Geographical location of Gache Gache Community
Gache Gache is a communal area located under the Nyaminyami Rural District Council (NDRC). NRDC residents main sources of income are proceeds from agriculture, fishing, rearing of livestock and community share of the proceeds from the wildlife sales dividends. Gache Gache community is located in Ward 2 with five (5) villages namely Mudzimu, Nematombo, Musamba, Nyamhunga and Dandawa. The community has 600 households and a few amenities that include 1 clinic, a primary and secondary school, one main Shopping Centre and 3 other small shopping facilities. As the community?s main economic activity is fishing, there are 8 fishing hubs under the Gache Gache Fisheries Association and 5 that are non-affiliated to the association, and each fish hub has an average population of 30 people who will be working at the hub. The other source of income for the community is the wildlife sales dividends.

Background on Gache fisheries association.
Gache fisheries Association is a community-based organization registered with the Environmental Management Agency in Zimbabwe. The association was formed in February 2020 by local community members working closely with the Nyaminyami wildlife authorities, Nyaminyami Rural District Council and the Environmental Management Agency. The association has a total membership of 172 fishermen that include 14 women and 158 males. The association is governed mainly by an executive committee comprising of 9 members that is annually selected by members of the association at the annual general meeting. The overall goal of the association is to ensure sustainability and effective consumption of fisheries.

The main duties and responsibilities are enshrined in the Constitution that govern the operations of the association. These include the following:
? To assist Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority/Nyaminyami Rural District Council to enforce laws that promote sustainable consumption of fisheries in Kariba Dam. The association and the authorities have since banned the use of plastic nets whilst allowing the use of cotton nets in the area.
? Undertake a field study by providing the community, together with scientific researchers, necessary tools to assess the relevance, potential, feasibility and best options of these traditional nets as well as identify the best methods and practices for their use.
? Identify the causes and drivers for the abandonment of these traditional methods and tools, the level of acceptance among fishermen to return to them, conduct a cost-benefit analysis of such reintroduction, as well as the strategies to enable adoption.
? To establishment port facilities and safety facilities for fishermen.
? Outsource markets and facilitate transport logistics for the Gache Fisheries Association members.
? Ensure proper disposal of abandoned fish nets, remove plastic nets that were previously used and conduct unplanned raids for illegal fishing activities in the Dam.
? Conduct continuous capacity building and enhancement sessions to Gache members.

Vision
Gache Fisheries Association to become a leading fisheries association in promoting biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability in the Sanyathi river basin by 2030.

Mission
Strengthen environmental consciousness and sustainable fishing through intersecting social, economic and environmental issues and continuous capacity enhancement.


Gache fisheries association is a community-based organisation registered with the Environmental Management Agency (find attached proof of registration). Gache fisheries association is led by the chairman of the association. The chairman heads the executive committee which is selected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive committee takes the leading role in the implementation of day-to-day business of the association. The committee reports to the external advisory board that comprises Nyaminyami Rural district council, National parks and the Environment Management Agency

Recovering of abandoned fish nets is one of the major activities that the Gache fisheries association has been implementing from the moment the association collaborated with the Parks and Wildlife Authority. The exercise was further strengthened by the pilot project that was done in 2022 with the association in partnership with ZimSunshine Group. This exercise complements global efforts towards management of marine species and pollution emanating from plastic pollution. As the fishing industry continues to rise due to increase in demands, people have resorted to techniques of plastic nets for harvesting fish whilst abandoning traditional systems. Plastic nets abandonment after use in rivers without any recovering mechanism has led to serious environmental challenges as plastic waste nets contain chemicals that cause pollution in several ways. In marine species, they affect the ingestion process due to the compounds that are produced and normally transferred to organisms during ingestion. Discarded plastic waste fishing nets constitute a large significant part of river plastic litter. The proposed project seeks to scale up on this work of removing plastic waste fishing nets. The Table below summaries the previous projects that have been implemented by Gache.

