On Sudan’s northern Red Sea coast, poverty and drought left artisanal fishing underdeveloped for generations. In 2020, with support from the European Union under the ECOFISH Programme, SOS Sahel Sudan launched a €1 million project to modernise artisanal fisheries and improve the resilience of fishers. The project targeted 1,450 artisanal fishers and their households, women’s groups, and youth groups, reaching 23,485 beneficiaries across four villages — Mohamed Gol, Dungonab, Arakyay, and Oseif.
Successes in Numbers
- Fishers’ yields increased by 89%.
- Net income rose by 5%.
- The share of households experiencing food shortages dropped from 5% to 40.25%.
- 8% of fishersadopted improved practices through training.
- Fishing inputs such as gears and iceboxes reached 3% of beneficiaries.
- Despite financial complications in Sudan, 4% of fishersaccessed funding services.
But the true measure of success lies in the voices of the fishers themselves.
Fishermen’s Voices of Change
“We are able to reduce post-harvest losses and increase our profits”
Hussien Mohamed Ahmed Alhaj, a 33-year-old fisher from Dungonab, married with three children, joined the training on simple ice slurry making and proper icing techniques in February 2022.
He explained how the process works: a plastic pool is filled with two parts ice to one part seawater. Smaller fish, under 3 kg, stay in the slurry for 2–4 hours, while larger fish remain for 6–10 hours before being transferred to ice boxes. In the boxes, layers of crushed ice are placed beneath and between the fish, with bigger fish at the bottom and smaller ones on top.
The next day, Hussien applied the method during his fishing trip.
“I used less ice to keep fish cooled in the slurry. When I landed at the market, the nice appearance of the fish made traders give me an offer of 500 SDGs more per kilo than the market price. The fish quality did not change for up to ten days in ice. Losses decreased from 20% to 0%. I even got an offer from an exporter with a fixed contract at higher than market price for the same fish quality”.
“We have access to new fish markets”
Hamad Ali Ahmed, from Oseif, shared his story. During technical training on fish preservation, participants discussed what to do when catches were high but onboard ice was insufficient. Trainers suggested sun-drying as an alternative preservation method.
In June, Hamad’s group caught large quantities of fish — more than the Oseif ice plant could produce ice for. So they dried the fish under the sun.
“We processed and dried the fish by sun, and then accessed a new market in the gold mining area west of the locality,” he explained.
What began as a training-room discussion turned into a new source of income when circumstances demanded innovation.
“Better fish quality, better prices”
Mohamed Mousa Mohamed, a fishers’ leader from Dungonab, applied what he learned from ice slurry training.
“When I arrived at the market, my fish features had not changed, unlike untreated fish. Traders gave me better prices. Untreated fish consume more ice, accelerate melting, and settle in ways that prevent proper drainage. Melted water spoils fish faster and reduces weight. But with the new method, I avoided these losses”.
“I can now fish in rich grounds using GPS and fish finders”
Essa Saror, from Mohamed Gol, attended training on deep-water fishing with drop lines and hand reels.
“I learned to use hand reels, and also how to use GPS and fish finders. GPS helps me save safe tracks to fishing grounds and mark coordinates of rich areas. The fish finder shows me the depth and sea bottom. This knowledge made me want my own devices. Through the project’s voucher system, I got GPS and a fish finder, and now I can fish in the right places”.
“From 50 to 120 kg per trip”
Hussien Mohamed Hamid Essa, also from Dungonab, reflected on his growth:
“Before the project, I only used a single hook and line. After receiving support, my fishing methods became diversified. My average catch increased from 50 kg to 120 kg per trip. My income rose to 270,000 SDGs per trip, with costs of 70,000 SDGs. This improved my family’s living status — we can cover daily expenses, education, and health needs”.
“A new engine means real savings”
Omer Essa Ali, another fisher from Dungonab, received a subsidised 40 hp outboard engine through the project.
“Before, I used to hire an engine, and the rental cost was equal to a crew member’s share. With my own engine, I save that share, and the new engine requires less maintenance, reducing trip costs further”.
“Fishing in safe mersas saves costs”
Hamad Ali Ahmed, fishers’ leader from Oseif, described the value of new gears:
“With the gears we received, Oseif fishers started fishing in mersas — shallow inlets like Osief, Wasiaa, Hamsieye, Marob, and Gabateet. These are safer during windy times and closer than open waters. A four-day trip used to cost 100,000 SDGs in fuel and supplies. Now, daily catches of around 40 kg, sold at 1,600 SDGs/kg, are possible with no such costs. Families also enjoy daily fish meals instead of waiting days for boats to return”.
“Better catch, better home”
Mohamed Heiaf Hasan, from Arakaya, received a basic fishing package that diversified his methods.
“My catch increased from 70 kg to 120 kg per trip. With higher income, I improved my house by fencing it with cement blocks, built a latrine, and now we eat fish twice a day instead of once”.
“From 55 to 200 kg — and a better boat”
Mousa Ahmed Mousa, from Mohamed Gol, had a similar story.
“After receiving the basic package, my catch rose from 55 kg to 200 kg per trip. My income improved, and I was able to buy new equipment for my boat — cooking tools, anchors — without needing to borrow”.
A Community Transformed
Each story carries the same theme: with training, technology, and support, artisanal fishers became entrepreneurs, women became leaders, and families gained food security.
From shallow waters to deep seas, the Red Sea coast has turned hardship into opportunity — not by chance, but by equipping its people with the means to succeed.
