Category: Velondriake
Velondriake is Madagascar’s first locally managed marine area, established in 2006 by a network of communities located around the village of Andavadoaka on the southwest coast. Our work in the Velondriake area encompasses sustainable fisheries management, sea cucumber and seaweed aquaculture and community health, as part of our integrated approach to marine conservation.
Visiting Andavadoaka: a community health learning exchange
After making the five day journey from Maintirano, Toalidy spent a month with Blue Ventures’ Safidy team in Andavadoaka learning new ways to support remote coastal communities.
Replanting mangrove forest in the Bay of Assassins
Volunteer Amanda Millin recounts her experience of Madagascar’s annual mangrove festival.
A unique opportunity to experience community-based fisheries management
Madagascar volunteer Jessie Skedd shares her insight after witnessing the opening of octopus fishing grounds following a period of temporary closure.
Realising our potential: scholars in profile – Lucia
Lucia was one of the first students to receive a Blue Ventures scholarship when the education programme was launched in 2007. She’s now studying geography at the University of Toliara.
Helping Babies Breathe: one year on
Volunteer medic Emily Clark returns to Velondriake to help improve the training and coverage of neonatal resuscitation in public health centres.
Conserving the Bay of Assassins: the story so far
From village meetings to mangrove mud, this is the story of three years of effort from coastal communities to protect the mangroves of the Bay of Assassins in southwest Madagascar
Mama Bevata: Tampolove’s new security watchtower
Sea cucumber farmers in Tampolove are now protected by a state of the art watchtower designed to deter potential thieves from making off with valuable stock.
Realising our potential: scholars in profile – Emilienne
Having been a Blue Ventures scholarship beneficiary for four years, Emilienne is now working for us as a member of our community health team!
Homestays in Andavadoaka: a unique opportunity
Lesley Wicks, one of the first volunteers to experience the Homestay programme in Andavadoaka, gives her perspective on the experience, and some useful advice!
Realising our potential: scholars in profile – Stephan
Stephan Maheny Denis has such a positive outlook on life that you would never guess the hardships he and his family have endured. His story perfectly exemplifies the thirst for knowledge, against all the odds, of many young people in...
What does kung fu have to do with octopus fishing?
The making of “Tovo the octopus gleaner”, a Vezo film featuring intense kung fu action and a mysterious octopus mermaid designed to spread good fisheries practices!
A year of self critique and tough decisions
Over the past year, three of our senior staff in Madagascar have been working with the Earth Skills Network to reflect on, and improve, the management of our conservation programmes.
The village outreach tour: catalysing conversations with isolated communities
The Blue Ventures outreach team recently competed their second tour of 2016, engaging 32 coastal communities from southwest Madagascar in conversations about sexual and reproductive health, water purification and natural resource management.
Christmas in Andavadoaka: a focus on what’s important
Our Field Scientist Catherine Pigeon and our Madagascar volunteers find out how Christmas is celebrated in Andavadoaka.
Herizo’s mission: supporting community data collectors in Southwest Madagascar
Blue Ventures’ Data Management Assistant, Herizo Rafanomezantsoa, regularly visits villages along the Southwest coast of Madagascar to ensure that the data collectors have everything they need to successfully monitor the octopus fisheries.