The association "Solidarité Pêche" was established in February 1999 in Concarneau (France), by Jean-Pierre Coïc an inshore fisherman. The association's objective was to retrieve fishing boats destined for scrapping, to support an association of artisanal fishermen from Haiti, APAH (Association of Haitian artisanal fisheries). Today, the boats "offered" to Haiti are delivered to a local partner of "Solidarité Solidarité", the "Fondation Verte" a Haitian NGO that owns the boats and who works among others in the field of fisheries.

The aim of "Solidarité Pêche" is not to make the assistantship, but to empower Haitian fishermen earn their life, to feed and educate their families, using fishing methods that respect the environment and resource of the island in fish. It enabled Haitian fishermen increase their income by $2 to $15 per day, "With that, they can dress, eat, care and send their children to school," said Jean-Pierre Coïc.

A new boat is in preparation, "the Nymphéa" a caseyeur with a length of 18 meters, built in Carantec there thirty years "Contrary to the Breizh da Viken, this boat is in good condition, it works very well [...] is a very interesting boat, because it has fish tanks. It will allow us to develop the rock lobster fishery in Haiti. "reported Jean-Pierre Coïc, president of Solidarité pêche.

The "Nymphéa " is fully equipped at electronic level and with a solid 350 horsepower Volvo engine. The counterpart is that the association will have to pay a financial compensation of an amount not yet determined, to the owner. Light work are to provide, a bridge repair, removal of aluminum structures that were used to store the 960 traps on board, the installation of a mast and rigging to support the crossing.

Much more spacious than the previous boats, the "Nymphéa" will also allow to transport humanitarian aid. "We will contact organizations that assist Haiti in order to proposes them to transport their equipment. We will also launch a public appeal to fill the boat to the maximum". The country really needs, the cholera epidemic has reached the Grand Anse department where the boats are sent.

After the "Le Mystère" simple fishing boat, offered in 2003 and 2007, the "Mercenaire", a wooden gillnetter, still active in Haiti and the "Breizh da Viken" a gillnetter of 12 meters, which joined Haiti in May 2010, "Nymphéa" will be the 4th boat offered to Haitian fishers. A fifth boat "Rêve de Mousse, a gillnetter of 15 meters will be given to the association. "But the engine has to be redone, this will not for this year" said Jean-Pierre Coïc.

A solidarity and a remarkable generosity in the large family of fishermen, through the oceans, has been ongoing since 1999.

S/ HaitiLibre