"The sea takes, the sea gives". Sharing the Insights from Our Research

18th November 2024

Beatrice Ferlaino; Ginevra Montefusco

We had the privilege of sharing some of our research with the community of Sidi Bounouar during the Slow Fish Tigri Festival on the evening of 24th October 2024. During this special event, we presented the video "The Sea Takes, The Sea Gives", created by Ginevra Montefusco and with the contributions of Beatrice Ferlaino.

Sharing our work with the local community, made possible by their involvement and support, was a real honour. The film resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom felt it reflected their own relationship with the surrounding ecosystem. They were proud to see their lives and challenges portrayed in the film, and to know that they had helped make it possible. The film was screened on the first night of the festival. It marked the beginning of a three-day celebration of local culture and environmental awareness. The positive response from the community was heart-warming. It was clear that the film helped both locals and visitors - whether from the region or elsewhere - to gain a better understanding of the challenges that the "Tigri people" face on a daily basis.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the people of Sidi Bounouar and contribute to a greater understanding of their lives and the delicate ecosystems on in which they live.

Synopsis

Sidi Bounouar is a small village on Morocco's Atlantic coast, south-east of Tiznit. Here, a community of fishermen and fisherwomen face numerous challenges in their relationship with the sea and its fruits: climate crisis and drought, change in the marine ecosystem and the transition of the coast to tourism. Manar, Brahim, Saadya and Abdellah, will guide us through the transformations of the places and practices of foot fishing, particularly in the Tigri, the traditional practice of harvesting and drying mussels. Walking together through challenges and traditions, they will tell us about their way of life, their memory, and their vision of the future.