Creation of Community Dina Panels

 During the month of March, Campaign Manager Gildas Andriamalala made plans to organize three leadership and governance training workshops for the leaders of 24 villages in his campaign site. The workshops were delayed, however, in order to accomodate an election being held which would appoint two leaders to the Velondriake MPA Management Committee.  These individuals would in turn be the designated village leaders on marine matters.

As Blue Ventures helped to facilitate the election, Gildas used the opportunity to stimulate discussion among the community and ask community members to make public statements in regard to local law (known as Dina) as it relates to marine matters.  As a result of these discussions, Gildas came up with the idea to produce a panel for each community which represents what the Dina means to them.  This panel would then be placed by the waterfront of the community, in clear view, to inform everyone of the law and to emphasize that it is being enforced.

According to Gildas, "As you can see from the pictures, none of the panels are the same. They all had their own idea in every village. Some of them didn't really care about attractiveness in terms of presentation and writing; but some did it very well."  This was, in social marketing terms, a brilliant idea. Producing and posting the panels would be a minute task for the community, but it would create significant buy-in and ownership of the campaign. 

Vezo aho Pride Campaign Exposition for Government Officials in Tulear

The national Malagsy news media turned its attention to Tulear on the 2nd of July as 16 government ministers and the Prime Minister of Madagascar descended on the regional capital for the inauguration of the Fisheries Ministry's new regional headquarters.

DINA (Didy Ifanarahana Natao Ampiharina)

We are running a community enforcement campaign to promote the Velondriake local convention called DINA. Literally, Dina means convention; but I found out from one of my colleagues that Dina stands for something that perfectly describes the meaning of the word.

Certification of Community Leaders

One thing that makes me smile every time I think about it is the certificate that I signed myself and gave to the committee members. I just couldn't believe that I'll do this one day. I've trained people before about coastal and marine socio-economic research but I've never given certificates. This time it was so different because I signed it myself.  

Leaders and Beach Seiners

The Malagasy language is a mix of other languages and dialect from Africa, Asia and also has European (English and French) connections. Despite being formed from so many languages, we often use the same word in a different context to have a very different meaning.

Moving Billboards

The idea of sail painting had already crossed my mind when we started planning the campaign. But I always assumed that it would be a difficult decision for the community to let their expensive sail be painted with campaign messages. Usually, they only put their initials on their sail to differentiate it from the others.

Our "I'm Vezo" Boat

I’ve bought a plastic pirogue, the first one in all Velondriake area to be used as a channel to send our campaign messages out. We travelled within every village to spread our messages, distribute posters, t-shirts, panels, attend meetings. I got it last February and never put a name on it.

PEP Site Visit Featured in Blue Ventures Newsletter

This month's edition of Blue Ventures Conservation Research Update features an article about a recent Rare visit to Andavadoaka Coast, Madagascar. 

Blue Ventures Conservation - Research Update Newsletter

2 great songs to stop destructive fishing

The Lalao song was composed and written by the campaign manager Gildas. It is a pledge from the youth to the elders of the community to consider destructive fishing practices taboo and enforce the Dina. The send song Andao hiarake (let's go together) is a bit more of an upbeat song and will be good for creating a great atmosphere during community visists and events. Both songs are performed by local fishermen and musicians.