Molluscs are harvested and farmed in mangrove ecosystems primarily by women principally in eight water bodies/mangrove ecosystems in Senegal (the Sine Saloum Estuary, the Casamance River Estuary, the Senegal River Estuary, the Somone Lagoon, the Joal-Fadiouth Lagoon, the Mbodiene Lagoon, the Dakar Coast, and the Alahein River Estuary). Resource users with shell fisheries livelihoods surveyed for this assessment were mainly females (80%) and harvesters were 90% female, ranging in age from 15-65 years. Shellfishing households are large, averaging 11-15 members with more women than men.

The classification of shellfish in terms of harvesting shows the arches (bloody cockles) are the primary species harvested, oysters are second, and murex and cymbium third. After processing and drying, the products are sold to local or foreign traders from other markets in Senegal. Part of the harvest is also packed in labelled bags and marketed in the shops of the processing units. Although very difficult to estimate accurately and comprehensively, based on this survey, the monthly income of the catch of arches/bloody cockles is estimated at between 15,000 FCFA (US $26.00) and 20,000 FCFA (US $35.00) per person. For oysters, the monthly income per person varies between 20,000 FCFA (US $35.00) and 40,000 FCFA (US $71.00). Apart from the processing sites for fisheries and forestry resources, the populations lack materials and space for drying shellfish to ensure that they are hygienically preserved and consumed.

In Senegal, officially, there are no national regulations/laws specific to the shellfish fishery, but important efforts are made for the conservation of shellfish resources and the mangrove ecosystem in general. Senegal has more than 17 Marine Protected Areas, most of which include some shellfishing areas, and the 73,000 hectare Saloum Delta National Park, which is designated as a Ramsar site. The implementation of traditional systems to ensure sustainable conservation of the resources is practically applied in all the exploitation areas. These traditional conservation systems are mainly reinforced by the good community organization of the women who are the main actors in this sector through economic interest groups (EIGs)and federations or local unions of EIGs. Despite these initiatives, shellfisheries are open access and survey respondents note that the scarcity of resources has led the estuarine communities to look for shellfish in areas that are further away from the old traditional exploitation areas.

The climate crisis in the fishing areas is linked to salinization, rising sea levels, and reduced rainfall. All these factors result in the decline of shellfish resources. Extensive mangrove reforestation programs initiated by the NGO Oceanium Dakar and other environmental actors with the support of estuarine and island communities have been revitalizing the mangrove ecosystem in some areas for several years. According to the communities, they do not receive a sustainable payment from the global carbon market to restore and maintain their mangroves at their level.

Recommendations made by survey respondents to improve the conditions and environment of the shellfisheries sector in Senegal are as follows:

• Define a first catch size for molluscs. 

• Regulate shellfish collection methods by ensuring selectivity.

• Improve recovery methods to reduce pressure on the resource.

• Promote oyster farming.

• Restore degraded mangrove ecosystems.

• Build markets to facilitate the marketing of products.

• Help finance market gardening and forest product development projects as a diversification/alternative to shellfishing activities.

• Modernize the shellfisheries sector.

• Help finance new boats.

• Increase the number of structures for processing fish products.

• Build protective dikes to combat salinization of the land and maritime erosion.

• Provide equipment and suits to improve fishing conditions. 

Additional recommendations for promoting sustainable and recognized management of shellfisheries food resources at and beyond the country level in West Africa include:

·      Strengthen consultation mechanisms between groups of women processors at the local, national, and sub-regional levels for the sharing of experience and good practices.

·      Advocate with sub-regional and regional institutions such as ECOWAS, the African Union and UEMOAfor a better consideration of the shellfish sector in economic and social development programs.

·      Reinforce the logistical means of the actors involved in shellfish harvesting, actors who are sometimes confronted with real problems of safety and insecurity that can cause accidents.

·      Establish or designate a West African office to monitor and evaluate the various projects in the shellfish sector. Such a unit could accompany decision-makers and technical and financial partners in future interventions and capitalize on efforts made.

Encourage scientific research in the sector.