SOFER Initiative

World Environment Day 2022 - Fishing Net Gains - Ghost Gear Craft Contest
2022-06-05 | SOFER Initiative HQ, #104 Unit L Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, 520001, Nigeria
Fishing Net Gains – Ghost Gear Craft Contest is a special contest event organized by Stand Out for Environment Restoration (SOFER) Initiative to solve the problem relating to Abandon, Lost, or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFGs), in coastal regions of Nigeria and West Africa, and to mark the World Environment Day Celebration (Only One Earth) on June 5, 2022. This contest tasks the participants to repurpose ghost gear(s) into finished handicrafts of bags, shoes, floor mats, décor, etc.
Join the contest, and repurpose ghost gear!
This contest is open to all SOFER Initiative trained crafters and the general public.

Contest Guidelines

Contest Timeline

Registration Expires: 20th – 31th of May, 2022
Craft(s) Submission Expires: 2nd of June, 2022
Verification of Works: 4th of June, 2022
Celebration & Announcement of Awards: 5th June, 2022

Contest Requirements

80% to 100% of your craft item(s) must be produced with the use of Fishing Gears
you can either sign up as an individual or a group crafter
verification of registration details before commencement of work

Selection Criteria

Finesse – your craft work must have a good finishing, durability and creativity
Relevance & Usefulness (including market value – saleability) of produced item(s)
Documentary of production which include cost, tools, measurements, and how the craft was produced

Benefits for Participants

Cash prizes for the best three (3) selected craft works
Opportunities for the first ten (10) selected saleable craft works to be sold online
Gain access to both Local and International Sponsors
Exposure of selected craft works on SOFER Initiative website

Register to Participate

Meet Our Panelist

Contest Participants

Fishing Net Gains West Africa Conference 2022
2022-02-16 10:00 - 2022-02-17 16:00 (Africa/Lagos) | SOFER Initiative HQ, #104 Unit L Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, 520001, Nigeria
Ghost Fishing is a phenomenon many folks don’t know about but not to worry, the Fishing Net Gains West Africa Conference is almost here.
The Fishing Net Gains West Africa was born out of our affiliation with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and has received far reaching support from various international partners such as the Joanna Toole Foundation(JTF), Oceans Conservancy(OC), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(DEFRA) United Kingdom, etc.
As part of the strategies for achieving the project’s objectives, SOFER Initiative is organizing a Virtual Conference themed “Marine Litter and the African Coasts Conference 2022: Collaborations for Sustainable Fisheries and Oceans in Africa”, which is slated to hold on the 16th and 17th of February 2022.
The conference will host key stakeholders in the fisheries, maritime and environmental management sector in Nigeria and other West African Countries such as Federal and State Government, Environmental NGOs, Oil Companies, Divers, Artisanal Fishermen, Fishing Community Leaders, Trawling Companies, Academia etc., together with our aforementioned international partners.
The conference will be addressing prevalent marine and environmental issues such as Ghost Fishing, marine litter, loss in biodiversity, amongst others.
Discussions and resolutions from the conference will guide policy recommendation, regulations and standards as well as inform a holistic reform of all the sectors involved.
Objectives

Create awareness about ghost gears and its impacts on the African coast
Improve the livelihood of coastal communities along the coast of West Africa
Promote information sharing on hazardous fishing areas prone to challenges of ghost gears
Recommend policies and measures for effective waste management at sea ports and jetties
Support actions towards the establishment of Marine Protected Areas MPAs around the coast of Africa
Initiate and promote the development of ghost gear dive community in Africa
Recommend measures to achieve sustainable fishing

Ghost Gear Craft Contest for Ecorestoration
2021-05-24 - 2021-06-05 | SOFER Initiative HQ, #104 Unit L Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, 520001, Nigeria
Top Winners

Ghost Gear Craft Contest for Eco-restoration, a special contest event organized by SOFER Initiative to solve the problem relating to Abandon, Lost, otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear, ALDFG (Ghost Gear) in coastal regions of Nigeria and West Africa. This contest task the contestants to repurpose ghost gear(s) into finished handy crafts of bags, footmats, décor, etc.
Join the contest, repurpose ghost gear!
This contest is open to all SOFER Initiative trained crafters and the general public.

Contest Guidelines

Contest Timeline

Registration Expires: 19th – 30th of May, 2021
Craft(s) Submission Expires: 2nd of June, 2021
Verification of Works: 4th of June, 2021
Celebration & Announcement of Awards: 5th June, 2021

Contest Requirements

50% to 100% of your craft item(s) must be produced with the use of Fishing Gears
you can either sign up as an individual or a group crafter
verification of registration details before commencement of work

Selection Criterias

Finesse – your craft work must have a good finishing, durability and creativity
Relevance & Usefulness (including market value) of produced item(s)
Documentary of production which include cost, tools, measurements, and how the craft was produced
Votes from the public

Benefits for Participants

Cash prizes for the best three (3) selected craft works
Opportunities for the first ten (10) selected craft works to be sold online
Opportunities for international partnership and other business/economic benefits
Exposure of selected craft works on SOFER Initiative website

Meet Our Judges

Inyene JohnsonCraft Consultant

Ukemeotoabasi InyangCraft Trainer

Caroline BondCraft Artist

Top 3 Craft Winners / Best Craft Works

World Environment Day 2017
2017-06-03 - 2017-06-05 | Mkpanak Community, Mkpanak, Ibeno Beach, Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
We are celebrating World Environment Day (WED) 2017. WED is the United Nations principal programme responsible for promoting consciousness on environmental preservation.
The global theme for WED 2017 programme is “Connecting People To Nature” and we are partaking in this year’s activities by carrying out a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project at Ibeno L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria with our theme “Nature is my EARTHnicity”.
