The Quaint Fishing Villages of Sao Tome

Sao Tome and Principe are delightful islands located about 200 kms off the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, which are surrounded by the warm waters of the Atlantic.

The fertile waters of Sao Tome and Principe are teeming with marine life, which makes it one of the best fishing grounds in the world. The ideal fishing season is between July to October when the waters are mildly warm.

Giant sailfish, dolphinfish, wahoo, barracuda, bluefin tuna and blue marlin are still plentiful despite overfishing. Blue marlin found here can sometimes weigh up to 700 pounds and touch more than 10 feet long.

These islands boasts of more than 200 kms of sublime coastlines, most of which are comprised of white sand beaches.

Quaint fishing villages dot the coastlines, giving the fishermen communities succor and stable livelihoods. Besides being a hub of activity, these villages are also targets of touristic interest.

Most fishing villages are tucked away from the main road through thick foliage and fruit and coconut trees. Ram shackled wooden houses, stone beaches, wooden canoes and simple community living are common features of such villages across Sao Tome.

Life here seems simple and idyllic, but in fact it is tough. But the smiles on the faces of people, children in particular, are genuine and infectious. I have literally lost count of the number of children who spontaneously waved at me. Frolicking children jumping from nearby cliffs into the warm waters is a common sight.

It is also not an unusual sight to see womenfolk washing clothes on the black pebble stones of the many lagoons skirting the ocean coastlines.

On a typical early morning at Pantufo village in the South, one can witness the compelling spectacle of fishermen pushing their sturdy wooden canoes and hopping onto them, expertly navigating into the ocean. The families of the fishermen are early risers too, as they eagerly watch their breadwinners ride away into the predawn darkness.

The fishermen return to the shore with the catch just around sunrise. I was fortunate to see some of the fishermen drag out huge tunas, each easily weighing over five kilos. The catch usually comprise of 200 to 300 pounds of tuna and wahoo.

A good portion of the daily catch end up at the seaside restaurants of Pantufo fishing village, which have become famous for their smoked fish and fruit pies.

Porto Alegre is the last village on the east coast. The fishing community is better organized here and is visited by groups of foreign tourists. The fishing community of Neves on West coast of Sao Tome is another favorite haunt of foreign tourists.

The fishing communities in Sao Tome constitute an important part of the country's maritime economy and heritage. Almost entirely dependent on the fishing and the ecological wealth and with virtually no governmental support, sustainable fishing has become a necessity for fishing communities of Sao Tome.