The OWEN Project

What a trip it has been.  I arrived with some doubts about the viability of the project and left with confidence and enthusiasm for its eventual success.  I saw EVERYTHING.  Owen, Ariane, the rented room, the store where our gas Jerry cans and motors are safely guarded, the bank account  and met the team.  I know understand how the business works.  I know what the planned for and unplanned for costs are (insofar as that's possible).  I also became more familiar with the sea, and how the rhythms of this business are completely dependent on the conditions at sea.  I have seen "high seas" that are kind of terrifying - no one can go out in those conditions!  I have observed the spending, for taxis, paying people for services and also for when times are tough.  The biggest expense is gasoline!  If you have a big catch, the $500-$600 of gas is inconsequential, but if you don't catch, then money has to be available to fill the Jerry cans f...

This morning I went to the beach and Makale and I updated the OWEN Project budget/diary log, went to Auchan grocery store to purchase some stuff and then went to meet one of the other fishermen, Ablaye, near Ariane. He wanted to go to see Owen with us, and empty any water which had accumulated in the boat so we took a taxi there.  While we were there, he (Ablaye) also emptied out water from the adjacent pirogues.  Many things are done this way….everyone helps each other.  The taxi ride was quite long as we were stuck in traffic.  Upon arrival back at Ariane, I paid the guard 35,000 cfa for his work. I’m not sure for how long it's for but do know that it’s been awhile since we have paid him.  The pirogues are being guarded right now because many pirogues have been stolen to take migrants to Spain/Canary Islands.  You can try locking them, but whatever you do risks being broken.  It did not used to be this way….but due to the collapse of fishing over the...

 Today was a busy day. I met up with a Senegalese man, Pape, who lives also in NYC, a friend of a friend.  Super nice man who would like to help with OWEN Project.  His partner, a LeBu woman, is also really nice.  (Makale is LeBu, the people who have fished for a long time).  We had a good time discussing fishing in Senegal.  After that, I went to see how Ariane, who had just gotten an interior coating of waterproof sealing.  I'm sitting in Ariane and the men who did the work are  adjacent to me.   Makele (my partner), Pape and Mamy. 

I have learned a lot about the fishing business in Senegal - it will take time to become profitable, and put enough money in the bank to cover trips to sea where we don't catch fish.  I met this American at the airport at JFK, and we had a rollicking ride in OWEN from Île N'Gor where Owen was anchored, sheltered from high seas, to the port at Yoff where we picked up the rest of the team (additional 4 men).  We went out a bit to sea on the way so we had a small experience of rocking and surging on waves which seemed huge to me.  It was a calm sea, in fact.  The sea is huge, and wild and I got a glimpse of how difficult fishing is.  These men are all in, brave and excited...such a positive vibe.  It was amazing. The smaller pirogue arrived at Île N'Gor to load the motor and 8 of the fishermen.  They pull up alongside. Gas is very expensive and we burn through a lot.  If there is a good catch, it's not problem.  If not, it's an expense that need...

  Today Makale picked me up around noon.  We went to see Owen, docked by Île N’Gor for protection against high seas.  It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Yoff, by motorcycle.  By car, much longer due to horrendous traffic.  On the motorcycle, we weave carefully between cars.  No one is going very fast and I feel completely comfortable (I do wear a motorcycle helmet.).  To get to Owen, we take a pirogue with a bunch of other people which goes across the channel to Île N’Gor, then takes us to Owen (who is adjacent to several other pirogues).  Every day, Makale comes here to empty any water which has accumulated.  It’s quite an effort.  Sitting on the pile of nets, we had a long discussion about the fishing business, which opened my eyes to what is involved.   I also learned that many fishermen have left to try to get to Europe and it’s essential to keep the team together.  We are a team of 12 adult fishermen and 3 ...

Just arrived today.  Saliou and I walked down to the beach where Makale joined us.  I went with him (on the back of his motorcycle) to see Ariane, who is currently on the beach, watched 24/7 by some men, and the storage area where the three boat motors and the Jerry cans of gasoline are stored.  The Jerry cans were mostly empty. Ariane needs to be watched as she is vulnerable to being stolen by those who seek pirogues to try to get to the Canary Islands. She needs to be sanded down and repainted before she can go out again.  In particular, she needs to have new product applied to the inside of her hull because these boats do not have covers protecting them from the rain so …they fill up with water, which has to be removed by hand.