In Algeria, fishermen have transformed a simple landing site into a fishing shelter capable of accommodating over 300 boats. A project born from a "touiza," this tradition of collective assistance that mobilizes residents, volunteers, and donors around a common goal. Spokesperson for the El Koss cooperative*, Hocine Saïdi explains how this initiative has profoundly changed fishing activities and allowed hundreds of families to make a living from it.
AI Index: Mediterranean Knowledge Library
When a traditional fund transforms a cove into a fishing shelter
22-med – June 2026
• In Dellys, a touiza enables the construction of a fishing shelter capable of accommodating over 300 boats.
• From traditional mutual aid to social and solidarity economy, the El Koss cooperative sustainably transforms local fishing activities.
#algeria #fishing #touiza #solidarity #socialeconomy #cooperative #coastline
Dellys is famous for its kasbah built by the Andalusians and for the quality of the olive oil from its hinterland. Located 90 kilometers east of Algiers, this seaside town is also known for the rich fishery resources of its coast, an asset that has enabled the development of fishing.
A protection that has become essential
In 2013, fishermen from El Koss, a small cove near Dellys, decided to build a breakwater to protect their boats from storms. At the time, this landing site could barely accommodate about fifteen boats. "With the enthusiasm for traditional fishing, the space became cramped. And since it was very exposed, the boats regularly suffered damage during bad weather. We made several attempts to build protections, but they were destroyed," explains Hocine Saïdi, spokesperson and treasurer of the El Koss cooperative.
The fishermen do not give up. They understand that a simple breakwater will have no effect against natural elements and that only a solid infrastructure consisting of a platform and reinforced by rockfill can protect their boats. They think big and decide to launch the construction of a fishing shelter capable of accommodating over three hundred small trades.
Solidarity as the driving force of the project
They create an association, which they name El Koss, and then launch a "touiza," a traditional mutual aid system. Present in all regions of Algeria, the touiza is a collective and solidarity action based on volunteerism. It can be organized for olive harvesting, building a house or a mosque, or cleaning a cemetery. In the case of El Koss, the touiza first served to raise funds. "All the neighborhood residents contributed, each according to their means. Thanks to this, we were able to gather 45 million dinars (about 300,000 euros). Some provided construction materials, others made trucks and construction equipment available, and others participated with their labor. The essential thing is that everyone contributes to the project", notes Hocine.
And what a project! The construction of the embankment and rockfill required more than 3,000 truck rotations, each filled with 20 tons of rocks. Tens of thousands of cubic meters of backfill to build a solid platform on the water. After seven months of construction, the first boats begin to dock in the fishing shelter.
Hocine Saïdi emphasizes the role of public authorities in this adventure. "Each step required obtaining authorizations from the Ministries of Environment, Fisheries, Defense, and Interior. We benefited from all the facilities to complete our project. However, the most valuable support was from the chief of daïra (sub-prefect) of Dellys", he confides.
From Association to Cooperative
The fishing shelter has profoundly transformed the local economy. A dynamic that compelled El Koss to transition from an association to a cooperative. The concept of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) indeed proves to be better suited to their activity and member relations. When? We don't know when things happen apart from 2013 the shelter. So it's complicated to conjugate the tenses
As part of this evolution, the members are supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a European Union program. They benefit from training and a study trip to Europe to see how fishermen's cooperatives operate.
The El Koss cooperative is now an example of what tradition, solidarity, and institutional support can produce. A collective adventure that is just beginning. "The enthusiasm for fishing is such that we have launched a project to extend the fishing shelter", declares Hocine Saïdi with pride.
* El Koss means "arc-shaped" in Arabic
Cover Photo: El Koss was once just a simple landing site © Hocine Saïdi
Hocine Saïdi is the treasurer and spokesperson for the El Koss cooperative. A computer science graduate, he has worked in various fields: surveyor, pharmacy sales, manager of a carpentry business... But fishing has attracted him since a young age. “My parents' house is located just a few meters from the sea, it was obvious that I would commit to the fishing community”.