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Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

By Blue Ventures

May 10^th, 2023

Fishers from Anjouan, Comoros, recently visited their Kenyan counterparts to exchange knowledge on best practices in marine area management, governance, and protection. The visit, facilitated by Blue Ventures and our partners, Comred and Dahari, aimed to connect East African fisher communities and inspire them to lead fisheries management efforts in their respective countries.

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Anjouan Island has a population of approximately 300,000 people. Their primary source of protein is fish, and they rely on agriculture and fishing as their main economic activities. The marine ecosystem is, therefore, an integral part of the community's culture and livelihood.

"We work with the Anjouanaise community to help them address challenges in managing fisheries in the face of extensive habitat degradation and the loss of fisheries to create awareness on sustainable fishing methods," said Effy Vessaz, Blue Ventures' Regional Partner Support Coordinator in Comoros.

The communities we support in Anjouan have been trialling temporary fisheries closures and are now looking for solutions to address challenges and scale up their management models.

"For the exchange visit, we invited representatives to see what is possible with managing marine areas, learn from communities who faced similar challenges, and get inspired to lead the charge back in their communities,"

said Vessaz.

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

“We have travelled so far, and I hope we get to learn new things that we will take back home when we return.”

"I would like to understand the process for the organisation, implementation, and management of the temporary fisheries closures," said Mourchidi Mohamed, another visiting fisher.

The eight Comorian fisher representatives visited three communities and met with various Beach Management Unit (BMU) members and leaders. They exchanged information on fisheries management, leadership and governance in their respective associations and shared highlights and challenges.

"What impressed me most is the collaboration and understanding between BMU members and the government's support for the management initiatives. We do not have this," said Nidhoimi Binti Chaanbati, a fisherwoman from Anjouan, when they visited the Mkwiro BMU.

"What I understood from the Kenyan BMUs, which I will explain to others once I return to Comoros, is that after electing the executive office, they also set up groups to manage their activities to avoid problems that arise when just the president manages everything," said Anli.

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

The fishers from both countries discussed how they protect their oceans from over-exploitation by implementing Blue Ventures' tested model of fisheries closures and using sustainable fishing methods.

"We saw a lot of things, but what inspired me the most is the management and protection of the sea.

"In Kenya, when they close the sea (fisheries closure), they don't send a lot of fishers once they open, but only a few and then afterwards share with the others. I will try to replicate this because at home, on the day of the reopening, we authorise many people who destroy everything," said Mohamed Chadhouli, General Secretary of the fishers' association in Moya, Anjouan.

"At home, we use metal rebars to catch octopus (which destroy the coral reef); in Kenya, they use a wooden stick. A few in Comoros use the wooden stick, but the majority use the iron harpoon," said Anli from her observations on fishing techniques.

Photo: Catherine Muyonga, COMRED

Photo: Catherine Muyonga, COMRED

Photo: Catherine Muyonga, COMRED

Photo: Randall Mabwa / Blue Ventures

The Comorian fishers also discovered how Kenyan fishers use eco-credit schemes to support and grow their alternative income-generating activities, especially when fisheries are closed. The scheme, also known as blue loans, is a revolving fund started with seed money from Blue Ventures. Members grow the fund by paying registration and application fees to access credit and must participate in conservation activities to get approval for loan requests.

"I liked the idea of the credits they grant to association members to make their lives easier. As soon as I return to Comoros, I will discuss setting up this system of credits with my colleagues so that people can get out of poverty, even on a small scale," said Chadhouli.

They, in turn, had some knowledge to share with the Kenyan fishers during the visit.

"I saw that they fish in shallow waters, and the fish flee from them for high waters, which means they mostly catch small fish. I recommend that they fish at least in waters of 100m or a minimum of 80 metres so that they will find good fish," advised Bacar Abdallah Abdou, a Comorian fisher.

"This exchange was an optimal exchange vis-à-vis the successes, the difficulties encountered, and the solutions recommended for marine management initiatives. The context is not the same, but exploring lessons more adapted to the Comorian context will be necessary," said Siti Mohamed, Head of Dahari's Marine Programme.

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

We were thrilled that by the end of the visit, both the Kenyan and Comorian fishers expressed interest in trialling what they had learnt from each other.

"We who live in a smaller country have had the chance to come to a country with more knowledge about fisheries management. We have received a lot of knowledge that we can use when we return," said Abdul Karim Faharidine, a fisher from Anjouan.

“Those who leave always come back with ideas.”

Connecting small-scale fishers across Africa to inspire community-led marine conservation

Footnotes

Story by Roxanne Mungai, Photos by Martin Muir | Blue Ventures unless otherwise credited

FootNotes

Story by Roxanne Mungai, Photos by Martin Muir | Blue Ventures unless otherwise credited

© 2026 Blue Ventures

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