Temperature - European Investment Bank

WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL (WAPP) PÖYRY ENERGY LTD.
Mount Coffee HPP ESIA and RAP 2012-09-18
ESIA Report Page 79
estimated at 15%. Smoking is the most common processing method. Women are the
most involved in fish processing and marketing.
11.3.3.3 Fish Farming
Fish culture activities were reported in the area, with a demonstration station at the
upstream left side of St. Paul river. This station is attached to a national youth training
centre nearby Bensonville, under the Ministry in charge of Youth. The number of
private fish farmers in the area remains low, though the potential of the activity is very
high given miscellaneous good sites, and the availability of a national equipped
aquaculture station at Klay, 30 km Northern direction of Monrovia. Side socioeconomic
actions of the present project in supporting this activity would be developed
in the second part of the report.
11.3.3.4 Socio-economic Importance of Fishing at Mount Coffee
From the total harvest, fishers estimate that about 25% is consumed in the household or
shared with relatives, the rest being sold to meet routine needs including school fees,
health expenses and other household needs (dress, cooking oil, etc.).
As estimated earlier, 972 tonnes of fish are produced yearly in the study area, with
about 15% postharvest losses. This means about 972 x (100-25-15) % = 583.2 tons
available for cash earnings. At 120 LD/kg, direct revenues from sold fish is thus
estimated at 120 LD x 583,200 = 6,998,400 LD, i.e. close to 100,000 USD per year. Per
single fisher, this equates to 172 USD, in addition of nutritional advantage of
consuming fresh aquatic products well acknowledged by local public health
responsibles as a major contribution to protein balance in the area. Taking into account
side revenues up and downstream related to the market chains (boat construction, nets,
feeding while fishing, transportation to markets, value added linked to post-harvest
improvement) and non fish aquatic catches, the amount of the cash flow generated by
fishing and fish farming activities at Mount Coffee is certainly over 150,000 USD/year.
To sum up, fishing offers sustainable employment to over 500 household heads at
Mount Coffee, and generates a market chain weighing over 150,000 USD, plus
nutritional balance deriving from fresh fish consumed in fishers households.
Main wishes of fishers in relation to the hydropower project included:
� Fishing gear including nets of convenient mesh sizes, hooks, lines,
� Fish smoking area/house with improved smoking materials
� Fishing boat to cross the river in the rainy season to get to the market (specific
request from women)
� Sea safety and camping equipments including life jackets, torchess, mosquito nets,
matrasses
� Training workshop for sustainable fishing and fishponds
� Promotion initiatives for fish farming (insistance from women)
� Providing drinkable water points and possibly electricity to all villages of the
project site.