Velondriake: To Live with the Sea
In a remote and inaccessible part of Madagascar where the state has virtually no presence, the local Vezo community has set up a unique marine protected area (MPA) to take control of its sole economic resource - the ocean. Through an elected council, local villagers have established fishing controls, no-take-zones, temporary fishing closures and other measures to safeguard the marine environment for future generations. Fines for breaking the rules include goats, chickens and cows. To make up for the loss of livelihoods this entailed, they helped set up a sea cucumber farm, a bee-keeping project, an eco-tourism scheme and a seaweed growing initiative among other things, and assist local fishermen to get a better deal for their fish. With full local ownership, the project enjoys widespread acceptance in the community, and the model has now been replicated extensively in other parts of Madagascar. When it came to naming the project, the community settled on Velondriake, which translates as "to live with the sea".
This project, shot in collaboration with Aurélie Marrier d'Unienville, profiles the individuals who make it all work, from volunteer mangrove planters to sea-cucumber ranchers, researchers, administrators and many others.
In a remote and inaccessible part of Madagascar where the state has virtually no presence, the local Vezo community has set up a unique marine protected area (MPA) to take control of its sole economic resource - the ocean. Through an elected council, local villagers have established fishing controls, no-take-zones, temporary fishing closures and other measures to safeguard the marine environment for future generations. Fines for breaking the rules include goats, chickens and cows. To make up for the loss of livelihoods this entailed, they helped set up a sea cucumber farm, a bee-keeping project, an eco-tourism scheme and a seaweed growing initiative among other things, and assist local fishermen to get a better deal for their fish. With full local ownership, the project enjoys widespread acceptance in the community, and the model has now been replicated extensively in other parts of Madagascar. When it came to naming the project, the community settled on Velondriake, which translates as "to live with the sea".
This project, shot in collaboration with Aurélie Marrier d'Unienville, profiles the individuals who make it all work, from volunteer mangrove planters to sea-cucumber ranchers, researchers, administrators and many others.