Strengthening institutional capacity to enhance governance of the fisheries sector in Africa
Project Brief/Background
The fisheries sector for most African Union Member States (AU-MS) consists of capture fisheries (marine and/or inland water) and aquaculture. The continent has vast fish resources that generate various benefits including nutritional and food security, livelihoods, employment, exports and foreign currency as well as conservation and biodiversity value that are of global significance. Fisheries represent the leading agriculture export commodity for Africa (and for other developing countries globally), contributing some 19 percent of total agricultural volumes but notably 5 percent of total value.
Total fishery production in Africa in 2010 was estimated at 9.4 million tons. This comprised of 5.7 million tons from marine capture fisheries, 2.5 million tons from inland water fisheries and about 1.2 million tons from aquaculture. The contribution of the sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generally small, on the average 2 percent but relatively important in some countries such as Mauritania and Namibia, where the estimated fisheries sector contribution is 10 percent to GDP in each of the two countries. This valuable natural asset is one of the main components of economic growth for some regions on the continent (e.g. West Africa, Central Africa). The sector provides a direct source of livelihoods to over 10 million Africans and more than 50 million more are engaged in supplementary activities of the sector in rural areas. Most of the people directly involved in fishery are in the small-scale or artisanal sub-sector both in the marine and inland water capture fisheries as well as aquaculture.
The project has been developed to help African countries realize the full potential of the fisheries sector by addressing management and development issues and constraints that afflict fisheries and aquaculture on the continent.
Regional Development Policy
The Fish Gov project is consistent with the implementation of recommendations or resolutions of several international and regional development policy initiatives. The key ones are: the Abuja Fish for All Summit (2005); the Comprehensive African Agriculture programme (CAADP) through which the project will strengthen capacity for integrating fisheries in the CAADP investment plans at national levels; the NEPAD Plan of Action; the 2010 Conference of African ministers of fisheries and aquaculture (CAMFA) Resolutions ((Doc. EX. CL /627(XVIII)); the 2000 MDG; the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD); EU Communications, (Brussels, 8.11.2000), 724 Final on Fisheries and Poverty Reduction, (Brussels 21.4.2010), section 3 and subsection 3.1 on climate system and the implications for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries; and the regional economic integration policies of the RECs such as the SADC Protocol on Fisheries (2001). The project is also in line with the priorities set by African fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders during several consultations organized by AUC (AU-IBAR and NEPAD) in 2012 for the formulation of a policy framework and reform strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa.
The project is consistent with European Commission (EC) programming documents, namely with the objective of strengthening governance approaches for food security of the Food Security Thematic Programming 2011-2013. The expected outcomes are also aligned with the strategic priority areas of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Strategic Action Plan, including effective management for sustainable fisheries, promoting food security in African countries, developing aquaculture, maintaining environment and promoting optimal returns from fisheries. The project resonates with the external dimension of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (12517/11) as part of the proposals for the reform of the CFP, including key roles which should be played by RFMOs and bilateral agreements, scientific stock assessment, environmental sustainability, sustainable development and trade issues.
Africa has vast fish resources (in marine, inland capture and aquaculture) producing benefits to the continent through revenue, employment and general contribution to socio-economic growth and development. The currents benefits can be increased substantially in a sustainable manner with sound management practices and institutional arrangements for the development of the sector. The marine fish resources, in particular, are diverse with over hundred species of fish and shellfish species of commercial value.
However, the continent continues to be burdened with numerous problems that are hindering long term resources sustainability and reducing prospects for increasing fisheries contribution to food security, poverty alleviation and wealth creation.
Among the key constraints are:
Weak Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) resulting in illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing
The principal cause of decline is mainly irresponsible fishing practices in the respective EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zones) underpinned by ineffective fisheries management regimes. The fisheries sector in Africa is characterised by weak monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) which is a recipe for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities that result in loss of revenue and overfishing problems.
Low returns from the exploitation of fish resources
African waters are inhabited by valuable fish resources whose exploitation could bring positive economic benefits. However, most African countries do not have access to lucrative interactive markets for their fish and fisheries products due to non-compliance with importing requirements in these markets, as a result of weak capacity to adhere to internationally-accepted sanitary standards and certification procedures. Secondly, much of the fishing activity in Africa's waters support an offshore economy that provides hardly any value locally in the region, as vessels pay a fee to the governments to access their waters (or simply do so illegally with no fee payment), freeze the fish catch on board, and then land it at a foreign port for processing and export. Poor infrastructure and insufficient facilitation are major constraints to the distribution and trade of fishery and aquaculture products within countries and also internationally.