Project Name Implementing partner Description of the project Output/outcome
Pilot on establishment of a Waste transfer station for abandoned plastic nets Zimbabwe Sunshine Group (ZSG) Gache fisheries association and ZSG jointly implemented a project on recovering nets left in the river after fishing. According to the research conducted, the plastic nets were trapping fish leading to massive biodiversity loss. 1. Established a Waste transfer station plastic net collection scheme.
2. Recovered 5 tonnes of plastic nets that were disposed in the dam.
3. Conducted research to determine reasons for lack of adoption to cotton nets (see attached research).
4. Empowerment of women and school children through the provision of income obtained after selling nets.
5. Decrease on biodiversity loss.
Electric fencing My Trees Trust Implemented the electric fencing project to avoid Human Wildlife Conflicts 1. Reduction on Human Wildlife Conflict.
2. 11.6 kilometers were fenced
Full moon program National Parks and Wildlife authorities Enforcement of the full moon holiday harvesting program together with the Parks and Wildlife authorities.
Proper adherence to the program thereby promoting sustainable fishing.
Tsotso stove project My Trees Trust Implementation of the tsotso stove program. Distribution of tsotso stoves to 600 households.
Campfire Program Campfire Implementation of Campfire program Reduction on Human Wildlife Conflicts

Nyaminyami Rural District is one of the least developed districts in Zimbabwe which suffers a dual disadvantage of limited agricultural potential due to poor agro-ecological conditions and the presence of wildlife and animal diseases transmitted from the wild animals to domestic animals. Nyaminyami Rural District Council (NRDC) is far from markets, poor accessibility and therefore receives poor supplies of food at high prices, at the same time earning low value from livestock which is sold out of the area. Gache as one of the Wards under the Nyaminyami Rural District Council is not an exception to the above-mentioned problems. Some of the gaps/barriers currently faced in Gache area include:
I. Loss of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity due to plastic pollution and traps from abandoned plastic fish gears.
II. Non-availability of sustainable fish preserving mechanism (cold rooms/blasters) ? Huge quantities of harvested fish are commonly lost when buyers fail to reach the area due to poor road networks especially during rainy season.
III. Availability of other sources of sustainable fishing gears such as cotton nets to replace plastic nets as recommended by the governing authorities.
IV. No plastic recovery systems and recycling initiatives of different types of plastics such as plastic fishing gears, HDPE, LD and PET.
V. Lack of or limited awareness and stakeholder participation in biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

This project therefore seeks to address these challenges listed above. The proposed project builds on the success of the pilot project on abandoned plastic nets recovery which was a collaborative undertaking between the Gache Fisheries Association, Zimbabwe Sunshine Group, Environmental management agency and the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality in 2022. The pilot only focused on recovering plastic nets and safe disposal whilst this project intends to extend its scope from recovery of plastic nets to biodiversity protection, sustainable utilization of natural resources (ensuring harvested fish is preserved through use of renewable energy freezers) and enhancing community livelihoods.

Activities for the project will focus mainly on recovering nets in rivers and lake, establishment of a waste transfer station with offices and cold room storage, safe disposal of recovered nets, capacity enhancement to the community on areas of biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Project beneficiaries will be selected from the community mainly women since they have been active in the pilot project. Beneficiaries will be working at the center in manning all operations including managing cold rooms/blasters. The project will be jointly implemented with other critical stakeholders such as the Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, My trees and Zimbabwe Sunshine Group.
Outputs of the project will be:
a) 20 tonnes of plastics recovered over a period of 24 months
b) 25 direct and 150 indirect green jobs created
c) Sustainable plastic waste management infrastructure established and fully functional
d) 8 KVA solar power system and a fish blasting freezer installed and operational

The long term anticipated goal is to decrease plastic pollution induced biodiversity loss whilst building resilience to livelihoods that depend on sustainable and wise use of natural resources.
2. Project Justification and Baseline

