The Fishermen pilot project was launched in January 2011 with financial assistance from Friendship Luxembourg. The project is implemented in the chars Khajura and Gangamati in Kalapara upazilla of Patuakhali district, which is located in southern Bangladesh.
The project aims to:
• Improve livelihood of the fishing communities by weaning them out of the age-old cycle of debts to the middlemen
• Test a pilot model for collecting information on daily cash flow of the fishermen to structure a sustainable economic development project
The pilot project and action research is in progress using the following tools that have been developed with the view to:
• Improving income of the fishermen and take them out of the low economic structure that they are caught in
• Providing improved boats to reduce loss of life at sea
• Providing operational tools as loans
• Preventing effects of disasters
• Organizing the community
The project components include research and implementation mechanisms. The target group are the ultra-poor fishermen living and working along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. 49 fishermen consisting of 12 groups have received financial assistance to enable them to liberate themselves from the mohajons (money lenders) so that they have more freedom regarding to whom, when, and at what rate to sell the fish they catch. This gives them independence over their income, expenditure and livelihood.
12 fishing boats have already been distributed among the fishermen along with operational support such as fishing nets, floats, fuel, etc.
Unnayan Shamannay, a reputed Bangladeshi research organization is assisting in the research component of the project.
The Executive Director of Friendship Ms. Runa Khan and Mr. Patrick Losch of Friendship Luxembourg visited the Fishermen project in Kuakata several times to have in-depth discussions with the fishermen regarding their needs, explore the best ways to maximize impact, adjust the project activities to suit the existing needs and requirements, and to see in person the benefits received by the beneficiaries so far.