2023
This photo was taken in Kumirmari village located in Indian Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. It shows a local inland fisher catching fish from his domestic pond. Fishing is conducted by the inland fishers of Indian Sundarbans on a regular basis in their privately owned ponds. Most of the villagers in Kumirmari village own ponds where they conduct inland aquaculture mostly to meet their domestic food needs. These fishing households legally own these ponds. Fishers can also fish in some canals managed by informal cooperatives that are owned by local panchayats (village-governing institution). Inland fishing is technically and visibly much different from deep sea fishing because it does not involve the use of large boats and specialized fishing gears. Further, the process of culturing, harvesting, and marketing is managed by the fisher only. It is also operated comparatively on a smaller scale than deep-sea fishing and has a different set of challenges and opportunities. Please find further details here.
Photo credit and Contributor: Souradip Pathak, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: February 22, 2023
This photo was taken in the early morning of Struisbaai Harbour, located on the Cape West Coast of South Africa. It shows small-scale fishers catching fish in the Indian Ocean. Struisbaai is known worldwide for its seasonal yellowtail and as the summer season starts, fishers from all other places gather in Struisbaai to mostly catch yellowtail. About 230 small scale-fishers are living in Struisbaa village. The local fishers do not have a problem with small-scale fishers of other areas coming to fish in the area. The problem lies with the approximately 200 recreational fishing boats that use the same slipway during the peak season that small-scale fishers use. They have faster and more powerful boats, which means that they get to the fishing areas faster and catch most of the fish before the local fishers can even reach there with their smaller diesel-powered boats (locally called chukkies). This is one of the several challenges the local small-scale fishers of Struisbaai face.
Photo credit and Contributor: Tracey Lee Dennis, 2023
V2V Photo of the Week: February 15, 2023
These photo were captured in Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The left photo shows Futoshi Aizawa, an owner of a family-based small-scale fishing business, answering a TV show (Kyodo Television) interview. He is a 3rd generation of Nori-seaweed fisher while there are only eleven Nori fishing households left in this community after the Great East Earthquake (2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami) disaster. In his interview, he mentioned, "We can't afford to sit idly by. There is something we can do as fishers on the ground, and things can be changed by communicating before it’s too late”.
The fisher communities made every effort to recover from the disaster. Among them, Mr. Aizawa apart from dedicating himself to Nori farming during the typical Nori season (from September to April), travels around the country and organizes "what we can do before we lose our bountiful sea" Workshops (right photo) during the off-seasons at his own cost aiming to get people to know how Nori fishers grow Nori considering the changing environment of the ocean. This shows small-scale fishers’ contribution to environmental education, which is an excellent case of small-scale fisheries transitioning from one V (vulnerability) to another V (viability). You can get more information in this regard by watching a YouTube Video (Japanese with English subtitles) at this link.
Photo credit: Yinji Li, 2022 (left), Aizawa Fishery, 2021 (right)
Contributor: Yinji Li
V2V Photo of the Week: February 08, 2023
This photo was captured in Lake Chilwa, Malawi. It shows small-scale fishing boats on dry land that was once a part of Lake Chilwa. The effects of extreme weather events in the lake lead to extreme water level fluctuations in the lake. As a result, Lake Chilwa dries up, and fishing gets harder with each passing day as the water continues to move further away from the beach and the catch dwindles heavily. This scenario leads to various vulnerabilities in fishing communities that entirely depend on the lake for their livelihoods. The recent occurrence of complete drying of the lake occurred in the year 2018.
