80
P. Sagna et al.
which impose challenges to pastoral activity and the social practices associated with
them, are compelling pastoral communities and public authorities to increasingly
develop better coping strategies. A focus on ponds, especially in this part of the
Sahel, has been and remains an effective albeit partial response to the difficulties
of pastoral livelihoods, which are to a large extent impacted by climate variability.
In addition, the migration to cities, once regarded as the preserve of farmers, now
appears to be a survival strategy for pastoral communities.
3.4.5 Adaptation of Inland Fisheries
In Ivory Coast, as fishermen are losing their livelihoods because of climate change
impacting their sector, some have opted for alternation and others have left the
sector for other livelihoods altogether. Surveys reveal that in 2016, 73% of fishermen
have opted for alternative livehoods to fishing, including farming, such as market
gardening. Of those who have abandoned fishing, most are Gôdè aboriginals; the
majority of Bozo Malian fishermen have remained in the fishing sector. Our surveys
found, however, that 27% of Bozo Malian fishermen have completely converted to
another activity. Cashews remain the most popular crop; former fishermen indicate
that cashew farming is attractive because the natural environment is conducive to
successful cashew production, which generates high incomes.
In Benin, fishermen have developed different strategies to resist the effects of
climate change, including deepening of ponds, use of appropriate fishing equipment,
prohibition of the use of pesticides in waterways, and the protection of ponds and
other water bodies by ceasing all fishing activity there to allow for restoration of the
fish population. Fishermen report that deepening ponds increases the amount of water
and reduces the rise in water temperature. The use of appropriate fishing equipment is
also a strategy to address the effects of climate change on fish production. Fishermen
report that prohibition of fine mesh nets promotes sustainable exploitation of ponds,
but the ban has been only modestly effective, with 60% of fishermen continuing to
use these nets despite their destruction of aquatic biodiversity.
In Senegal, to address declining fish catches, fishermen convert temporarily or
permanently to farm work with the development of modern farming and rice growing
in northern Senegal (MPTM 2001). The first trials of aquaculture, to mitigate the
effects of lower catch volumes, were conducted in the 1980s in the Senegal River
Valley (Niane and Ndong 2015). Aquaculture has proved to help mitigate climate
vagaries, affecting rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, and is now well-established
in Senegal. Among its objectives established in 2001, the Ministry of Fisheries and
Maritime Transportation has created a Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute at Cheikh
Anta Diop University in Dakar. The Ministry is making plans to share experience
in aquaculture with countries including Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. It also
hopes to develop a partnership with the FAO through regular participation in the
activities of the Committee for Continental Fisheries and Aquaculture (CCFA).
P. Sagna et al.
which impose challenges to pastoral activity and the social practices associated with
them, are compelling pastoral communities and public authorities to increasingly
develop better coping strategies. A focus on ponds, especially in this part of the
Sahel, has been and remains an effective albeit partial response to the difficulties
of pastoral livelihoods, which are to a large extent impacted by climate variability.
In addition, the migration to cities, once regarded as the preserve of farmers, now
appears to be a survival strategy for pastoral communities.
3.4.5 Adaptation of Inland Fisheries
In Ivory Coast, as fishermen are losing their livelihoods because of climate change
impacting their sector, some have opted for alternation and others have left the
sector for other livelihoods altogether. Surveys reveal that in 2016, 73% of fishermen
have opted for alternative livehoods to fishing, including farming, such as market
gardening. Of those who have abandoned fishing, most are Gôdè aboriginals; the
majority of Bozo Malian fishermen have remained in the fishing sector. Our surveys
found, however, that 27% of Bozo Malian fishermen have completely converted to
another activity. Cashews remain the most popular crop; former fishermen indicate
that cashew farming is attractive because the natural environment is conducive to
successful cashew production, which generates high incomes.
In Benin, fishermen have developed different strategies to resist the effects of
climate change, including deepening of ponds, use of appropriate fishing equipment,
prohibition of the use of pesticides in waterways, and the protection of ponds and
other water bodies by ceasing all fishing activity there to allow for restoration of the
fish population. Fishermen report that deepening ponds increases the amount of water
and reduces the rise in water temperature. The use of appropriate fishing equipment is
also a strategy to address the effects of climate change on fish production. Fishermen
report that prohibition of fine mesh nets promotes sustainable exploitation of ponds,
but the ban has been only modestly effective, with 60% of fishermen continuing to
use these nets despite their destruction of aquatic biodiversity.
In Senegal, to address declining fish catches, fishermen convert temporarily or
permanently to farm work with the development of modern farming and rice growing
in northern Senegal (MPTM 2001). The first trials of aquaculture, to mitigate the
effects of lower catch volumes, were conducted in the 1980s in the Senegal River
Valley (Niane and Ndong 2015). Aquaculture has proved to help mitigate climate
vagaries, affecting rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, and is now well-established
in Senegal. Among its objectives established in 2001, the Ministry of Fisheries and
Maritime Transportation has created a Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute at Cheikh
Anta Diop University in Dakar. The Ministry is making plans to share experience
in aquaculture with countries including Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. It also
hopes to develop a partnership with the FAO through regular participation in the
activities of the Committee for Continental Fisheries and Aquaculture (CCFA).