Sustaining Tunisia's Fisheries: Balancing Traditional Knowledge with Modern Solutions

Tunisia, a coastal nation with a rich maritime tradition, faces pressing challenges in preserving its marine resources.

Integrating the centuries-old traditional knowledge held by local fishermen with modern scientific solutions is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of Tunisia's fisheries. This article explores the importance of integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary methodologies to advance Tunisia's journey toward sustainable fisheries and emphasizes the necessity of local community engagement.

1. Preserving Centuries of Wisdom

Tunisian fishermen have, over generations, accrued substantial knowledge about their local marine ecosystems, including various aspects such as the behavior of fish, patterns that occur during different seasons, and methods of fishing that are environmentally sustainable. This indigenous wisdom is essential to the livelihoods of coastal communities. Importantly, it plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities by ensuring their ability to fish effectively and sustainably within their local marine environments.

Nevertheless, the Gulf of Gabès serves as a poignant example; it is one of the most important fishing areas in Tunisia and suffers from the highest levels of overfishing [1]. This threat, combined with the impacts of climate change, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, pollution, rising sea temperatures, and altered oceanographic patterns, disrupt traditional fishing knowledge and endangers marine ecosystems [2].

To preserve this invaluable wisdom, it is essential to take active measures to document and pass it on to future generations.

2. Modern Solutions for sustainability

Modern solutions for sustainable fishing in Tunisia involve the application of scientific and technological advancements to address the significant challenges faced by the country's fishing industry such as utilizing underwater sensors to gather accurate data on fish populations, ocean conditions, and fishing activities, and expanding sustainable aquaculture and mariculture practices as alternative sources of seafood production, etc. These solutions aim to promote ecological balance, enhance resource management, and secure the long-term viability of marine ecosystems while safeguarding the livelihoods of coastal communities.

As an illustrative example, a crucial aspect of these modern solutions involves the advocacy and implementation of sustainable fishing gear and practices. This involves promoting the use of methods and equipment that reduce bycatch and mitigate negative environmental impacts. Notably, the "Charfia," which is a traditional fishing method practiced on the Kerkenna Islands in Tunisia is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage [3], symbolizing the coexistence of age-old fishing practices with contemporary sustainability endeavors.

3. Tunisia’s Sustainable Fisheries Challenges

While acknowledging the importance of both traditional knowledge and modern solutions is essential. Nonetheless, it is equally vital for the Tunisian Government to facilitate the integration of these approaches. Providing financial and technical assistance and educational initiatives empowers local communities and develops sustainable practices. Tunisia has made progress in this direction, with the government implementing measures such as restricting fishing during breeding seasons and promoting the use of selective fishing gear through the September 28, 1995 law [4].

However, challenges remain such as pollution, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which undermines efforts to promote sustainability. In addition, many fishermen still lack the awareness and resources to adopt sustainable practices, and some are resistant to change, while the local knowledge among the fishing communities plays a crucial role in the sustainable management of fishery resources [5].

Although current law does not allow towed fishing gear in coastal areas in less than 50 m depth, or within a distance of 3 nautical miles from the coastline [6], illegal fishing and trawling are still significant problems in Tunisian waters. Trawling, a fishing method that involves dragging a large net along the ocean floor, is also a destructive practice that can harm marine habitats and result in high rates of bycatch, the unintentional capture of non-target species.

According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), trawling is responsible for substantial habitat destruction and bycatch, contributing to declines in marine biodiversity (FAO, 2018). Furthermore, trawling can cause ghost fishing by cutting the nets of other fishermen, leading to the continued loss of valuable marine resources.

To address these challenges, Tunisia needs a multi-faceted approach. This includes strengthening enforcement against illegal fishing by respecting and enforcing the law, providing education and training to fishermen on sustainable practices, and incentivizing sustainable fishing through policies such as subsidies for eco-friendly fishing gear.

Conclusion

Tunisia's journey towards sustainable fisheries is not an easy one, but it is a crucial step towards preserving its marine resources and securing a sustainable future for its fishing communities. Collaboration between governmental bodies, scientific researchers, international organizations, neighboring countries, and local fishermen, results in innovative sustainable solutions for Tunisia's coastal ecosystems and enhances the Mediterranean fish heritage.

Photo credit: Environmental Justice Foundation

References

[1] Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). (2023). Kiss of Death: Dow Illegal Bottom Trawling Threatens Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Tunisia. https://ejfoundation.org/reports/kiss-of-death-how-illegal-bottom-trawling-threatens-ecosystems-and-livelihoods-in-tunisia

[2] Zemzemi Saida. (2022). Worrying Exploitation of Marine Resources in Tunisia and the Mediterranean. https://earthjournalism.net/stories/worrying-exploitation-of-marine-resources-in-tunisia-and-the-mediterranean

[3] Raffaele Turri. (2021, March 11). Fishing in Tunisia between world heritage and innovation. https://surefish.eu/2021/03/11/fishing-in-tunisia-between-world-heritage-and-innovation/

[4] Mayssa sandli. (2023, June 5). Preserving Tunisia’s Marine Ecosystems: The Rise of Sustainable Fishing. https://earthjournalism.net/stories/preserving-tunisias-marine-ecosystems-the-rise-of-sustainable-fishing-0

[5] Santha, S. (2008). Local ecological knowledge and fisheries management: a study among riverine fishing communities in Kerala, India. Local Environment, 13, 423 - 435. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549830701809726.

[6] Mili, S., Ennouri, R., Jarboui, O., & Missaoui, H. (2013). Distribution and Abundance of the Mantis Shrimp Squilla mantis (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) in Tunisian Waters: Gulfs of Tunis, Hammamet and Gabes. Journal of Life Sciences, 1, 001-013. https://doi.org/10.15580/GJLS.2013.1.EB08091311.