In the province of Cádiz in southern Spain, fisherwoman Manuela Leal Sánchez works hard every day to make the region’s fishery more sustainable. As the captain of a bottom longline boat and a leader of her community, Manuela is part of Artisanal Fish Producers Lonja de Conil and is working with WWF to establish a coastal marine protected area: “A marine reserve will help increase the fish population, including species that are of interest for our fishery.”
What are your first memories of the sea?
I am from Conil de la Frontera, a fishers’ town at the coast of Cádiz. My father is a retired fishing captain and because of him, the sea always played an important role in my life. Fishing is one of the pillars of my community; along with agriculture and tourism, it is our main livelihood. Life here is shaped by salt, light and fishing. We do not understand life without the sea and we always feel its presence.
“Life here is shaped by salt, light and fishing. We do not understand life without the sea and we always feel its presence.”
How has fishing changed in your lifetime?
When I was young, my father caught much more fish than we do these days. Now, fishing is very different: we have many more tools and better technology, but there is less fish. It is a sign that we must organise ourselves better to protect our fishing grounds.
My father is an example for me. He has always been working for the Cofradía de Pescadores (Fishermen’ Association) to fight for the future of our livelihood. He still does, even now that he is retired. The association implemented several projects that made the fishery in the region more sustainable. I remember many years ago, when I was a young girl, they placed concrete obstacles in the sea to make trawling near the coast impossible and protect the fish population.
“Nowadays, fishing is very different: we have many more tools and better technology, but there is less fish. It is a sign that we need to organise ourselves better to protect our fishing grounds.”
Illegal fishing is a big problem in this region, creating unequal competition with the regulated fisheries. It makes people wonder why there are rules if the authorities do not control their enforcement; we need a more effective control system. As the head of Cofradía de Pescadores de Conil de la Frontera and president of the Cádiz’ fishing federation, I work with WWF and SOLDECOCOS (the Spanish acronym for the Society for the Development of Coastal Communities) on several projects to remove incentives and opportunities for illegal activity.
For example, we implemented the collective brand Pescado de Conil (Fish from Conil), which has increased sales of our regulated fishery. Today, we are working to implement a coastal marine protected area. Protecting our resources is crucial for the future of our fishery and it will help rebuild the fish population. The goal is for the marine reserve to improve control and, in this way, help end illegal fishing.
“Working together for a regulated and sustainable fishery is key for the future of our livelihood.”
What are the next steps?
The coastal marine protected area needs to be declared as soon as possible — we have no time to waste. For it to have the desired deterrence on illegal fishing activities, we have to work with colleagues from other regions in the country and, as we are located in the south of Spain, with organisations from Morocco. Working together for a regulated and sustainable fishery is key for the future of our livelihood.
Credit header photo: WWF-Spain
In the province of Cádiz in southern Spain, fisherwoman Manuela Leal Sánchez works hard every day to make the region’s fishery more sustainable. As the captain of a bottom longline boat and a leader of her community, Manuela is part of Artisanal Fish Producers Lonja de Conil and is working with WWF to establish a coastal marine protected area.