In Madagascar, climate change, industrial overfishing and the depletion of mangroves are threatening families who depend on small-scale fishing for their livelihoods. Louvain Coopération is supporting fishermen like Bruno so that they can continue to make a living from their trade. You too can take action.

Every day at dawn, Bruno and his fellow fishermen set sail from the west coast of Madagascar. Facing the elements and the power of the waves, their wooden canoes are fragile, but they have no other choice. They must bring back enough fish and shrimp to feed their families and earn a small income to buy vegetables, clothes, pay for school, doctors, and more.

So they brave the currents and row tirelessly, praying that the nets will fill and that their boats will hold. In recent years, climate change has taken its toll, and the sea has become increasingly capricious, unpredictable and dangerous. They risk their lives in this activity, but they have no other choice.

The consequences of industrial overfishing

Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill the nets. Bruno knows this: it is impossible to compete with the enormous trawlers that scrape the seabed. In their wake, only meagre catches remain for small-scale fishermen like him. One solution to avoid the dangers of the high seas and competition from industrial fishing is to stay close to the coast and fish in the mangroves. But then the fish do not have time to reproduce and these naturally rich areas become dangerously depleted.

The situation is difficult. However, Bruno and his companions are not giving up. With Louvain Coopération, they have organised themselves into cooperatives and assessed their needs.

With 25 motorised canoes, they will be able to:

• Fish safely on the high seas
• Bring back more fish and therefore earn a better income for their families
• Preserve mangrove areas

With Louvain Coopération, you can take action and help finance these 25 canoes