Fishermen, trawlers and new local committees in Douala-Edea ^{CEFR B1}

Douala-Edea National Park covers over 2,630 hectares of land and sea on Cameroon's coast. Communities in Mbiako, Yoyo I and Yoyo II face repeated attacks from industrial trawlers called "Sapak" or Chinese trawlers. They say illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing uses gamaline 20, oversized dense nets and very small mesh, which damage mangroves and reduce fish stocks.

Fishermen describe violent encounters at sea: trawlers pursue them with guns, destroy and cut nets, and shoot when fishermen try to retrieve nets. Three fishermen were shot last year. Patrick Ngoye said his nets were destroyed five times this year and he is still in debt after replacing them. Market women say husbands borrow to buy new fishing kit when trawlers destroy it.

Communities reported incidents to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries through "Doctor Fish" and to the regional office in Douala; officials asked for GPS data and other proof. An EJF report warns that small-mesh nets capture juvenile fish. In 2023 the European Commission issued a red card under the EU IUU Regulation. To respond, authorities and partners created Local Collaborative Management Committees, installed on August 19 to help monitor and mobilize communities.