Photo credit: Hastings Zidana, 2018
Contributor: Moffat Mzama Manase
V2V Photo of the Week: February 01, 2023
This photo was captured in the coral reefs of the core zone in Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia. Karimunjawa is one of the marine conservation areas in Indonesia known as Karimunjawa National Park, which has a vital role in maintaining marine and coastal services. To manage Karimunjawa National Park efficiently, the park is divided into nine zones, namely the core zone, jungle zone, marine protection zone, land use zone, tourism utilization zone, marine cultivation zone, religious zone, rehabilitation zone, and traditional fishing zone. Two out of the nine zones, the protection zone and the core zone, are highly guarded because of their crucial role in protecting marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Coral reefs play a crucial role in supporting fisheries as they are spawning, nursing, and feeding grounds for a diverse range of species that form the basis of many fishing communities' livelihoods. However, coral reefs are also highly vulnerable to human activities, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. When coral reefs are damaged, it can lead to declines in fish populations and a decrease in the overall productivity of the fishery. Therefore, the health of coral reefs is directly linked to the health of the surrounding fishery, and the sustainable management of both is essential for maintaining the long-term productivity, resilience of these ecosystems and the overall viability of the small-scale fisheries in a social-ecological system.
Photo credit and Contributor: Aini Nur Furoida and Zulfikar Al-hadfidz, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: January 25, 2023
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This photo was captured in Miemia, Western Region of Ghana, during data collection for a research on “Biomass Estimation, Composition and Environmental Effects of Sargassum Spp in coastal Ghana”. It shows the amount of seaweed piled up daily at the shore of Miemia. The West Africa’s coastal areas receive a high influx of pelagic seaweed invasion, which started decades ago. It occurs perennially and is mostly characterized by huge volumes of algae landing daily on beaches. The invasion of this seaweed poses economic, social, and ecological challenges to the fishers and community members, affecting their livelihoods, health, ecological and social wellbeing. The smell that emanates from the seaweed and the collection of insects around them causes some health issues among community members. Further, hauling boats and canoes into the shore after fishing voyages becomes a challenging task for the fishers of the community. There is also a concern regarding fishing nets and outboard motors getting destroyed anytime fishers go fishing
Photo credit: Richard Adade, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience
Contributor: Selorm Awiah Dzantor, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: January 18, 2023
This photo was captured at Kaptai Lake, the largest lake of Bangladesh located at Rangamati district of Chittagong division. It shows small-scale fishers start their fishing trips in the morning with small mesh seine net. Kaptai Lake is one of the largest man-made freshwater lakes in South Asia, which occupies about 68,800 ha area. The Lake's fisheries has a significant contribution to the livelihoods of the small-scale fishing community, sharing approximately 10,578 metric tons of fish annually to the country's total production (Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh, 2021). Furthermore, the Lake is home to several Indian major carp spawning grounds.
Photo credit and Contributor: Amany Begum, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: January 11, 2023
This photo was captured at Mposa beach (Mapira beach) on the shores of Lake Chilwa, Malawi. The photo shows planked boats used by the small-scale fishers of Lake Chilwa. Lake Chilwa supplies, on average, about 20% of total fish landings in Malawi, reaching 27% in some years (GoM, 2005). The fishery is also important for sustaining livelihoods of many people living outside the basin. The lake fishery and the whole of the Chilwa plains are an important economic system. Not only are there links between fishing and various ancillary services of it, but also complementary flows of income between fishing, farming and cattle-rearing. The Lake Chilwa fisheries are harvested by over five thousand fishers (boat owners and crew members); many more are engaged in ancillary activities such as fish processing, trading, transportation, firewood selling and other support services. Most fishers use dugout canoes though some have access to planked boats with or without engines.
Photo credit and Contributor: Vannessa Warren, 2022
V2V Photo of the Week: January 04, 2023
This photo was captured during morning time at the Satapada fish landing and trading place in Chilika Lagoon, Odisha state, India. The photo shows women (who are from fisher families) cleaning, sorting and grading fish after buying it from the Mahajan (the fish buyer). The fisher women take the fish in their rented auto rickshaws to other areas for retail sale. At the left side of the photo, fishing nets are laid on the embankment for drying after fishers cleaned and unwind them.
Photo credit: Prateep Kumar Nayak, 2022
Contributor: Sisir Kanta Pradhan