An Introduction to the Methods Used by Fishers in Andavadoaka Southwest Madagascar

37 Pages·2009·1.46 MB·English

by  Raj Roy

Gough, C., Thomas, T., Humber, F., Harris, A., Cripps, G.,
and Peabody, S.
Vezo Fishing: An Introduction to the
Methods Used by Fishers in Andavadoaka
Southwest Madagascar

2D Aberdeen Studios,
22-24 Highbury Grove,
London N5 2EA, UK.
[email protected]

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Fax: [phone]
Blue Ventures Conservation Report

Acknowledgements:. The Authors would like to thank all members of the local Andavadoaka community that
took the time to assist in questioning and allowed the photography of themselves and their fishing equipment.
Recommended citation: Gough, C., Thomas, T., Humber, F., Harris, A., Cripps, G., and Peabody, S. (2009) Vezo
Fishing: An Introduction to the Methods Used by Fishers in Andavadoaka Southwest Madagascar. Blue Ventures
Conservation Report.
Author’s contact details: Charlotte Gough ([email protected]); Alasdair Harris ([email protected]);
Frances Humber ([email protected]); Raj Roy ([email protected])
Front page: Spectral bathymetry of the Velondriake network, southwest Madagascar, derived from DigitalGlobe
QuickBird imagery. Shallow marine areas are red and yellow, and deeper marine areas are black and green.

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Table of Contents
Background ............................................................. 6 Mila Jakake (Crab)............................................. 30
Madagascar ......................................................... 6 Mila Horita or Mihake (Octopus) ....................... 30
Andavadoaka ....................................................... 6 Maminta Angisy (Squid) .................................... 31
Introduction ............................................................ 7 Mila Crevette (Prawn) ....................................... 31
Laka (Pirogue) ......................................................... 7 Kititse .................................................................. 31
Makarakara .......................................................... 31
Mihake (gleaning) ................................................... 8
Mandaro (Cyanide fishing) ................................ 32
Voloso ................................................................. 9
Destructive Fishing ............................................... 32
Manambaitse ...................................................... 9
Gleaning ........................................................... 33
Kijoamanta .......................................................... 9
Line Fishing ....................................................... 33
Teza or Nato ...................................................... 10
Net Fishing........................................................ 33
Maminta (Line fishing); ......................................... 10
Other fishing methods ...................................... 34
Talirano ............................................................. 10
Overfishing ....................................................... 34
Foly ................................................................... 10
Hooks ................................................................ 10
Tsopoke ............................................................. 12
Mandraverave ................................................... 12
Torake ............................................................... 13
Turlutte ............................................................. 14
Palangre ............................................................ 15
Aofa (Bait) ......................................................... 15
Mihaza (Net fishing); ............................................. 17
Harata (Net) ...................................................... 17
L’electronique ................................................... 17
Janoky ............................................................... 17
Jahoto ............................................................... 18
Zdzd .................................................................. 18
Jarifa ................................................................. 19
Makarakara ....................................................... 20
Feripe ................................................................ 20
Fishing Systems ..................................................... 21
Mandroake ........................................................ 21
Tarikake............................................................. 21
Mananjake or Molialy ........................................ 21
Saro-an-davaky .................................................. 22
Valaritse ............................................................ 23
Manao Jarifa or Manao Zdzd (Shark).................. 23
Target Fishing Methods......................................... 24
Basim-pia .......................................................... 24
Mihaza Varilava (Sardine) .................................. 25
Mihaza holy (Fishing at night) ............................ 26
Mihaza fano (Turtle fishing) ............................... 26
Teza/ Nato (Turtle fishing) ................................. 26
Mila Zanga or Mihake ........................................ 28
Mila Zanga haly ....................................................28
Manirike Zanga .....................................................28
Mila Soky (Sea Urchin) ....................................... 29
Mila Bozike (Shells) ............................................ 29
Manirike tsitsike (Lobster) ................................. 29
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Table of Figures
Figure 1 The final stages of pirogue construction......................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 2 Voloso, Kijoamanta, Manambaitse, Nato/Teza, and Voloso Zanga - Spear heads (Left to right) ....................................................... 8
Figure 3 Voloso - Traditional spear .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 4 Manambaitse - Single hook spear .................................................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 5 Kijoamanta - Pronged spear for catching squid .............................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 6 Teza - Detachable spear head designed for catching Turtle (Fano) ............................................................................................... 10
Figure 7 Talirano - Monofilament Nylon fishing line .................................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 8 Vinta – Hooks of different sizes, chosen depending on target species ........................................................................................... 11
Figure 9 Maminta - Line fishing. Torake, Tsopoke and Mandraverave (Left to right) ................................................................................... 12
Figure 10 Koro - A barrel swivel link to prevent the line from twisting ........................................................................................................ 13
Figure 11 Fitoke – Weights (metal) attached when line fishing to allow hook and bait to sink ..................................................................... 13
Figure 12 Turlutte - Squid Lure .................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 13 Turlutte - The pronged head of the lure designed for catching squid. These lures were introduced by AO/MAG/97/008
project. .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Table 1 Aofa – Bait is different depending on the target family .................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 14 Palangre - Long Line for targeting large pelagic fish including sharks........................................................................................... 16
Figure 15 Harata - Nets generally have floats along the top and weights along the base to make the net 'stand' in the water ..................... 17
Figure 16 Talirano/ l'electronique - Locally produced nylon gill net ............................................................................................................ 18
Figure 17 Jahoto - small mesh gill net introduced in 1989 .......................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 18 Zdzd - Larger mesh net used for deep sea fishing ....................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 19 Jarifa - Large mesh gill net, used to target large pelagic fish including shark ................................................................................ 19
Figure 20 Makarakara - Mosquito net, often used as a pocket in the back of another net such as jahoto/ janoky ....................................... 20
Figure 21 Feripe - A small mesh net often joined together to make large nets over 200m long ................................................................... 20
Figure 22 Mandroake - fishing system usually employing 2- 4 people in a single pirogue ............................................................................ 21
Figure 23 Tarikake - Simple beach seine system, highly destructive when using smaller mesh nets ............................................................. 22
Figure 24 Saro-an-davaky - Gill net system used to target a large shoal of fish ........................................................................................... 22
Figure 25 Valaritse - Set gill net, targeting fish as they escape the out-going tide. ...................................................................................... 23
Figure 26 Manao Jarifa/Zdzd - Deep sea fishing system using larger mesh gill nets for targeting pelagic species ......................................... 24
Table 2 Akio - Price of shark fins (2008) ..................................................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 27 Basim-pia - Spear Gun usually a wooden frame, with metal spear .............................................................................................. 25
Figure 28 Basim-pia - Metal Barb fixed to metal spear, and Spear Gun....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 29 Fano Zaty - A large Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is carried in on top of the pirogue.................................................................. 26
Figure 30 Teza/ Nato - Pirogue and spear system used to specifically target Marine Turtles. ...................................................................... 27
Table 3 Zanga - Different species and methods of targeting Sea Cucumber ................................................................................................ 28
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Table 4 Tsitsike - Lobster species targeted by Vezo fishers ......................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 31 Mila Jakake - A woman targets crab in the mangroves using manambaitse ................................................................................. 30
Figure 32 Mihake - A Vezo woman uses a spear to glean for Octopus on the reef flat ................................................................................. 31
Figure 33 Kititse - A small bow and arrow used by Vezo children to target prawns or small fish .................................................................. 32

