Mangrove Fisheries Volunteer

Mangrove Fisheries Volunteer in SW Madagascar

Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education, an NGO working with communities in SW Madagascar to promote community-based mangrove management, is looking for a volunteer to assist with our new mangrove fisheries monitoring project in Ambondrolava, SW Madagascar. We have an immediate 3-month opening from mid-June to mid-August for this exciting opportunity to play an integral role in the implementation of a mangrove fisheries study.

This new initiative will provide Honko and the local management association with crucial information about the current state of Ambondrolava’s mangrove fisheries, which play an important role in both ecosystem services and local livelihoods, through analysis of local catches and household surveys. The volunteer will oversee data collection with local fishermen, data entry and management, and protocol development in collaboration with Honko’s Project Coordinator and local staff. The volunteer will be trained in Honko’s fisheries monitoring protocol, as well as fish identification, data entry and management, and basic French/Malagasy.

This data informs Honko and the local mangrove management association on the current state of Ambondrolava’s mangrove fisheries and other factors that influence the design of new management activities such as temporary fishing reserves. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for experience in fieldwork, fish identification, data management, or marine conservation to enter the field of conservation and sustainable development.

Volunteer Activities:

The mangrove fisheries volunteer’s day-to-day activities will follow Honko’s fisheries monitoring protocol, involving early-morning data collection in Ambondrolava from catch analyses and brief household surveys. When not with the fishermen or inputting data, there will be many opportunities to assist with Honko’s other projects, which include a women’s association, ecotourism, fish farming, apiculture, and environmental education. We also ask that volunteers contribute to our blog and Facebook page during their stay here to share our progress and stories with our supporters.

Desired Attributes:

• At least 1 year of undergraduate studies
• Experience or demonstrated interest in fisheries, conservation and/or ecology
• Adaptability
• Physical fitness and perseverance – ability and willingness to spend hours in the field, walking through channels and mangrove sediment
• Willingness to work early mornings and learn basics in Malagasy for fieldwork

Time and duration:

This is a 3-month position available immediately, from mid-June to mid-August.

Cost:

The monthly cost for the volunteer program is €300/month ($400), which covers all food and accommodations at the site and a small contribution to help cover the costs of running Honko’s site in Ambondrolava. The volunteer fee covers:

• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• All meals on-site
• Basic accommodations (includes mosquito net and bedding)
• Training in fishery field techniques
• Filtered water
• Limited solar power
• Opportunities to meet with Honko’s partner NGOs in this region
• An enriching experience in a fascinating environment

Note that the fee does not include flights, visas, or insurance (we ask that all volunteers be covered by extensive medical and travel ensure during their stay).

Apply:

This 3-month position is available immediately, ideally starting mid-June. We will consider applications as we receive them and will select the first qualified candidates. To apply, email volunteer@honko.org with your CV and a letter of interest. Be sure to mention where you found our announcement.

About Ambondrolava and its mangroves:

The mangrove forest at Ambondrolava covers 120 hectares, with an additional 13 hectares of degraded and deforested mangrove that Honko and the community have reforested. We are located just south of the Bay of Ranobe, which has a 32km long reef bordering a lagoon and intermixed seagrass beds with patches of reef. The local communities strongly depend on the mangrove for its wood and animal resources, but with rapid population growth in this region, there has been over-usage of the mangrove’s resources and evident degradation. Honko’s site in Ambondrolava has 7 species of mangrove trees and 37 wetland birds (the highest recorded wetland bird diversity in this region). Within and around the mangrove there are many different habitat types ranging from protected forest, degraded forest, reforested land, reed beds, and abandoned salt pans.

More information:

You can learn more about us through our website www.honko.org, our Facebook page, and our blog where we post regular photos and updates on all of Honko's community and conservation initiatives. You can also contact us with any questions at volunteer@honko.org.