In the brackish stretches of
the river, women collect oysters
that cling to sinewy mangrove
branches. Mangroves are an
essential part of the river’s
ecosystem, forming a natural
protection from river swells and
providing a nursery for young
fi sh and marine life. To prevent
over-harvesting and reduce
pressure on the mangroves, the
women have also created oyster
farms near their tenda. These
farms enable older women, who
can no longer do the hard work
of paddling canoes and hacking
razor-sharp oysters from the
wild mangroves, to help harvest
the bivalves.
Jan/Feb 2022 139THE GAMBIA