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Background
It has been widely recognised that marine resources cannot be managed solely from a biophysical stance, that there
needs to be incorporation of anthropogenic factors, including an understanding of traditional resource use and how
methods and demands have grown and evolved. There is a close link between how people use coral reefs and their
socioeconomic background (Bunce et al. 2000). Recognising this link and the importance of understanding the
people who use and depend on coral reefs, the ways in which the resources are exploited and the driving forces
associated with reef use is of the highest importance.
Overfishing is a primary threat to coral reef ecosystems around the world, having both direct and indirect effects on
marine community structure and reducing a reefs ability to recover from destructive natural phenomenon, such as
bleaching events and cyclones (Roberts 1995).
Conservation organisations that focus on fisheries management often make promises of social and economic
advancement as a result of conservation efforts, however this is rarely born to fruition as there is little direct
compensation or alternative livelihoods offered to fishing communities. Conservation organisations need to
understand the methods and techniques that local communities employ and the environmental impacts that they
have before introducing new techniques and management plans.
Madagascar
Madagascar is one of the largest islands in the Southwest Indian Ocean and has a distinct history and culture as
well as one of the richest assemblages of marine resources including coral reefs and mangroves. Madagascar coral
reefs are probably the richest and most diverse of these ecosystems with an estimated 6000 reef-associated species,
including 752 fish species and 340 coral species (McKenna and Allen 2003).
This diverse assemblage of marine species is at risk not only from being exploited by both industrial and artisanal
fisheries but is also threatened by global warming and excessive sedimentation (Nadon 2005).
In recent years Madagascar’s smaller artisanal and traditional fisheries have been subject to rapid development
increasing their production in response to demand form overseas and through the introduction of improved
materials and techniques (Iida 2005). Studies have shown that levels of exploitation of marine resources in the
south west are similar to those observed in countries, such as Mauritius that are believed to be over-fished(Laroche
and Ramananarivo 1995).
Andavadoaka
Andavadoaka is a small, remote village, in the Tulear province of south west Madagascar. Its rich marine ecosystem
is critical to the livelihood and culture of the local Vezo community, whose principal source of income is the
pirogue-based traditional fishery (lakana) (Langley 2006 ).
The pressure exerted on the local reefs as a primary producer of food and money shows little sign of reducing as
local populations appear to be growing as much through migration from inland villages as from natural increase
(Epps 2008).
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Blue Ventures, an international NGO, was established in Andavadoaka in 2003 with the intention of improving the
quality of life of the local community who depend on these marine resources, while maintaining the biological
diversity, sustainability and productivity of the coral reefs.

