From June 3rd to 5th, 2025, stakeholders from across the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region convened to validate a study aimed at enhancing gender inclusion, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability in small-scale octopus fisheries.
The workshop, hosted by the African Union–InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with support from Sweden’s Sida agency, is part of the “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy” project.
Over 30 participants, inclusive of officials from Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Comoros, alongside small-scale fishers, women’s groups, civil society, researchers, and policy experts, engaged in discussions to assess a regional study conducted by Prof. Bernard Fulanda of Pwani University.
His research evaluated the octopus fisheries value chain and proposed strategies to improve gender equity and sustainability, as the sector is envisioned to support livelihoods and increase opportunities.
Octopus fisheries are crucial to coastal livelihoods in the region, with women actively involved in harvesting, processing, and trade, yet their roles remain underrecognized in governance structures.
At the same time, the sector faces escalating climate threats, like coral bleaching and habitat loss, and systemic challenges, including weak infrastructure, overharvesting, and inequitable market access.
In his remarks, Mr. Collins Ndoro Kambu, speaking on behalf of Kenya’s Director of Fisheries, stressed the fishery’s alignment with Kenya’s Blue Economy Strategy and this year’s Madaraka Day theme, “Our Waters, Our Wealth.” He emphasized the need for supportive policies and investment to unlock the fishery’s potential.
The workshop was guided by two key African Union frameworks: the African Blue Economy Strategy (2020) and the Continental Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming in Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation (2024), both of which call for inclusive, sustainable governance of aquatic resources.
Francisca Gonoh, representing AU-IBAR Director Dr. Huyam Salih, reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to equitable and sustainable fisheries.
Prof. Fulanda’s study highlighted widespread female participation in octopus fisheries, but also pointed to their exclusion from co-management bodies like Beach Management Units (BMUs).
It flagged environmental pressures and limited infrastructure but noted encouraging examples of community-led conservation, such as Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and seasonal closures in Madagascar, Zanzibar, and Tanzania.
The forum had participants, grouped by country, who validated the study findings and shared solutions rooted in lived experience. The fisherwomen emphasized practical ways to embed gender and environmental considerations in daily fisheries practice.
By the close of the workshop, participants aim to draft a proposal for a regional fisher network, adopt a communiqué for regional engagement and investment, and outline a roadmap to integrate the study’s recommendations into national and regional policies.
The outcomes will support AU-IBAR’s wider goals: promoting gender-equitable governance, building climate-resilient value chains, conserving marine biodiversity, and empowering coastal communities.
As Africa’s blue economy grows, inclusive and sustainable approaches like those advanced in this workshop are key to protecting marine ecosystems while improving livelihoods in the SWIO region.
