Created in 2011, the Caie Fisheries Council (CCP) comprises 17 active members. Its president, Agnesse Camilo, shares the journey of this once misunderstood and unrecognised organisation, which is today applauded for its successful endeavours in conserving fishing resources and ecosystems in the Cahora Bassa reservoir.
Rocky beginnings
The CCP’s main mission is to ensure the participation of various stakeholders in the management of fisheries. It also closely follows up the existing measures, especially those in regards to conflicts that arise due to fishing activities. The organisation makes sure that the measures are in effect, at the right period.
Although it seems a great initiative in theory, the CCP’s early days were marked by scepticism and struggles.
“We used to face numerous technical and material challenges. In the Caie fishing community, we were seen as profiteers since we were not identified during our patrol activities,” Agnesse explains.
This lack of clear structure and resources made it quite difficult to effectively manage their responsibilities.
Turning point
In a remarkable display of cooperation, the ECOFISH project and the National Institute for the Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture (IDEPA) joined forces to give a proper direction to the Caie Fisheries Council.
Thanks to much-needed training, restructuring, and adequate equipment, the CCP was able to gain the trust of the community. It was also able to reshape their perceptions concerning the need for marine conservation.
“We are now properly known and recognised in the areas where we work, which makes it easier to monitor harmful gear. In April alone, we managed to capture more than 30 harmful fishing gear such as mosquito nets containing plastic bottles as floats, trawl nets among others,” highlights the CCP president.
Today, equipped with the right tools thanks to ECOFISH and IDEPA, along with the effective leadership of its president, the CCP exemplifies an unwavering commitment to promoting inland waters conservation in the community.
