Project ReCon protects artisanal fishermen and brings a proven solution for marine debris to the Somali coastline, the longest in continental Africa, and a key area due to its geography, oceanographic conditions, and proximity to tropical tuna fishing areas.
Satlink and MARCOD will work together to strengthen local capacity through the recovery, reuse and recycling of end-of-life fishing gear.
Following several months of collaboration, Satlink and MARCOD Center (Marine Research and Coastal Development Center), leading Somalia-based NGO dedicated to environmental and socio-economic sustainability of coastal communities, have signed an agreement to bring Project ReCon to the country. This collaboration aims to not only reduce the impact of marine debris, but also to contribute to community resilience by increasing artisanal fishers’ safety and wellbeing at sea. Somalian geography and oceanographic conditions combined with the proximity to the tropical tuna fishing areas, make this a key area for Project ReCon, providing a long-term and scalable solution for reducing the impacts of marine debris. This agreement marks a turning point in the recovery of end-of-life fishing technology in Somalia, opening new possibilities for local fisheries and environmental management along mainland Africa’s longest coastline.
Satlink’s Project ReCon, a unique industry-led circular economy initiative for the reuse and recycling of end-of-life echosounder buoys, will be the first-of-its kind in Somalia. With support from the purse-seine industry, including companies from all major fleets operating in the Indian Ocean, the project will prioritize buoy re-use around practical, community-oriented applications that enhance maritime safety, such as repurposing recovered devices as tracking or VMS tools for local fishing boats operating in strong currents and challenging conditions. These devices will also support marine research and environmental monitoring, aligned with local needs and existing institutional frameworks.
Abdishakur Farah, co-founder and the Director of MARCOD Center states: “Fishers’ safety is crucial for coastal communities all along the Somali coast. Likewise, marine debris and stranded fishing equipment have been a visible and growing challenge for our coastal communities. Project ReCon gives us access to technology to tackle these issues in both a practical and sustainable way.”
To maximize the benefits of Project ReCon, MARCOD Center will engage with local fishing communities to enhance the recovery of end-of-life devices, but also to encourage their reuse throughout the sector. Additionally, MARCOD Center and Satlink are establishing a central hub for the storage and recycling of any recovered fishing gear that is not apt for local reuse. By bringing in knowledge and protocols developed through collaboration with ReCon’s founding partner Tangaroa Blue Foundation, these devices will generate additional revenue for the project through local resale of components or recycling of gear materials.
Redefining fishing sustainability
Three years after its launch, Project ReCon continues to represent the way forward for sustainability in the fishing sector. Already present in 24 countries and territories and supported by the participation of more than 150 fishing vessels and 25 companies, Project ReCon actively contributes to furthering the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By fostering the recovery and reconditioning end-of-life fishing gear, Project ReCon turns potential technological waste into advanced tools for ocean research, conservation, marine debris tracking, food security, maritime safety and coastal community resilience, in close collaboration with the fishing industry and environmental organizations.
Kathryn Gavira, Head of Science and Sustainability from Satlink: “We are so happy to welcome MARCOD Center into the Project ReCon network. In a coastal region as sensitive and challenging as Somalia, we cannot think of better partners to bring this project to life. Together, we are not only tackling marine debris and advancing fisheries sustainability, we are also building stronger coastal communities in the long term.”
