The outgoing phase of the project was conducted in Timor Leste in strong collaboration with WorldFish (CGIAR) and the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL). Various activities were deployed to comprehend Marine Invertebrate Artisanal Fisheries (MIAF): assessment of targeted species, Catch Per Unit Effort surveys (CPUE), social-ecological and ethnoecological open and semi-structured interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), workshops, and training. Moreover, in collaboration with WorldFish, the nutritional profile of eleven marine invertebrate species was assessed. MIAF surveys were developed in seven localities across Timor Leste, and a total of 20 bachelor’s students from UNTL were engaged and collaborated in the collection of data under the supervision of the PI. A total of 211 marine invertebrate species were found to be used for food, ornamental, and/or commercial purposes. Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE, fisheries metrics) surveys were conducted in 2022 and 2024; these surveys showed that women were more active than men in MIAF. Therefore, women targeted and captured more species, mobilized more fishing techniques, and their total catch was higher than that of men. Open and semi-structured interviews, along with FGD and fisherwomen allowed to underpin local knowledge on i) local knowledge related to the diversity of marine invertebrate species targeted in local fisheries, species habitats, and population dynamics; ii) the dynamics of MIAF throughout the year and how MIAF interconnected with other types of food production systems and cultural activities; and iii) the social and ecological drivers of change of these fisheries. Training and summer schools enabled the development of capacity building on new skills in ethnoecology, transdisciplinary approaches, marine invertebrate species taxonomy and ecology, as well as in sustainability science.
The incoming phase of the project was conducted in France, at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development. Different activities for the dissemination of results were engaged in France as in Timor Leste, including the organization of the first international conference held at UNTL related to fisheries and marine science, the development of the first collection of marine invertebrates of Timor Leste, and the exhibition of concepts and objects related to the theme “Women and Shells” at the Forum Science4Action (Palais du Pharo, Marseille, 2024).
