© 2020 AU-IBAR. 9th Session of Aquaculture Network for Africa (ANAF) Meeting.17^th-19^th February 2020
Accra, Ghana

Introduction

The Nineth Meeting of the Annual Aquaculture Network for Africa (ANAF) was organized by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the Government and People of Ghana. The meeting was supported by the AU-IBAR through funding from African Union Member states.

The meeting was held from the 17^th to 19^th February 2020 at Mensvick Grand Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

The main objective of the expert consultative meeting was to develop terms of reference, rules of procedures and related underpinning governance instruments of ANAF to reflect the expanded scope and the new institutional arrangement with regards to transfer of the ANAF Secretariat to AU-IBAR.

Specific objectives were to:

1. review the current Terms of References (TORs), mission objectives and rules of procedures
2. review the membership criteria, categories of membership
3. review the action plan from 2018 Nairobi meeting
4. present structure of the proposed new ANAF webpage
5. sharing experience and best practices on aquaculture environmental management by member states
6. conduct filed mission to cage farming sites on Volta Lake for lessons learning and best practices in environmental management in aquatic fish production systems

Participation

The meeting was attended by 30 representatives from the 17 African Union Member States namely: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia; Regional Institutions: Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO), Development Partner: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO); and Independent Experts from Private Sector and Academic Institutions. Also in attendance were staff members of AU-IBAR.

The selected rapporteurs for this meeting were Dr Divine Ngala Tombuh (Cameroon), Ms Hellen Moepi (South Africa), Mrs Joyce Ikwaput-Nyeko (Uganda), and Dr Venantious Mulenga Musonda (Zambia).

© 2020 AU-IBAR. Launch of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy - Group Photo.Africa's Blue Economy can be a major contributor to the continental transformation, sustainable economic progress, and social development. During this year’s 33rd African Union Summit in Ababa Ababa, Ethiopia, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy was launched at a High -level Side Event at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on 8^th February, 2020.

Launched under the theme "Developing a sustainable blue economy; increasing momentum for Africa’s Blue Growth", the Africa Blue Economy Strategy’s vision is an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The objective of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy is to guide the development of an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that becomes a significant contributor to continental transformation and growth, through advancing knowledge on marine and aquatic biotechnology, environmental sustainability, the growth of an Africa-wide shipping industry, the development of sea, river and lake transport, the management of fishing activities on these aquatic spaces, and the exploitation and beneficiation of deep sea minerals and other resources.

The Africa Blue Economy Strategy is consolidated the following five detailed thematic technical reports that are annexed to the Strategy:

1. Fisheries, aquaculture, conservation and sustainable aquatic ecosystems
2. Shipping/transportation, trade, ports, maritime security, safety and enforcement
3. Coastal and maritime tourism, climate change, resilience, environment, infrastructure
4. Sustainable energy and mineral resources and innovative industries
5. Policies, institutional and governance, employment, job creation and poverty eradication, innovative financing