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the demand and price might be for the fish harvested from our pond. I started the first day of data collection holding
my breath as we wandered through the aisles of crusty dried fish for sale in the market, taking pictures in a desperate
attempt to identify the different species, which to me all looked like identical
grey lumps. A month later, I was the official “World Expert in the Fish
Markets of the Greater Andapa Basin”. Weeks of interviews with vendors had
helped us identify over 80 different species for sale in the area, by both their
English and Malagasy names. We discovered that the vast majority of fish
available locally were from the ocean, and were being transported hundreds
of kilometers to be sold as dried fish, not fresh. There were only two or three
vendors selling fresh fish on a consistent basis, and the prices for these were
subsequently very high in comparison to other forms of protein for sale.
The conclusion of this study revealed very high demand for fresh fish, and
in particular, high demand for the
Paratilapia polleni
(known locally as “fony”)
being raised in our pond. Follow-up interviews with local village elders found that most people rated fony as either
their first or second choice when asked to rank fish by taste. Everyone we spoke to was enthusiastic about the pond
project, and even more excited about the possibility of expanding the project by using the existing pond as a training
tool to help local community groups create their own ponds. One of the unique aspects of this project is that a native
species is being raised, and that 25% of all harvested fish are reintroduced into local rivers to restock wild populations
which have been severely diminished by overfishing and competition from invasive fish species.
The experience was also hugely transformative on a personal level. I have always had a strong interest in
international development, and I hope to go into that field eventually. My summer with the DLC’s SAVA Conservation
Project gave me real on-the-ground exposure to what community development projects look like, and taught me what
factors are essential to the success or effectiveness of a program. The most essential component – and one the DLC
SAVA Conservation Project excels in – is close collaboration with the community. Throughout the summer, I was
consistently encouraged to reflect on community needs and potential impacts. It was this collaborative environment
that enabled me to really get to know Andapa and the SAVA region, and helped me foster friendships that will last far
beyond the two months of my project.
Sophia taking a GPS satellite location reading.
Sophia, Cameron and Malagasy finishing up the first harvest of "fony" from the demonstration fish farm pond at Ambodivohitra.
From Political Science Major to Fish Market Expert
Continued