The return of the water - IUCN

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The People of the Floodplain The exact pattern of fish migration varies from species to species. The hardy African Catfish (Clarias spp) is usually the first to move (Plate 7.7, 7.8). Large catfish can be found in water barely covering their backs, and they have even been found at night, moving in wet grass. Catfish are also the last to leave the plain as the flood recedes. Sardines (Alestes spp.), on the other hand, are very sensitive to the water level. They are the last to arrive on the floodplain, and they will leave as soon as they sense the water beginning to recede (De Iongh et al., 1998). Fish productivity in floodplains is usually estimated to lie between 40 and 60 kg (Benech and Quensiere, 1982; Welcomme, 1979) per hectare of flooded area. In these seasonally flooded wetlands, catch sizes are, however, correlated with the intensity of the flooding (depth and duration) in the preceding year (Welcomme, 1979). The habits of the species and their biological requirements dictate the method of fishing employed in their capture. Although people may fish throughout the year, two broad fishing seasons can be defined. The “Great Fishery” begins at the height of the flood. Although the rains begin some time in June, the waters only begin to rise and spread onto the floodplain in July. In the shallow water, large Catfish can be speared, or clubbed, as they leave the river or pools where they have spent the dry season. In September the normally sedentary local fishers move with their families into camps on the floodplain. Here they set baited traps in cleared areas for the widely dispersed fish. As the water begins to recede migrant fishermen from neighbouring areas join the fishery swelling the numbers of fishermen, from the 3,600 locals, to about 6,800, estimated during 1996/97 or even more in previous years (Djuikom, 1996; see Plate 7.2) There is a short concentrated period of sardine (Alestes sp.) fishing, just as the flood turns and these fish migrate en masse to the safety of the river. All fishermen temporarily leave the floodplain to exploit this fishery along the Logone River and other large watercourses. After the harvest, the fishermen return to the floodplain once again (De Iongh et al., 1998). The receding water concentrates the fish in natural depressions and watercourses, where they are easily caught with set nets, grass barriers, traps and hooks. Some fishermen have dug many canals to concentrate the fish and facilitate the catching further. This is the most productive fishing period. Once the full flood has receded and the fishing in the canals is over, the migrants leave the fishery. The floodplain is, however, still dotted with pools in natural depressions, and other water bodies that are full of trapped fish; fish that could not reach the safety of the river. These depressions gradually become swampy, then dry up so that the trapped fish are further concentrated. When these places are suitable for fishing, the men use dragnets to catch as many fish as they can. The woman and children then all join in a communal and social fishing event, called “Haring”. They all enter the water with special basket-shaped traps, which they repeatedly plunge into the water to trap the remaining fish (see Plate 7.6). Other natural and artificial depressions may hold water throughout the dry season. These, as well as the river itself, are fished on a subsistence basis with set nets, throw nets and hook lines (Plate 7.3). This period is called the “Small Fishery” (De Iongh et al., 1998). Fishing tactics In September and October, while the water rises to its highest level, the fishermen make the last preparations for the imminent fishing season. They finish the maintenance of their fishing gear and buy new equipment when needed. They start fishing in the floodplain when the flood reaches its maximum level, normally in October. The main fishing season on the floodplains extends from September or October to February. The fishermen use fishing baskets, called “mama” in the floodplain to harvest the sardines. Each fisher uses on average about 130 “mamas”. These fishing baskets are made of grasses that grow in flooded areas. For Claria spp., the fishers use fifteen different types of fishing gear, called “nasse malienne”. After the fishers have installed the “mamas” or the “nasse malienne” in the floodplain, the fishers 63
The Return of the Water check their traps once every two days. In general, the quantity of fish caught in the first month or so is low, but this will significantly increase in November and December. Fishing becomes more intensive in November, when the water level in rivers starts to drop. The fishers continue to fish intensively in the rivers and canals (Plate 7.4) until the end of December. During these months almost the complete fishing population is active in the rivers of the Waza Logone region. The average number of fishing gears used by fishermen in this period is estimated at 20 lines of 1,000 hooks each, one fishing net used with a boat, and one fishing net used without a boat. The species favoured by fishers is Clarias anguillaris, because it tastes good and therefore fetches the highest price. After December the intensity of the fishing reduces. In January and February a number of fishermen exploit their fishing canals in the floodplain. These are trenches that the fishers dig in the dry season and that join a depression to a river located in the floodplain. Gillnets are placed in the canals and nets are installed at the entrance of the canals near the river. Clarias spp. (54%), Tilapia niloticus (32%), Hemichromis fasciatus (3.7%), Synodontis spec. (3.6%) and Ctenopoma petherici (2%) are the main species harvested with this fishing method (Bobo Kadiri and Boukar, 1997; Bobo Kadiri et al., 1996; Mahamat and Kouokam, 1997). Fishing reserves Although the fishing period ends for most fishers in February, some continue fishing in the special fishing reserves until May. In general, a fishing reserve belongs to one or two neighbouring villages, whose inhabitants organise themselves to look after it. The reserves remain closed for everyone from mid-November until a date that usually falls after the main fishing season. The date of the reserve opening for fishing is determined during a meeting where the majority of villagers reach consensus. Following this, fishermen inform the Lamido, the traditional authority in the area. He will receive a part of the whole production. In general, a third of the harvest is assigned to hire special fishing gear (dragnets) that is only used at this occasion. The other two thirds is shared among fishermen. In many cases, the rest is sold and the money gained is used as co-funding for wells or other social infrastructures that help the entire population