Introduction
Although there have been a number of studies that have looked at the traditional fisheries of south west
Madagascar, (Astuti 1995; Xirou 2004; Iida 2005) none have provided a detailed description of the fishing
techniques that are used by the Vezo people.
The gear and fishing methods used within Velondriake show great variety, like any fishery which targets a range of
different species. The majority of fisheries techniques used within Velondriake are traditional including harpoons,
hand lines and nets, with the evolution of these and introduction of more commercial methods being introduced
throughout the years (Iida 2005). For this report Informal interviews were conducted with local ‘nahoda’ (elders)
and fishermen during 2008 to gain knowledge of the different methods used within this region.
In order to understand anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment it is important to understand the
methods and techniques that the local fishing communities employ. This report aims to provide information, on
local fisheries techniques, that can then be drawn on to develop effective management regimes and alternative
fishing practises.

Laka (Pirogue)
Vezo is derived from the word ‘ivezo’ meaning ‘to paddle’ and it is often quoted that the Vezo are people that by
their nature ‘struggle with the sea’ (Astuti 1995). The Vezo use canoes known as ‘laka’ (pirogues) for transporting
goods and people, and as a floating platform for fishing on the barrier reef and the seaward slope, as well as for
fishing in the calmer waters between the reef and the shore. Pirogue hulls are made from a single tree ‘farafatse’
(Givotia madagascariensis) and then hollowed out. Once a hull has been roughly shaped to remove extra weight
before transport, it is then sold to the fisherman who will then modify the canoe by adding seats and rails. In order
to waterproof the boat the base is painted with tar and the top half using commercial oil-based paint (Figure 1). The
canoe is then fitted with an outrigger and mast and is then ready to sail (Astuti 1995). Outboard motors are not
currently in common use within the Velondriake region.
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Figure 1 The final stages of pirogue construction

Mihake (gleaning)
Mihake is the term applied to walking the reef at spring low tide in order to collect marine organisms. This includes
gleaning for octopus (horita), using a harpoon/spear to catch the octopus that hide within holes or ‘dens’ in the
floor of the reef flat (see mila horita), as well as collection of sea cucumber (see mila zanga), and shells (see mila
bozike).

Figure 2 Voloso, Kijoamanta, Manambaitse, Nato/Teza, and Voloso Zanga - Spear heads (Left to right)

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There are a number of different harpoon types (Figure 2 Voloso, Kijoamanta, Manambaitse, Nato/Teza,
and Voloso Zanga - Spear heads (Left to right), which vary according to function.
Voloso
Voloso in malagasy means ‘Spear’ and this is a single pointed spear head with no hooks (Figure 3). This spear often
used for octopus gleaning, or sometimes when free-diving

Figure 3 Voloso - Traditional spear

Manambaitse
This spear has a flattened head with a point and a single hook (Figure 4) that prevents the fish from coming off the
spear once hooked.

Figure 4 Manambaitse - Single hook spear

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Kijoamanta
This is a spear specifically designed for catching squid (angisy) and has 3 or 4 prongs with hooks on the end (Figure
5). This spear type is now rarely used since the introduction of the squid lure ‘turlutte’.

Figure 5 Kijoamanta - Pronged spear for catching squid
Teza or Nato
This spear is specifically designed for catching turtle. The spear head is particularly sharp, with two large hooks,
and the head detaches from the shaft (Figure 6).

Figure 6 Teza - Detachable spear head designed for catching Turtle (Fano)

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