People and fish
A platform for exploring how inclusive marine conservation and fisheries management can support thriving communities and ecosystems
This site is under construction. Please check back soon!
In the meantime, scroll down to see some of the pages and blogs that are in development. Don’t hesitate to write via email or Twitter if you have any questions.
tocollin@ucsc.edu
@peopleandfish
The Liberia Sea Cucumber Project
Tracing sea cucumber value chains from Duala to Dakar
Laying the foundation for local marine management through community catch monitoring
An expert’s guide to sea cucumber processing
Interviews
Y4
Y4 (aka Mohammed Kakay) is a veteran sea cucumber diver from Freetown. In this interview, he recounts some of his adventures diving in Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. [Coming soon]
Joe
Joe is a boat captain and fisherman from Sasstown, Grand Kru. In this interview, he talks about his life as a fisherman and his recent introduction to sea cucumbers. [Coming soon]
Abi
Abi (aka Abdoulaye Mansaray), is the leader of the dive team currently working in Liberia. In this interview, he talks about the pros and cons of running a sea cucumber fishing company in West Africa. [Coming soon]
Charlie
Charlie is a fish maw trader from Cestos City, Rivercess. In this interview, he talks about the history of the trade and how it overlaps with other niche seafood products, like sea cucumbers, shark fin, and seahorse. [Coming soon]
Charles
Charles (aka Charlie Cole) is a sea cucumber diver from Tokeh. He’s been diving for sea cucumbers for over a decade, making him one of the most experienced divers in Sierra Leone. Watch the interview here or below.
Musa
Musa is a chef and carpenter from Freetown. In this interview, he shares his secret recipe for sea cucumber soup. [Coming soon]
It’s a diver’s life for me
Sammy gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to live and work as a migrant sea cucumber diver.
When you’re making a fishery management plan from scratch, where do you start?
Sea cucumbers, seahorses, fish maw, and shark fins
The trade in niche, high-value dried seafood products for export is booming in Liberia, but what does it mean for marine ecosystems and coastal fisheries?
Here today, gone tomorrow: The boom and bust pattern of sea cucumber exploitation
Sea cucumber fisheries have been serially depleted on a global scale. What drives this pattern of overexploitation and what can fisheries managers do to prevent it?
Local perspectives on artisanal shark finning in Liberia
Chasing bonny
2021 has been one of the worst years in decades for catching bonny, a small fish in the herring family that is a staple for rural communities across Liberia. Why has fishing got so much harder in recent years and how are catch declines affecting coastal people?
Selling fish straight from dock to dish
COVID market disruptions have got Cornish fishers hooked on direct to consumer seafood sales, but will it last?
That’s all for now. Please check back soon!
