Socio-economic survey in Cape Verde:
The survey in Cape Verde forms the second partition of our survey package on the West African Atlantic fisheries. In a past newsletter, we reported on our survey in Senegal. It comprised a survey of artisanal fishermen, retailers and processors as well as focus group interviews. The latter were carried out by Adama Mbaye, who also presented preliminary analyses on his work at the International AWA Conference in Dakar two weeks ago. The whole survey is now completed and the data is currently analysed. We are happy that the response rate is high and the data seems to be of good quality overall. Meanwhile, the Cape Verde survey is carried out, which will likely take until end of February 2016. The survey covers fishing communities on three islands, namely Santiago, Sal and São Vicente, and three sectors: Artisanal and industrial fishing and retailers.
Content of the survey:
The survey was adapted from our baseline questionnaire. The questionnaire contains several parts, where the most important ones investigate climate change perceptions, economic data and the social situation of fishermen and other stakeholders in the industry. We will use the data to develop knowledge on risks and threats that fishermen face with regard to their business, as well as ways in which they can and do cope with those threats. We evaluate how climate change and its impact on the fishing resources of each country is perceived and whether it constitutes a source of risk and worry for the fishermen. Another part comprises questions on the necessity, effectiveness and acceptability of certain regulations to govern the fishing sectors.
All these parts were adapted to the situation in Cape Verde. Important characteristics of the Cape Verdean fishing sectors that required questionnaire adaptations are e.g.:
· The importance of the industrial fishing sector in Cape Verde, while industrial fishing is of minor importance in Senegal
· The physical nature of the archipelago fishing and living environment.
· The different social environment in certain aspects, such as traditions in the division of labor.
· Economic considerations, such as the processing sector, that consists of only two large facilities, whereas in Senegal, the sector comprises numerous small scale enterprises.
We also shortened the questionnaire in certain parts as a result of the Senegal experience.
Status update:
We finished developing the baseline survey early 2015 and started to carry it out in Senegal. In summer 2015, after we already collected the Senegal data partly, we started adaptation to Cape Verde. Together with our colleagues from the INDP, the national institute on fishing development in Cape Verde, we held a workshop in September, where we discussed adaptation and sampling in detail. In a second workshop in November, we trained interviewers on tablet technology and the questionnaire. A test run showed good results. We aim for a total sample of roughly 1100 questionnaires. We are positive that the survey will be completed in late February and will deliver interesting results that offer opportunities to compare the situations in both countries.
While the survey is carried out in Cape Verde, we started the adaptation of the base questionnaire to Nigeria. Implementation is expected for April 2016.
Kira Lancker/CAU