Field mission to Cape Verde as part of the artisanal fisheries co-management project

Our team of experts travelled to Cabo Verde from July 15 to August 3, 2024 to carry out a field mission as part of the “Community development and implementation of artisanal fisheries co-management in Cabo Verde” project implemented by COFREPECHE since May 2024. This project aims to work closely with local communities and all stakeholders to ensure active participation and sustainable commitment in the implementation of co-management of artisanal fisheries in Cabo Verde.

During this mission, our four international and national experts met with 13 local communities and fishermen on four islands: Sal, São Vicente, Santiago and Santo Antão, accompanied by agents from IMAR (Institute of the Sea – marine and fisheries research) and DNPA (National Fisheries and Aquaculture Directorate).

The goal of this mission was to gather local fishermen’s testimonies on fisheries co-management and to integrate their opinions into the development of the future co-management action plan in the fishing communities targeted by the study. The aim was also to examine the current situation of organizations and communities involved in the co-management of artisanal fisheries. On the basis of this analysis, our team will assess the lessons learnt from previous co-management initiatives in the region. This evaluation also aims to examine the relationship between co-management and environmental conservation, and its impact on green tourism, while integrating the gender dimension. In particular, it will focus on the inclusion of women, young people and the vulnerable, in line with goals 1 and 5 of the 17 global sustainable development goals defined by the UNO.