Despite being a thriving and flourishing community with its local economy anchored on fishing activities, Gache has various socio-economic and environmental challenges associated with the provision of basic amenity services, biodiversity protection and waste management. Fishing using plastic gears has been the main economic activity within the area since the area was settled after the construction of Kariba Dam. Issues of biodiversity protection has been centered mainly on direct Human wildlife conflicts ie wildlife and human killing whilst indirect conflict such as loss of biodiversity through plastic net traps have been silent. Species such as fish, birds, frogs, lizards among others have been depleting in large volumes as a result of being trapped by plastic fishing nets. In 2022, baseline research was undertaken with the aim of establishing the causes for the abandonment of traditional fish nets and enablers that required to reintroduce the traditional fish nets. Research was done through, a desk review, that looked at literature on traditional nets and fishing methods, policy and institutional mechanisms analysis. The desk study also looked at research and studies from other countries and regions in order to understand the trends and issues relevant to traditional fishing methods versus modern fishing methods including the use of plastic nets. Recommendations from the baseline pointed towards the need for enforcement of laws on prohibiting plastic nets and need for recovering plastic nets previously disposed in the dam and on the shores. Efforts to reduce plastic pollution have not yet been intensified in the area. During the pilot project implemented in 2022, five (5) tonnes of plastic nets and other plastic waste streams from the river basin were recovered. This is a positive result that this project will build on. Adding on, due to poor road network, issues of accessibility are a challenge especially in rainy season hence affecting trading between fish buyers and fisherman. Large quantities of harvested fish end up being lost when buyers fail to reach the area, however there is no baseline data for the quantities. This project seeks to reduce the impacts of plastic pollution on aquatic and terrestrial lives in Gache community while strengthening livelihoods.

Please describe the following:
? The challenges/problems that the project intends to address in relation to global environmental and development issues.

Problem Analysis:

State the
Problem/Issue or Challenge Challenges of pollution in water bodies and massive loss of biodiversity on both land and water due to poorly disposed fishing nets have been topical in Kariba Dam. Plastic fish nets and other streams of plastic waste used by fishermen at fisheries are commonly found along dam shores and others within the water body. These nets mainly affect many species through trapping up to death. More so, micro plastics from the nets also have short term and long direct impact to the water bodies and some indirect health impacts since people will be feeding on contaminated fish. Of late, lack of refrigeration at the point of harvest is also another growing challenge leading to massive loss of income from fishing within the area. Gache community supply different buyers around the country and by any chance if buyers do not come, a large proportion of the catch will be lost hence breaking the rules of sustainable consumption.
What are the causes of the problem/issue or challenge? Direct Causes Indirect Causes
1. Biodiversity loss through plastic pollution and low uptake on cotton made gears. The major driver for the use of the plastic nets is non-availability and or lack of awareness on traditional fishing nets. Most nets used in the area are imported from Zambia and some are bought from Harare which is about 400km away from the area. One would assume that plastic nets maybe durable compared to tree bark nets or cotton nets which could be a major driver on the choice of a net. In terms of costs, the respondents indicated that as long as any alternative fishing net costs lower than their current methods, they would be willing to adopt it if they are trained and also, if it would deliver the same yield of fish. Yield of the net is a key issue, most participants cited utility (yield) as a key criterion of the choice of net as they need to maximize as they fish.
1. Lack of infrastructure, preserving systems (freezing) to minimize losses on harvested fish.
2. Lack of knowledge on the impacts of discarding plastic nets.
3. Lack of enforcement on the ban on use of plastic nets.
4. The ease of access to plastic nets by fisherman and un controlled harvesting. 1. Lack of public education and awareness on the impacts of poor disposal of plastic nets.
2. Lack of motivation for plastic net recovering.

