Before sunrise, Fatou Jarjue paddles into the Tanbi Wetland near Banjul, The Gambia, to catch crabs and check more than 5,000 mangroves she says she has restored since last year.
The 34-year-old mother relies on oysters, crabs and fish for her family’s income. The mangroves that support those catches also act as a natural barrier against coastal erosion and flooding, making the women’s restoration work important to both household livelihoods and Banjul’s future.
At a glance:
- Oyster harvesting pauses during The Gambia’s rainy season, when women often turn to crabs and fishing.
- A milk-can measure of oysters sells for about 100 dalasis, or $1.34, and oysters are generally more profitable than crabs.
- The women’s mangrove restoration training supports degraded wetland areas, fisheries and community resilience.
- Banjul is a low-lying island city facing risks from rising seas, erosion and flooding.
A livelihood tied to the wetland
Jarjue grew up in Ndangan, a settlement of about 300 people roughly 2km from Banjul. She began accompanying her mother into the mangroves at age 12, learning to harvest oysters and catch crabs and fish.
During the rainy season, oyster harvesting stops and many women shift to crabs and fishing until the shellfish season reopens. Jarjue continues returning to the wetland to inspect seedlings, replace damaged plants and identify areas that need restoration.
Why the oyster closure matters
The annual oyster closure is part of The Gambia’s Oyster and Cockle Co-management Plan. Marine scientist Dawda Saine said it gives oyster stocks time to regenerate, reproduce and grow while reducing pressure on the resource.
The closure is not based on the idea that oysters become poisonous during the rains. Increased runoff can carry waste and other material into waterways, which oysters filter as they feed and which can affect quality, taste and safety. Leaving the oysters undisturbed helps protect the resource and consumers.
A natural defence for Banjul
Women in Ndangan say restoration has helped bring back oysters and improve their size and growth after declining mangrove cover had reduced catches. Sussan Colley, 48, is also teaching her children both wetland livelihood skills and the importance of protecting the ecosystem.
Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe said the capital’s future is closely linked to the mangroves. Banjul is a low-lying island city exposed to rising seas, coastal erosion and flooding; severe flooding affected thousands of people across The Gambia in 2022. Lowe said damage from human activity remains a challenge in parts of the wetland.
Restoration still faces practical obstacles
Jarjue and other women received training through a local conservation initiative that supports coastal communities with mangrove restoration skills. The programme also aims to protect ecosystems that support fisheries and strengthen resilience to climate change.
Reliable electricity remains limited in Ndangan, making it difficult to preserve oysters and crabs when market demand is low or harvests cannot be sold immediately. For Jarjue, however, restoration is part of everyday survival: the trees she protects today may support the harvests her family depends on later.
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