New Living Labs Working Publication on Sustainable Oyster Farming in the Sherbro River Estuary
September 25, 2024
West Africa Blue is pleased to announce the release of a new Living Labs Working Publication titled Sustainable Livelihoods: Oyster Farming in the Sherbro River Estuary. This document outlines Blue’s efforts to promote sustainable oyster farming as a livelihood alternative in Sierra Leone.
By introducing sustainable oyster farming, West Africa Blue aims to provide local communities with a reliable source of income while reducing their reliance on mangrove wood for oyster harvesting. The long-term benefits of this project include improved biodiversity, shoreline maintenance, and reduced deforestation in the Sherbro River Estuary.
Key Highlights:
Sustainable Livelihoods: Oyster farming offers a sustainable alternative to traditional harvesting, which damages mangroves. Communities are now using the ‘rack and rope’ method to cultivate oysters without harming the ecosystem.
Successful Pilots: Two pilot projects in York Island and Jaihun have demonstrated the effectiveness of oyster farming, with the first harvest showcased at the 2024 Bonthe Oyster Festival.
Expansion: The success of the pilot has led to plans for expansion throughout the 2024-2025 growing season, with community training to support the wider rollout.
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.
You can download the full publication from the Living Labs section of our website or access it via the link below.