WorldFish Center report on the opportunities and constraints to improved fisheries exploitation and management in the Maringa – Lopori – Wamba landscape Item Type monograph Authors Russell, A.J.M.; Brummett, R.; Kambala, B.; Gordon, A. Publisher WorldFish Download date 02/10/2021 02:19:39 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35817 WorldFish Center Report on the Opportunities and Constraints to Improved Fisheries Exploitation and Management in the Maringa – Lopori – Wamba Landscape For African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) By Aaron J.M. Russell, Ph.D.* Randall Brummett, Ph.D. Billy Kambala, L.T. Ann Gordon, Ph.D. Date: July 15, 2007 * Corresponding Author: WorldFish Center Regional Office for Africa and West Asia PO Box 1261, Maadi 11728 Cairo, Egypt Tel. (002022) 736-4114 Fax. (002022) 736-4112 Email. [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Acronyms 3 List of Non-English Terms Used 3 List of Tables 4 List of Figures 4 Acknowledgements 4 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 6 Field Program and Methodology 6 Description of the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape 9 Results 9 Fish Species 9 Fishing Gears 10 Primary fishery stakeholder livelihoods and roles in the fishery 11 A. Permanent Fishing Camp Residents 11 B. Local Village Residents – Part-time Fisherfolk 13 C. “Professional Fisher/Traders” 15 D. Fisher Camp Residents by Necessity Rather than Choice 15 E. Basankusu, Mbandaka and Kinshasa Market Fish Traders 15 Fish Marketing Chain 16 Impacts of AWF-ICCN interventions on fishery stakeholders 19 Impacts of other governmental institutions on fishery stakeholders 20 Impacts of other non-governmental institutions on fishery stakeholders 20 Discussion of Key Issues 22 Conclusions and Recommendations 24 Appendices 28 A. Appendix A: Map of Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape 29 B. Appendix B: Dominant species in the fish catches of the Lomako-Maringa fishery 30 C. Appendix C: WorldFish Center team research mission itinerary 31 D. Appendix D: Camps and Villages recorded on the MLW Mission 33 E. Appendix E: Demographic profiles of fishing camps visited 37 F. Appendix F: Village PRA Results 38 G. Photo Gallery 39 2 List of Acronyms AWF – African Wildlife Foundation CARITAS - Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development CARPE - The Central African Regional Program for the Environment CBNRM – Community-Based Natural Resources Management DRC – Democratic Republic of Congo DGM – Direction General de Migration FC – Francs Congolais = USD 550 (May 2007) GPS – Geographic Positioning System ICCN – Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature JRS – Jesuit Refugee Services MLW – Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape NGO – Non-governmental Organization PRA – Participatory Rapid Appraisal USAID – United States Agency for International Development USD – United States Dollar List of Non-English Terms Used Bésolo – women’s collaborative fishing method Corbeille – a large sieve-like basket used to by women in écoupage, through which water is passed leaving behind fish; roughly equivalent to 4 epokos in volume Écoupage – women’s collaborative fishing method Epoko – small basket used by women in écoupage to bail water Pannier – a flat oval woven rope/wicker basket at least 100 cm long, used to transport salted/dried fish Pirogue – a canoe Suzuki – a large woven rope/wicker basket, roughly 50cm high, 100cm long, used to transport smoked fish in, roughly equivalent to 10-12 valises Tracasserie – literally “harassment” Valise – a flat oval woven rope/wicker basket roughly 30sm long, used to smoke and transport fish 3 List of Tables Page Table 1. Prices for imported Chinese fishing equipment at New Sara, Mbandaka (1 USD ≈ FC 500). 11 Table 2. Informal/Formal taxation reported/observed along the Maringa/Lulonga 13 Table 3. Fish purchased from fishers in pirogues along the river (1 USD ≈ FC 500). 17 Table 4. Indicative enterprise budget for a fishing family working the two main fishing seasons on the Lomako River, based on average values reported by fishers according to high and low fish prices at market, and an estimated “tax” burden. 18 Table 5. Estimated relative values of the most common smoked, salted and fresh fish in relation to wet weight as sold in Kinshasa. 19 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Average price of smoked “mungusu” (obscura) in different locations. 18 Figure 2. Vignette of Boofé Co-operative 21 Acknowledgements: The WorldFish Center team is grateful to all those governmental, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) staff members and particularly thankful to all fisherfolk who generously shared their time and views. This consultancy was funded by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) as part of the USAID-funded CARPE Phase 2. The team would like to acknowledge the tremendous logistical support given by AWF’s staff in Kinshasa and Basankusu, and to the GIS Officer at AWF for providing us with invaluable maps. Additionally, AWF field staff member, Mr. Bola, and ICCN Biologist, Mr. Valentin were very helpful in establishing rapport with fisherfolk. 