Facts Accounting for an Impediment to Financial Sustenance in Favour of Marine Artisanal Fishery-Related Activities at Sassandra, Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The study was carried out in February, March and August 2021, using a questionnaire intended for the professionals working for the benefit of the marine artisanal fishery located at Sassandra. The interviewees (220 persons) were approached at the landing site and principal marketplace of Sassandra.  After a brief inquiry about the different types of activities in which they were engaged and the number of people within their respective corporations, each interviewee was to give personal view on health conditions and safety at work, financial support displacement for his/her activity, as well as on childhood education. The results indicated that people who were engaged in fishery-related activities comprised experienced men and women having knowledge and skill acquired over many years. They served their apprenticeship with members of family. They would also work with apprentices of the same ethnic group or with fellow countrymen and countrywomen. A large part of the fishery´s workforce rest on family circle. Work environment was shaped by ethnic patterns. This situation opens the way for a setting of a strong tendency towards informal work, making the fishery prefer functioning and working in splendid economic and social isolation, which does not draw help in any form from financial institutions. Instead, all respondents expressed their desire to welcome schooling and literacy-oriented initiatives while calling for more health and safety-work conditions; but they had a pretty low opinion of Bank support as regards help in any financial form to further their activities.