The Saylac Fishing Cooperative, a fisheries co-management association, will mark World Ocean Day 2021 with a community celebration. Saylac is a fishing district on the west coast of Somaliland known for its rich coral reefs, mangrove forests, and diverse marine life. Fishing and related activities are the main source of local income and the community plans to honor the ocean and all it provides on World Ocean Day.

The co-management association was recently established through an agreement between resource users in Saylac and the Somaliland government. Cooperative management, or co-management, is a partnership between the fishing community and the government to develop local fisheries governance, management, and profitability while mitigating conflict over marine resources. The co-management association has helped improve fishing practices, advance environmental education, and manage local fisheries conflicts. On June 8, the community will discuss the importance of protecting their abundant resources and actions they can take to ensure healthy fisheries for generations to come.

Follow Secure Fisheries on Facebook and Twitter @SecureFisheries to see photos and videos from the event.

For more on co-management in Saylac and Secure Fisheries’ other work in the Somali region, visit securefisheries.org.

Bander Beyla’s Ceenaad Fishing Cooperative organized a beach cleanup (pictured below) and celebration. Fishing and related activities are the main source of local income and an integral part of the community’s culture. They know firsthand the importance of maintaining the health of the local marine environment, so they are proud to contribute to the global effort to conserve the ocean and its many resources.

The Ceenaad Fishing Cooperative, a fisheries co-management association in Bander Beyla, will mark World Ocean Day 2021 with a beach cleanup and celebration. Bander Beyla is a fishing community on the east coast of Puntland, Somalia. Fishing and related activities are the main source of local income and they plan to honor the ocean and all it provides on World Ocean Day.

The co-management association was recently established through an agreement between resource users in Bander Beyla and the Puntland regional government. Cooperative management, or co-management, is a partnership between the fishing community and the government to develop local fisheries governance, management, and profitability while mitigating conflict over marine resources. The Cenaad Cooperative has helped improve fishing practices, advance environmental education, and manage local fisheries conflicts. Bander Beyla fishers’ stories are featured in the “Faces of the Sea” segment during the UN World Ocean Day event.

Follow Secure Fisheries on Facebook and Twitter @SecureFisheries to see photos and videos from the event.

For more on co-management in Bander Beyla and Secure Fisheries’ other work in the Somali region, visit securefisheries.org.