Posidonia seagrass meadows
Mangrove forest - protecting your coast
Globally mangrove Forest have been decimated be nearly 40%.
Reasons for his this destruction are I rising sea levels, solution of the ocean and estuaries, storms and climate - changes, and … the human ”Lumberjack” cutting firewood.
But what is being destroyed, and how much of it is really important for us?
First of all, Mangrove forest offer a large and protective spawning - ground for coastal fish. In areas with intact Mangrove forest fisherman how wasted up to for the present more fish!
Additionally you can find tasty seafood crabs and seashells for you table.
Mangrove Forest also catches the sand and sediments with its white zoot system. Coastal erosion hence is being minimized, and the coast even protected from storm and high waves. Especially in river deltas and histories this protective function is successfully combating land loose.
On the lands side of mangrove Forest firewood can be sustainably harvested if only that would is being used and no living trees cut.
Is it difficult or expensive to plant a new mangrove forest in your area? It can be simple! If you know on existing mangrove Forest you can find the seeds on the sea Ward side of it. They look like oval fruits, with a long, spear like zoot growing from its bottom end.
They are ready for planting. You carefully break them off the tree (at the narrow top and of the seed) and bring them to the place of mangrove forest.
You just need to keep them moist during transport and the will survive many days, when you are ready for a planting hold the seat vertically and drop it so it’s root (spear like) will dick into the sand or sediment. Plant it the tidal area of your beach, so the root will be kept moist all the time. You should plant in rows - each seed 1 meter apart from the next. Now the time and the sea will do the rest!
Do you have experience or more information on the subject? Please share with us!
If you decide to start your own Mangrove forest along your coast, please don’t forget to first, get the support of your community for it. Young Mangrove is easily destroyed.
Mangrove marshes, valuable enrichment to the West-African fisheries!
Mangrove trees, characteristically inhabiting the coast from the equator to about 20° North and South, are biologíically extremely productive and comparable with natural reefs. They are intermíttently submerged by salty ocean water and are characterized by oxygen-poor mud and large peat deposits.
Once mangroves colonize an area, they normally quickly outgrow and replace salt marshes, and grow independent of further human activity.
Research is showing that wetlands, especially mangrove marshes, have a very high economic value, when left alone and allowed to expand. Mangrove marshes are believed to serve as nurseries for over half the salt-water species commercially important fishes in West-Africa.
Other fishes, such as flounder and bluefish use the marshes extensively for feeding. A very important characteristics of mangrove marshes is their ability to "scrub" polluted water. They remove organic nitrogen compounds and metals. Most such removal is achieved through their attachment to clay-sized particles in the marshland. Some nitrogen compounds trapped in sediment are decomposed by bacteria, which in turn, release the nitrogen to the atmosphere as a gas. Many of the nitrogen compounds support plant production in this environment, one of the most productive on earth.
Advantages of a mangrove coast are, among others:
1. Protection of the coast-line against erosion and flooding. The mangroves serves as a break-water line and combat directly coastal erosion.
2. To combat the loss of land due to the climate change mangrove swamps can serve as a protection barrier. Even if the water-level is rising., the mangrove forest will grow equally. The loss of land will be prohibited or, at least minimized, and the coast-line protected.
3. Nursery for fish is leading to a considerable increase of catch in the fishery. The roots of the mangroves are providing a protected zone and nursery for the fish.
4. Living environment for clams, oysters and seafood. This can provide an additional income for your local fishery industry.
5. Releases nitrogen gas is an important fertilizer for the surrounding area. This is directly influencing the productivity of the coastal waters, and also of the agriculture in the back-country.
6. Mangrove marshes will filter the water in river estuaries and so improve the water quality. Especially in rivers with a high grade of human and agricultural pollution like through nitrogen), the capability of fitering the water will improve the water quality and reduce the rate of sedimentation along the coast line. This is a very important mode of protection for natural reefs and the coastal biosphere, otherwise covered by the fast growing layers of sediment.
7. Peat, built up between the mangrove trees, is a good fertilizer and can be used for agricultural activities.
8. Mangrove Forests will provide living-space for a large verity of animals and hence enrich the biosphere. Aside improving the environment, this can also provide a commercial aspect, if used sustainably.
9. The natural dead-wood in the mangrove marshes can be used as building material and firewood for human activities, nearby.
10. mor and mor.
In combination the the extreme up-weling along the West-African coast line, during offland wind, you experience a period of high productivity Nutrient rich water is brought to the surface of the ocean, algae is blooming and starting an intense reproduction cycle. In areas of mangrove marshes this reproduction is much more intensified. Knowing the advantages of mangrove marshes, as proven again with the St. Louise (Senegal) mangrove project, it would be only logical for the local fishery to start their own mangrove projects along their own coastline. It can be done!
Please tell us about mangrove marshes in your own area. Would it be possible to plant mangrove trees in your area and increase the productivity of your own, local, fishery? TRG4/20
Longline fishing
Longline fishing, considered the strongest marketing channel for fish species to the USA, Japan and the European market, is regarded as a commercial fishing technique that is more ecologically sustainable than many other methods.
This strategy uses a long fishing line, called a mainline, equipped with baited hooks known as "snoods." Numerous hooks can be attached to a single line to make the process more efficient and effective. Longline fishing methods are most commonly used to catch fish such as swordfish, tuna, halibut, and many other species. Longlines can be set up to hang on the surface (pelagic longline) to catch fish that live near the surface of the sea, or on the seabed (bottomline) to catch bottom-dwelling fish like halibut. Longline fishing has become a smarter way of fishing, offering several advantages over processes like trawling, resulting in better fish quality and environmental sustainability.
Fishing with handlines
Handlining is a fishing technique in which a single fishing line is held in the hands.
It should not be confused with hand fishing. One or more fishing lures or baited hooks are attached to the line.
A hook, a fishing lure or device, and a multiple of a weight and/or float can be attached to the line. Handlining is one of the oldest forms of fishing and is practiced all over the world today.
The fishing lure can still be moved in a series of short movements.
Handling often takes place near the bottom of the water body, but can also occur near or at the surface. Ocean handlining is frequently used to catch demersal fish and squid, but sometimes other species are caught, including pelagic fish.
Sea handlining is a good way to catch larger sea fish.
You can also find more information on Facebook.