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People of the Sea
The ocean does not only provide much of the air we breathe and makes our climate. Many people and entire communities depend on the sea for their living in other, very direct, ways. Small-scale fishers and gleaners of seafood have often a more intimate relationship with the sea than even seafarers on modern high ships or workers on offshore platforms. Traditional practices, where they still exist, often entailed protective measures in the form of the sacred. Much of this has been lost in 'modernity'. How do these different people experience the sea, what do they see as their most important challenges and what are their aspirations? There are as many perspectives as people - discover at least some of them. 
This interview was conducted as part of the efforts of Mundus maris to provide a path for women in small-scale fisheries to provide information about their daily lives and ambitions in a "interconnected and changing world" through mini reports, interviews and, if possible a few short videos. How women experience the different impacts of globalisation and what specific initiatives they take to cope, in order to stay in this sector. Following a meeting at which the Vice President of Mundus maris, Aliou Sall, was invited by the Economic Interest Grouping (GIE) PARASE of which Khady Sarr is the Secretary General, the interview took place (see below).
What are the assessments of women in fisheries on the impacts of globalisation and their prospects for a better tomorrow?
This interview is the first in a series of interviews that Mundus maris, consistent with the importance given to the gender dimension in its agenda, intends to do step by step with women involved in the use and / or value adding along value chains of marine or coastal resources.
Mr Faneyawa Soumah is a fisherman. At over 70 years old, he is a little atypical in that his age does not at all stop him from being omnipresent all day long on the platform of the Boulbinet port in Guinea in order to settle various types of conflicts between port users, but also between them and the fisheries administration. He is commonly called Dean for his age, but also for his great skill to settle conflicts where the administration would have difficulties given the social and political character of the artisanal fishery.
The oceans : Importance ? Threats ? What should be priority actions at global and local levels?
On the sidelines of the 9th Regional Partnership Forum for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Area in West Africa, convened from 23 to 27 October 2017 in Conakry in Guinea, Mr Jean Louis Sanka gave an interview to Mundus maris on the still undervalued importance of the ocean by the uninitiated and the threats that weigh on its ecosystems. He also gave a sketch of responses to these threats in terms of both global and local actions. In the following, we share this interview.
Mr Alassane Diallo is the information secretary at the football training centre called "Maison Foot", based in the fishing community of Hann. He gave us an interview about the place occupied by the sport in the protection of the environment (especially soccer) at the Club Mundus maris Senegal. Read on what he had to say:
In the depth of the ocean, South African freediver Hanli Prinsloo (37) finds peace, beauty and some of her best mates: sharks and turtles. She recounts her adventures in the big blue.
When you were a kid, did you sometimes take a really big breath in the bath, pinch your nose, close your eyes and sink under the water?
Cinzia Scaffidi is a free lance journalist, who writes about global topics in relation to food production and the environment and teaches on these topics at the University of Culinary Sciences and other schools and institutes. She collaborates also directly with some companies, foremost in the context of staff training.
Meet René Schaerer, a Swiss born social entrepreneur and innovator promoting sustainable living on the coast of Brazil through viable economic activities, civic engagement and participation of small-scale fisherfolk.
Look behind the scenes of the traditional fishing village Guet Ndar, Saint Louis, Senegal. The leader of the women active in the traditional fishery and strong personality in the community is Awa Seye. Follow her through the interview, discover her working environment and social struggles and talk to the real persona. Her rise from a down-trodden woman suffering loss of several babies in child birth to a leading midwife, community organiser and successful defender of the women's access rights to their working spaces on the beach against tourism developpers cast some light on what can be achieved with determination, social responsibility and civic engagement. Click here to see the video interview with Awa Seye with English voice over, a Mundus maris production.
We are deeply saddened by Awa passing away in late 2022. The interview will keep the fond memory alive of this remarkable woman.
After a long eventful life as a fisherman, soldier, community leader, Imam, at age 92, Malick Gueye reflects on the most important stages of co-shaping history. He is worried about the deterioration of traditional authority and nourishes fears for the future of fishing, if overfishing can not be stopped. Malick speaks mostly in Wolof, the subtitles are in French.