An assessment of shellfisheries in the estuarine and mangrove ecosystems of Togo revealed that the lagoon system is the only area with a shellfish fishery in Togo. It has an area of approximately 6,400 ha and is located in the Wetlands of the Coastline in the ecological zone V corresponding to the Maritime Region, also called "Coastal Zone of the South or the Coastline” (http://www.ramsar.org/ris/).

Four species are exploited: Crassostrea tulipa (oyster), Tagelus adansonii (razor clam), Tympanotonus fuscatus (snail), Senilia senilis (cockle) and Stramonita haemastoma (snail). The sector contributes to the country's food security, and it is also a source of income for the various actors.

More than an estimated 283 people work in the sector. Villages surveyed indicated at least 137, with men constituting the majority of actors (54%). In addition to children and students (31 people aged 10 - 20 years and 74% male), the adult women harvesters (56 people) and the adult men harvesters (50 people) employ helpers who are the members of their household. These aids are estimated at three on average per household. Considering that all adult women harvesters are married and that husbands are also shellfish harvesters, the number of helpers from shellfish harvesting is estimated at 168 people. The helpers do not receive a salary.

There are five shell processing units linked to animal feed mills. They employ around 30 people. In shellfish marketing, there are, in addition to women shellfish harvesters and their helpers, about 20 women and men. The incomes of actors at each value chain node are low. The average monthly income for shellfish operators varies from US $40 to US $60 for women and from US $100 to US $200 for men.

Actions have been carried out to protect, conserve, and restore mangroves, although the government has taken no action to regulate the exploitation of shellfish. The actors are not organised or members of networks relating to the shellfish industry. In terms of governance, local management systems have been put in place for the sustainable management of mangroves and fishery resources.

Indeed, three prefectural fisheries management committees in the lagoon system (Lacs, Vo, and Zio) were set up in 2016, three Prefectural Associations for the Conservation and Promotion of Lagoon System Resources (APCP-SL) were set up in 2018, and a local Lake Togo Delta Management Committee (CoGes-DLT) made up of 30 members including 12 women has been established in 2020.

In addition, a management plan for the fisheries of the lagoon system was adopted in 2015, as well as a local management agreement for the lagoon system of South Togo adopted in 2018. Many difficulties and constraints undermine the development of the shellfish industry in Togo.

Among these constraints, the most important are:

• gradual depletion of oysters

• overexploitation of shellfish

• lack of regulation of the shellfish industry

• non-availability of shells throughout the year for processing units

• lack of monitoring of the chemical and microbiological parameters of the lagoon system

• lack of organisation of actors

• low level of professionalisation of shellfish operators

• lack of statistical data on the sector

Opportunities to address these challenges include the following actions:

• Improve management of wild stocks

• Monitor the sector

• Regulate shellfisheries

• Build the capacity of Actors

• Revitalise local management bodies

• Raise awareness of stakeholders

• Monitor the water quality of the lagoon system and of shellfish intended for consumption

• Improve the productivity of the shellfish lagoon system

• Diversify activities

• Promote oyster farming