Ambakivao Shrimp Cooperative
Fishermen from the village of Ambakivao, in the Tsiribihina Delta, have organized themselves into a cooperative in order to sell crab and shrimp while sustainably managing their surrounding mangroves.
With 13 active members, the cooperative aspires to make Ambakivao known in western Madagascar as a sustainable fishing area for crab and shrimp.
The cooperative’s 13 fishermen have drawn up a two-year business plan with assistance from WWF-Madagascar. They plan to supply crab and shrimp to collectors each week, and will invest in ice bins to transport the seafood to Belo Sur Tsiribihina, the collection point. Their ultimate goal is to produce between 200 kg and 300 kg of shrimp for collectors every week during the high season.
This is not an opportunity to be missed, according to Armand, a fisherman in the village of Ambakivao. “Together,” he says, “we can offer more in terms of quantity. This is beneficial for collectors who buy in large quantities, and every fisherman can benefit from it too” The next step for them? To meet with regional and natural collectors such as Copefrito, Sopemo, or Madafish, at the Regional Crab Workshop in Morondava in late July 2018.
All fishermen are members of the “Lovainjafy” community (translates as “to the future generations”), which manages 2935 ha of mangroves around the village. Working towards the conservation of mangroves, ecological restoration, solar electrification, and honey production, they are a shining example of sustainable and successful management.
