The Sound of Silence: An Immersive Approach to Spearfishermen's Ecological Knowledge Along the Dakar Coastline

Abstract

At the crossroads of sensory anthropology and underwater bioacoustics, this article offers an immersive approach to garner the knowledge and perceptions of Dakar underwater fishermen. Four Senegalese fishermen conveyed their extensive knowledge of the peri-urban underwater environment through the descriptions of and commentaries on the seven dives they recorded using a camera equipped with an integrated microphone attached to their heads that focused on the marine soundscape. This methodology was aimed at documenting their ecological knowledge of the underwater marine environment of Dakar concerning its growth, the modifications of the shoreline, and underwater urban extensions such as sewers, water drainage from the surface and various discharges. Notions such as “guest” fish or “social” fish, among others, are used by divers to describe the behavior of fish, highlighting the elements that allow assessing the catchability of different species. A decrease in the attractiveness of the Dakar coast for migratory fish is described in connection with urban pollution discharges, the destruction of underwater habitats, and the development of scuba-diving and night-hunting practices. In general, the information collected puts into perspective the changes perceived both in connection with the worldwide scale of global warming and the problems of over-exploitation.