New Living Labs Working Publication on Improved Fish Smoking Ovens Released
September 24, 2024
A new Living Labs Working Publication titled Improved Fish Smoking Ovens: Lessons from Sierra Leone has been released, providing insights into innovative approaches to reducing mangrove deforestation through the development of improved fish smoking ovens (IFSOs). This publication, part of West Africa Blue’s ongoing effort to share work-in-progress research and methodologies, details the design and testing of prototype IFSOs aimed at reducing the reliance on mangrove wood for fish smoking in rural and coastal communities.
The Living Labs Working Publications series is designed to disseminate work-in-progress materials that reflect our latest research and evolving methodologies in blue carbon projects. These documents offer preliminary insights for stakeholders, market participants, and researchers interested in the development and implementation of sustainable solutions that address urgent environmental challenges. As work-in-progress documents, they may be subject to change and revision as we gather more data and refine our approaches.
Key Highlights from the IFSO Publication:
Addressing Mangrove Deforestation: Traditional fish smoking methods in Sierra Leone, such as the banda, use large amounts of mangrove wood. The introduction of IFSOs has the potential to offer a more efficient and sustainable alternative, reducing wood consumption by up to 65%.
Community-Centric Approach: The development and testing of IFSO prototypes have been carried out in collaboration with local fishermen and communities. Feedback and data collected from pilot projects in York Island and Hanging Site have informed ongoing design improvements.
Scaling the Innovation: West Africa Blue, in partnership with the Sierra Leone Artisanal Fishermen Union (SLAFU), is finalizing plans to expand the use of IFSOs across the project area, with a goal of achieving up to 80% wood reduction in fish smoking by the end of 2024.
This publication offers lessons for other organizations looking to implement sustainable fish smoking technologies in similar contexts. We encourage stakeholders to engage with the document and provide feedback as we continue to refine this promising solution.
You can download the full publication from the Living Labs section of our website or access it via the link below.