by
Amoin Annabelle,
Biologist
and
Paul Anoh Kouassi,
Economist
Introduction
In the fishing communities of Grand-Lahou and Aby Lagoon as in many other countries, processing and marketing of fish are reserved for women. The incomes generated by these activities are spent to satisfy family needs and sometimes to help men acquire the necessary fishing material. This creates a socio-professional relationship between the men and women of the fishing community.
Macro-economic aspects
The fisheries potential of Côte-d'Ivoire might seem unimportant because of the narrowness of its continental shelf where the main fishing activities take place However, fishing plays an important role in the economy of Côte; d'Ivoire because it provides many jobs. Grand-Lahou and Aby lagoon are two of the three most important lagoons in the country where artisanal fishing is carried out all year long.
Fishing, therefore, is the main activity of the riverine populations of the water stretches in Adiake and Grand-Lahou regions. 45% of the coastal population is concentrated in this area of whom the majority are foreigners, sometimes owners of small fishing boats (Grand-Lahou), sometimes employed as a mere labour force by natives (Adiake). Canoes, motorized or not, nets, hoop nets, long lines and fisheries, mostly made by fishermen themselves are the main gears used.
Women's place in the fishing communities of Grand-Lahou and Adiake
In fishing communities, women are generally more numerous than men. They are mainly involved in the smoking of fish. Smoking techniques are not very different from one region to the other. Two types of smokehouses are commonly used: the parallel-piped one and the circular smokehouse in sheet metal which is the most used. In few compounds, clay made smokehouses are used.
The main smoked species are the ethmalosis, catfish, pike and mullet. Spread out, the fish is first dehydrated with intense smoke for 40 minutes. After that the fish is put under mild fire for 6 to 8 hours, in order to guarantee a long preservation state.
Salting is another fish preservation method. It is one of the oldest preservation methods. The salted fresh fish loses a part of its water, what tones its flesh up. After that the drying process follows which completes the dehydration of the fish.
After processing (smoking and drying), the fish is generally conveyed to markets for selling. Apart from the fishing related activities, some women are engaged in petty trade and catering.
The incomes and their use
Globally, the gross incomes generated from fishing activities are very meagre. They represent an average of 37,000FCFA a month for an ordinary woman smoker and 300,000FCFA when the smoker's husband owns big fishing nets.
The income is spent, of course, on family needs, but also on the purchase of fresh fish, the payment of smoking materials, the purchase of firewood and conveyance of fish to sales places. All these expenses reduce the profit margin of women and hinder their emancipation.
Relationships between women and men in the fishing sector
In the fishing communities of Gran-Lahou and Adiake on Aby lagoon, a clear division of labour exists. Fishing is reserved for men while processing and marketing is reserved for women.
The relationships between men and women are therefore essentially work relations. After the catches, the supply priority is given to the fisherman's wife who can buy the fish on credit but always at the same price as the other women: the management of these different activities is separated. However, in rare cases, the fisherman and his wife manage the fishery products together: common management. Sometimes, the woman intervenes in the fisherman's equipment by financing the purchase of the required material. As such, her source of supply is guaranteed.
On the whole, the well-being of fishermen depends much on the role of women who are essential development agents. But they are not organised in associations. At most there is a certain solidarity among women of the same ethnic group.
Constraints and recommendations
Globally, the fisherfolk communities live in swampy areas, difficult to reach and thus landlocked. In addition, Adiake inhabitants are disappointed since the expectations they had from the "Aby lagoon fishing project" established in the area, have not been satisfied. Other difficulties are the precariousness of women's working conditions, the lack of associative groups and illiteracy.
To solve these problems, some recommendations seem necessary. As women do not gain much from the marketing of fishery products, it is advisable to establish a credit system which will help increase the quantity of their purchase and improve their smoking materials.
It is thus necessary to train women and therefore create associations, cooperatives, as well as non-governmental national organizations in order to facilitate these group organizations.
It is advisable that women engage in activities similar to fishing which are likely to ensure food self-sufficiency. To avoid an excessive pressure on natural biologic stocks, it is advisable to popularize the practice of acadja, well known in the sub-region, even among women
Conclusion
In the communities of Grand-Lahou and Adiake, women play an important role Unfortunately, their incomes are still insufficient because of the poor periodical catches due to over-exploitation of water stretches and the numerous expenses related to fishing equipment, fish processing and family life