4 Executive summary The WorldFish Center was contracted by Africa Wildlife Foundation to conduct a preliminary survey of the role of fisheries in livelihoods, and opportunities and constraints to improved fisheries exploitation and management, in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape. In May 2007, a three person WorldFish Center team, supported by AWF staff, visited the landscape to explore how the fishery operates to meet local needs and identify scope for interventions that might improve fisheries livelihood opportunities without undermining its sustainability. It is clear that although fishing is important for both income and subsistence in the areas visited, profits are nonetheless modest and somewhat unpredictable. Moreover, fisherfolk should not be considered a homogeneous group: there are different sub-groups, using different gears and skills, involving women and men in both fishing and post-harvest activities, groups who are more or less dependent on farming, and who fish, on balance, more either for cash or subsistence needs. Thus the findings here need to be set within this context of different sub-groups, fishing for generally very modest remuneration, with the latter subject to considerable variability and uncertainty. The team found no evidence of over-fishing and hence no immediate need for fisheries management interventions. However, there are no reliable current data on the fishery and, pending any change in that, it would be unwise to recommend actions to increase fishing effort. Post-harvest handling is clearly characterized by a number of challenges, including poor smoking techniques and extended storage times which can lead to very high losses due to mold and insect attack. Almost no fish is salted/dried. Fish is taken to market only once or twice a year, at the start of the rainy season. Thus, with relatively high market volumes, prices are low. Moreover, the team found no evidence of collective action on transport, which would perhaps offer potential to reduce transport costs. Net returns are further reduced as a result of the frequent and onerous tracasserie (rent-seeking) by officials at a number of ports along the river. This reduces incentives to transport fish to Basankusu, and seems to eliminate almost all incentive to transport fish beyond Basankusu. These findings, although preliminary, give rise to a number of recommendations: • more detailed information is needed on, e.g., marketing systems (including post-harvest aspects), fish resources (creel survey) and case studies of particular activities/sub-groups; • develop capacity of fisherfolk groups, with a strong focus on common interests in which there are clear benefits from collective action; identify scope for women’s interest groups; • a key entry point is improvement in post-harvest handling of fish through improved smoking methods, and investigating the market viability of salted/dried fish; • explore the potential for savings and credit interventions to change timing of fish sales • work with consortium partners on effective strategies to reduce tracasserie; and • explore possibilities to reduce transport costs and/or identify additional transport options. 5 Introduction The human population density of the Lomako/Maringa swamp forest (estimated at 5- 10,0001) is low compared to a huge biodiversity that includes a relatively high density of bonobos (Pan paniscus), one of the five great ape species found in the DRC. Nevertheless, bonobos are under threat from commercial/subsistence hunting and trade in bushmeat, as well as logging of the habitat. In recognition of its conservation value, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo set aside an area known as the Lomako-Yokokala Forest Reserve (see map in Appendix A). Additionally, the USAID- funded, Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) has selected the “Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape”, an area of land that is centered on the Lomako- Yokokala Forest Reserve, as an area that needs integrated conservation support. Over the course of CARPE’s Phase II timeplan (2007-2011), the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) will be responsible for the design and implementation of an overarching Land Use Plan for the landscape. As part of AWF’s mission to reduce pressure on bonobos, and wildlife in general, it is seeking interventions in labor and food markets that have the potential to provide alternate sources of employment, revenues and food for local stakeholders and markets. The fisheries in the rivers and adjoining swamp forest have been identified