Shellfish Collection in Senegambian Mangroves: A Female Knowledge System in a Priority Conservation Region

Abstract

Shellfish collected in the West African mangrove ecosystem of Senegambia provide a crucial source of dietary protein, but the species harvested for household consumption have received little attention in conservation and socioeconomic research. This study examines the edible mollusks, gastropods, and crustaceans that figure prominently in a mangrove ecosystem that has emerged as a global conservation priority. Based on interviews and field observations, the species that are consumed are identified, as well as the locations within the ecosystem where they are harvested. Attention is also drawn to the gendered practices that inform collection and preservation. Edible shellfish hold considerable potential for monitoring mangrove ecosystem health, which is increasingly affected by deforestation and rising and acidifying seas. This paper highlights the importance of collaborating with local peoples who have cultural and economic ties to mangrove forests and ethnobiological knowledge about the management of these resources, which are essential for the development of effective conservation strategies.

Examining the Socioeconomic Benefits of Oysters: A Provisioning Ecosystem Service from the Mangroves of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

“…Although oysters are not the only product sold by women in the two parks, according to the survey results, the sale of harvested oysters largely contributes to household income and, consequently, to pay many of the daily expenses of the families, namely, to meet the needs of children. These findings are consistent with surveys in other western Africa countries, which show that oyster harvesting is an activity practiced mainly by women that contributes to improve the livelihood of local families (Adite, Sonon, and Gbedjissi, 2013;Barri, 2008;Carney, 2017;Crow and Carney, 2013).…”

Youth wildlife preferences and species-based conservation priorities in a low-income biodiversity hotspot region

“…Because women and girls are socialized from an early age to be caretakers of the family in areas where hunting and fishing is a utilitarian livelihood strategy, such as in Bahía de Jiquilisco, it is possible that genderbased roles in the family contributed to girls in this study ascribing greater conservation importance to hunted and fished species than was the case in other studies where boys valued those species more than girls (Shapiro et al 2016(Shapiro et al , 2017. This may be particularly true because collecting sea turtle eggs, trapping crabs and extracting molluscs may relate more to familial food provisioning than other forms of paid labour (Magalhães et al 2007, Carney 2017, Aye et al 2019. Additional research into the factors that influence genderbased differences in youth wildlife value orientations could address related hypotheses.…”

The Contribution of Marine Fisheries to Socio-economic Development in Tanzania Mainland: Reflections on the Blue Economy Concept from Selected Coastal Villages

“…Also, the establishment of proper fisheries harbours is required to permit the landing of EEZ resources and by-catch from foreign trawlers and fishing vessels. All these measures will help reduce the loss of revenue and resources due to overexploitation; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by distant water fishing vessels: be they local or foreign (Carney, 2017;Okafor-Yarwood and Belhabib, 2020). Local fishermen may also be able to exploit EEZ resources if modern fishing vessels with processing and storage facilities, as well as modern fishing gear (e.g., purse seines and long lines), are provided.…”

“…Furthermore, Tanzanian marine fisheries are beset by natural and social issues such as fish stock availability; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; overfishing and decline in catch (Mayala, 2018). Overexploitation and IUU fishing by local and distant-water fishing vessels undermine the ability of Africa's fisheries to contribute to the blue economy and the sustainable development of its people (Carney, 2017;Belhabib et al, 2020;Okafor-Yarwood & Belhabib, 2020). According to de Graaf and Garibaldi (2014), African governments lost a total of US$3.3bn potential revenues due to illegal foreign fishing, which account for 25% of all marine catches on the continent.…”