Radès: An Ancient Coastal Town Facing Modern Fishing Challenges
Radès, a very old coastal city in the southern suburbs of Tunis, not far from the capital, is home to many small‑scale fishermen who still earn their living from the sea. They confront professional and structural difficulties compounded by environmental scourges largely driven by climate‑change impacts.
A Sea That Has Lost Its Luster
The once‑sparkling, generous Mediterranean waters have turned gray and polluted, losing much of their former brilliance. Yet the sea continues to feed families and sustain households through human‑scale artisanal fishing.
For years these fisher‑men have been stuck in a management crisis: they struggle to make a living with their coastal boats in a competitive, complex market. Their jobs feel threatened and the tunnel seems endless—but they have not given up. They have fought hard to claim their rights.
A Timely Project: “Bleu Radès”
Crossing this critical threshold means reorganising under a GDP (Groupement du Développement de la Pêche) – a new professional start. Artisanal fishing is more than a job; it is an ancestral heritage passed down through generations. While yields have decreased, the activity is becoming more sustainable.
Passionate small‑scale fishers have learned patience and endurance at sea. The “Bleu Radès” project arrives at the right moment to support, accompany, and guide them toward sustainability. Confronted with environmental challenges, dwindling marine resources, and economic pressure, the initiative aims to inject fresh dynamism into the sector.
Multi‑Stakeholder Cooperation
The project is the result of close multipartite cooperation that blends socio‑economic and ecological dimensions with a responsible, viable entrepreneurial spirit. It is implemented by the International Association AVSI (an NGO active in many countries), financed by the Iveco Foundation, and carried out in partnership with the Club Bleu Artisanal (CBA) and the GDP Radès. The local municipality is also a key player.
“Bleu Radès” aligns with the region’s vocation for decent, dignified employment. Its coordinator, Mohamed Mustapha, together with partners, is fully committed to steering the project to success.
“Launched last July for a two‑year period, the project aims to support artisanal fishing in the region as an essential pillar of the social and economic fabric,” Mustapha explains. “There is a lot to do to achieve this.”
Strong Momentum
A comprehensive communication plan was rolled out in September and has been running at a steady pace, backed by a broad awareness campaign that reaches both fishers and consumers.
“One component is the creation of ‘from fisher to consumer’ sales points that will be installed along the shoreline within a few months, giving beneficiaries the tools to add value to their catch and easier market access,” adds Mustapha.
The core goal is to protect the marine ecosystem, preserve fish stocks, and sustain a significant source of income. This cannot happen without restructuring artisanal fishing and promoting it. Training and ongoing support for professionals up to the launch of their GDP‑Radès are also essential, according to Mustapha.
Mohamed Hedi Ghedifi, vice‑president of the GDP and a local fisherman himself, echoes this sentiment. He expects the group to become a tangible reality, even though the legal structure has existed for two years but its headquarters are still under development.
“A dedicated GDP Radès would let us reorganise the sector and give it a local authority to defend the interests of about sixty active artisanal fishers,” Ghedifi says proudly.
Tackling the Blue Crab Problem
One of the biggest hurdles for these small fishers is the blue crab (Portunus pelagicus), an invasive crustacean that swarms the coast and tears apart nets designed for sardines (the “blue fish” family).
“How many times have our newly bought nets been damaged by these crabs?” Ghedifi asks.
While the blue crab currently has low commercial value, a future abundance could turn it into a lucrative product. Until then, it continues to damage gear and erode incomes. The GDP is expected to provide technical and professional solutions for a sustainable artisanal fishery.
The Role of the Club Bleu Artisanal (CBA)
Founded in 2015, the CBA acts as a technical (and sometimes executive) partner alongside GDP Radès and AVSI. Charaf Mrabet, marine‑science PhD and project coordinator at CBA, emphasizes that the organization’s mission is rooted in sustainable artisanal fishing and support for small‑scale fishers.
“Our actions focus on sea‑workers (professionals, researchers, students, environmental journalists, etc.), product valorisation, responsible consumption…
Already completed activities linked to ‘Bleu Radès’ include training on blue‑crab trap fabrication, handling and best‑practice preservation of seafood, sales and marketing techniques, and the provision of large‑capacity electric coolers for fish preservation,” explains Ms. Mrabet.
“From Fisher to Consumer” Sales Points
Following the legal launch of the GDP, CBA, AVSI, the GDP, and the municipality of Radès—together with APAL, the fisheries directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Coast Guard—are preparing a sales point where fishers can display their catch directly to consumers.
“These well‑equipped premises will be offered to small fishers for direct product exposure. The lightweight structure is slated for completion by the end of Q3 2026,” says Mrabet, adding that the project also incorporates an environmental approach: a zero‑waste boat concept and metal collectors for plastic to curb marine pollution.
Fethi Mejri, Secretary‑General of the Radès municipality, adds:
“This is an unprecedented pilot project: a shoreline sales space ‘from fisher to consumer’ that will organise the sector, improve working conditions, prevent chaotic product displays, and promote a clean, healthy marine environment.”
The initiative is co‑financed at 240,000 TND in total—160,000 TND from municipal funds and 80,000 TND from the Iveco Foundation, AVSI, and CBA, the two main contractors of “Bleu Radès.”
“Currently under study, the project will be ready by the end of this year,” confirms Mejri.
A Multifaceted Maritime Initiative
In sum, “Bleu Radès” is a multifunctional maritime project that will showcase and valorise artisanal fishing as a cornerstone of local development. It represents a collective commitment involving fishers, consumers, NGOs, and public authorities to:
- Preserve fishery resources
- Raise awareness of healthy, moderate food consumption
- Foster sustainable livelihoods
By linking environmental stewardship with economic empowerment, the project aims to turn Radès’ historic coastline into a model of sustainable, community‑driven fisheries for the future.
