28/11/16

MWAMBAO with the assistance of Community Action for Nature Conservation (CANCO – Kenya) conducted a 4-day study tour for 9 women from 7 districts in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania to Mombasa, Kenya in November, 2016.

During visits to the Kimbo Community Conservation Project, Kenya Fisheries Research and Marine Institute (KEMFRI) and Kiruwitu Community Marine Conservation Projects, the participants learned about good practices in fisheries post-harvesting methods such as sorting, cleaning, boiling and drying of Anchovy (Dagaa), fish trading and marketing, ecotourism and reef conservation.

A conference of women fishers was also held over two days, during which various challenges and opportunities to increase income and improve livelihoods were shared and discussed. On November 21^st, the participants joined in World Fisheries Day celebrations organised by CANCO.

Over the course of the 4-day study visit, many insights and opportunities were shared both ways, including improved fish-processing equipment, stronger safety measures and the role of Village Community Bank (VICOBA) systems in improving livelihoods. Tanzanian and Kenyan participants all felt the visit was very beneficial and there are hopes that a return study visit of Kenyan participants to Tanzania will take place in the near future.

The exchange visit was supported by The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) in collaboration with the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.