Sao Tome fishermen adopt sustainable longline fishing
A three-month project trained local fishermen in the longline technique, offering a sustainable alternative to small-mesh nets.
Small-mesh net fishing may soon end in Sao Tome and Principe as the longline technique gains ground. A three-month responsible fishing project by consortia Oikos, Marapa, and program Tatô has promoted this sustainable alternative. The project involved training fishermen in communities across the archipelago.
Alexander Ramos, a project consultant, explained that longline fishing is more selective, using accessible hooks and lines. He noted that while not all fishermen have mastered the technique, it can be learned. The project also included workshops to define responsible fishing practices and develop fishing gear with community input, according to Antunes Pina, Tatô program representative.
Fishermen have embraced the new method, with Marques Lima from Praia Gamboa stating, "We cannot continue to catch small fish, because, every day that passes, the fish are decreasing in the sea." The project's results are documented in a newly presented manual.
Why it mattersFishermen in Sao Tome and Principe are adopting a new fishing technique to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks.