Mia Apurado is the Business Operations Manager for Net-Works in the Philippines. She has seen first hand how fishing communities’ attitudes and behaviours around discarding nets have changed as a result of Net-Works: “They realise that instead of just throwing their nets in the ocean or anywhere it is something that they can earn from. Their values and attitudes have actually changed.” Arcelene Baculao Murillo, a member of the community and the book keeper for her local community bank says: “There is much less garbage because the community members have been participating, cooperating, and helping to remove the nets and garbage.”

Fanny Djomkam is the community coordinator for Net-Works in the Lake Ossa region of Cameroon. Her role involves working with communities to set up locally managed community banks and net collection activities. “Net-Works has benefitted local communities in many ways, but for me the biggest benefit has been the community banks or VSLAs as we call them locally. VSLAs have really helped to strengthen fisher communities. They provide a simple and effective mechanism that enables fishermen to organise themselves and manage their savings in a way that is clear and accountable. Where there may have been conflicts in the past, the VSLAs have helped communities come together in a spirit of cooperation. Fishermen committees are now working with the local administration to co-manage the lake and ensure the code of fishing is enforced. It’s brilliant to see them feeling so empowered.”