The project seeks to offer local solutions in addressing global environmental issues such as plastic pollution and biodiversity loss that have been topical over years. The project addresses areas on biodiversity with a focus on the aquatic ecosystem which is in line with GEF-Small Grants Programme.
The project compliments government efforts in strengthening Ecosystem Approach to the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan. Through the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority which is a government agency, Lake Kariba Inshore Fisheries Management Plan was developed with the focus to improve the governance and management of the Lake. The goal of the plan is to achieve the optimal and sustainable utilization of the fishery resource for the sustainable benefit of humankind whilst safeguarding the ecosystem. In this regard, one of the short-term goals are to:
a. To improve the governance of the Inshore Fishery value chain
b. To reduce the illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in the Inshore Fishery of Lake
Kariba
c. To reduce the use of unsustainable fishing methods and use of the illegal fishing gear
d. To improve fishers? resilience to ecological and environmental changes
e. To improve surveillance and enforcement in the Inshore Fishery.
In this regard, the project seeks to contribute towards achievement of short-term goals on reducing
the use of unsustainable fishing methods and use of the illegal fishing gear and improve fishers?
resilience to ecological and environmental changes.

GOAL
(Every project should
have one goal) OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES
INDICATORS FOR PLANNED ACTIONS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES
To enhance the conservation of biodiversity in the Kariba Dam along the Gache-gache area through plastic nets recovery and promotion of sustainable fishing practices in the value chain. 1. To establish a waste transfer station providing plastic net recovery services including temporary storage whilst awaiting final disposal
1. Sign lease agreement
with the NRDC for stand measuring 200m2.
2. Construction of a
waste transfer infrastructure (8m width x 20m length).
3. Procure a 3-wheeler
motor bike.
Baseline:
? No waste storage facility in place.
? No 3 wheeler bike
Target
? Lease agreement signed with NRDC
? Construct 1 Waste transfer station
? Procure 3-wheeler motor bike.
? 1. Signed lease agreement
2. Constructed waste transfer station and operational.
3. Procurement of 3-wheeler motor bike.


Reduced plastic pollution in water bodies and on land.

2. Establish a fish preservation system (cold room/fish blaster) for fish blasting powered by renewable energy (solar system). 1. Procurement of a fish blaster cold room combined with an off grid solar system to power operations Baseline:
? Massive fish loss due to un availability of preservation systems
Target
? Install an 8kVa solar-powered fish blaster/cold room

Installed 8kVa solar-powered fish blaster/cold room and solar system. 8kVa solar-powered fish blaster/cold room


Prolonged shelf life of harvested fish

Reduced fishing activity and dumping of fish nets
3.Undertake a baseline survey on biodiversity loss due to plastic pollution, raising awareness and capacity enhancement to fisherman on biodiversity conservation 1. Undertake a baseline survey on biodiversity loss due to plastic pollution
2.Conduct trainings on biodiversity conservation, project management, finance and administration.
3.Undertake quarterly awareness programs.
Baseline
1 desktop review conducted to assess the relevance, potential, feasibility and use of traditional nets.
Target
1. Undertake a baseline survey on biodiversity loss due to plastic pollution.
2.Conduct four trainings during the project implementation phase.
3.Undertake 7 awareness campaigns.
1 Baseline survey report

4 Training reports

7 Awareness campaigns reports
Behavioral change on biodiversity conservation in Gache-gache.
4.To reduce plastic pollution from plastic nets through recovery of plastic nets and other forms of plastics .



1. Recover 20 tonnes of abandoned plastic nets over the project phase.
2. Transport nets to Harare for safe disposal/recycling.
3. Provide alternative cloth nets






Baseline:
? 5 tonnes recovered during the pilot project.
? 5 tonnes of plastic nets disposed in Harare
? Fishermen heavily use/depend on plastic nets
Target:
? Recover 20 tonnes of abandoned plastic fish nets
? Safe disposal of recovered fish nets.
? 25 000m * 50 cubic of cotton nets distributed to fishers as well as linking them up to the suppliers of these nets
? 20 tonnes recovered and disposed in an environmentally friendly manner.
? 10 fishers using the recommended nets
Minimized plastic pollution and reduced mortality rate of different forms of aquatic life.