of the village. Some fishing reserves may also be important refuge areas for fish that spawn again during the next flooding event. Furthermore, the fishing reserves may also be used at special occasions at the onset of the fishing season, which involve ceremonials to evoke favourable fishing conditions. Fishing economy The Waza Logone project carried out a socio-economic study of 21 villages in the floodplain, revealing that the floodplain population is made up of different wealth groups, characterised by distinct livelihood strategies. All groups were involved in the same activities, i.e. farming, fishing, cattle-holding and trading. The better off relied mainly on farming, but the time spent on fishing increased with poverty. The majority of the population in this study was comprised of Musgum (76%), Masa and Kotoko (each 10%) and others (Béné et al., 2000). The villages included in this study are between Zina and Maga. This study confirmed the general notion that small-scale fishing communities, particularly in tropical countries, belong to the poorest and most disadvantaged part of rural societies. The total amount of fish caught in the 2,600 km 2 floodplain, which encompassed in the Waza Logone project area during the 1996/1997 fishing season, was estimated at 12,000 tonnes. The yield thus amounted to 46 kg of fresh fish per hectare of flooded area, which agrees with the earlier quoted estimates. From the results of the socio-economic surveys it was estimated that the total catch per fisher was 10 sacks of dry fish with an average weight of 40 kg per sack; after sun-drying each fish 64
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IUCN - The World Conservation Union
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The designation of geographical ent
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Table of Contents Foreword vii Cont
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Foreword This book tells the story
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Contributors Dr. Mike Acreman, Head
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from the Atlas de la Province de l
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List of Tables 1.1 Major floodplain
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List of Plates 1.1 Different views
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1 1.1 Floodplains Introduction By P
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Introduction Rainfall in the Sahel
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species of ungulates, such as korri
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From its inception, the Waza Logone
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Part II The Receding Water
Page 31 and 32: The Return of the Water tonnes to 4
Page 33 and 34: The Return of the Water that the re
Page 36 and 37: 3 Consequences of the Dam and the D
Page 38 and 39: eduction in flooding (Drijver and M
Page 40: 3.3 Socio-economic consequences Con
Page 44 and 45: 4 The Wider Context By Sun Yan Evan
Page 46 and 47: Africa. A third migration route to
Page 48 and 49: The Wider Context The geographical
Page 50 and 51: 5 Hydrology of the Waza Logone Area
Page 52 and 53: variable, the extent, depth, durati
Page 54: Hydrology of the Waza Logone Area C
Page 57 and 58: The Return of the Water brought to
Page 59 and 60: The Return of the Water 1997). The
Page 61 and 62: The Return of the Water dam, the pe
Page 63 and 64: The Return of the Water 1948; Ngog
Page 65 and 66: The Return of the Water into the bu
Page 68: Part IV Living with the Seasons
Page 71 and 72: The Return of the Water While the f
Page 73 and 74: The Return of the Water Most of the
Page 75 and 76: The Return of the Water which the f
Page 77 and 78: The Return of the Water from € 0.
Page 79: The Return of the Water The Musgum
Page 83 and 84: Plate 1.2 Kob antelopes at the Mahe
Page 85 and 86: Plate 7.2 Seasonal movements of pas
Page 87 and 88: Plate 7.4 Fishing cannals in the Lo
Page 89 and 90: Plate 7.7 Big fish are only caught
Page 91 and 92: The Return of the Water staple food
Page 94 and 95: 8 Conflicts and Conflict Management
Page 96 and 97: Conflicts and Conflict Management i
Page 98 and 99: Conflicts and Conflict Management i
Page 100: Part V The Intervention
Page 103 and 104: The Return of the Water for the Exi
Page 105 and 106: The Return of the Water both techni
Page 107 and 108: The Return of the Water (IUCN 2000a
Page 109 and 110: The Return of the Water 9.5 The Waz
Page 111 and 112: The Return of the Water of the part
Page 114 and 115: 10 The Waza Logone Project in Actio
Page 116 and 117: The Waza Logone Project in Action F
Page 118 and 119: The Waza Logone Project in Action F
Page 120 and 121: The Waza Logone Project in Action f
Page 122 and 123: follow to obtain permits, and also,
Page 124 and 125: started by painting in red trees or
Page 126 and 127: The Waza Logone Project in Action
Page 128 and 129: The project maintained relations wi
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11 11.1 Introduction Economic Justi
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Although it is impossible to effect
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Economic Justification of Additiona
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Figure 11.5 Composition of incremen
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12 Tools and Practices for Floodpla
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of the 1994 and 1997 pilot flood re
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Tools and Practices for Floodplain
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A major output from the study was a
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Step 10. Monitor, evaluate and adap
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5. Assess the impacts of options.
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Introduction 137
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Introduction From this premise the
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Introduction One of the most promis
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Introduction reorganisation of the
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Introduction Improving the effectiv
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Map 6.1 Satellite images showing se
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Map 6.3 Positions of two elephants
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Introduction Beauvilain, A. 1981.
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Introduction Gash, J.H.C., C.A. Nob
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Introduction Moritz, M., P. Scholte
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Introduction communities’ and ind
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