Weak and uncoordinated institutions governing the sector
Fisheries management in Africa is usually entrusted to the ministries or departments of fisheries at national levels with the mandate to manage and develop the sector for sustainable socio-economic benefits. In most regions of Africa, the member states have established regional fisheries bodies (RFB) to ensure regional collaboration and coherence in policy and management practices of the sector. There is huge overlap of mandates and lack of coordination of activities and programmes between these institutions.
Lack of knowledge and evidence to foster reforms
The paucity of data for decision-making on the required optimum fishing capacity for sustainable fisheries exploitation and profitability is a common occurrence in African fisheries. Generally, scientific knowledge of the inland water fisheries of Africa is relatively poor and most of the reported catches are estimations. The reason can be attributed to poor institutional and human resources capacity for adaptive research for fisheries management at both national and regional levels.
Untapped potential of small scale fisheries
The small-scale fisheries (both coastal and inland) have immense potential to provide both economic and welfare benefits especially to vulnerable and marginalized riparian communities. The full realization of this potential is constrained by inadequate technological, finance and human resource capacities. The sector employs more than 90 percent of Africa's capture fishers, and their importance to food security, poverty reduction and prevention is becoming more appreciated. Marginalization of small-scale fisheries and gender inequity is a major hindrance for the sustainable development of the small-scale fisheries in Africa. The level of organization of small-scale fisheries remains low and governments in the region have provided insufficient support for the empowerment of small-scale fishing communities. The absence of fisheries management plans in the governance of most inland water bodies has continued to bedevil the sector, resulting in overfishing and stock decline. Open access fishery is also a serious concern in the small-scale fisheries and their regulation is of high priority in reforming the fisheries sector.
Undeveloped aquaculture sector in view of the increasing demand for fish products and declining fish stocks in capture fisheries in marine and inland waters on the continent
In comparison with the success stories in Asia, aquaculture development has been constrained by weak institutional and human resources capacity, and inadequate policies resulting in poor practices. The sector lacks institutional or regulatory frameworks for disease control, movement of genetic materials, use of feed additives, etc. Other constraints are weak capacity in genetic engineering for enhanced species growth performance, low technological adaptation, and poor harvests and practices conducted without consideration to ecosystem effects, habitat degradation, pollution and disease control. Aquaculture practices are mainly subsistence-based and without commercial orientation for export purposes.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the project will be fishermen, aquaculture producers, fisherfolks engaged in artisanal fishing, and small-scale and informal fish processing and fish trading enterprises. About 50 percent are women who often depend exclusively on post-harvest activities as their source of income and economic empowerment. Other beneficiaries will be the 400 million rural and urban African households whose food and nutritional security increasingly depends on low value fish.
The capacity in the line ministry will be strengthened for effective fisheries management. The project will be of great benefit to AU member states in not only securing current benefits but also increasing benefits from improved governance of their aquatic resources. These benefits mainly relate to increased revenue, fish supplies, food security and social welfare.
The regional institutions, i.e. RECs and RFBs, would also gain immensely from this project since it will strengthen their institutional mandates in regional natural resources management that would be fostered by regional collaboration and building or establishing the necessary institutional linkages or frameworks consistent with the 2011 Executive Council Decision (EX.CL/627 (XVIII) of AUC on ensuring that arrangements for regional cooperation on fisheries management frameworks are developed and included as part of the Minimum Regional Integration Plan by RECs.
Outcomes/Objectives
The project will support member states of the African Union to improve on their capacity and institutional arrangement for enhanced fisheries management and development that would result in much needed benefits to these countries. The primary entry points at the member states levels are the ministries or departments responsible for fisheries and aquaculture, national research and academic institutions and relevant institutions such as the navy, judiciaries, trade, etc. Based on the common recognition that partnerships and alliances between the public, private and civil sector are critical factors for success and sustainability in development, the project implementation strategy at member states level, in particular, will entail enhancing the role of private sector in key service delivery in the small-scale and aquaculture sub-sector.
Regional fishery bodies (RFBs) are the primary organizational mechanism through which states work together to ensure the long-term sustainability of shared fishery resources. As intergovernmental organizations, RFBs depend on the political will of their member governments to implement agreed measures and undertake reform. However, most RFBs are experiencing difficulties in fulfilling their regional duties. Fisheries management at regional level is therefore mainly the responsibility of these RFBs (and the RFMOs for specific fish fisheries) but with little or no collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) who are in charge of the regional integration agenda of the African Union. Strategically, the first activity of the project would be to rationalize the Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) to ensure their effectiveness in focus, minimize duplications of functions and reduce burdens on the AU MS for their sustenance, and foster anchorage with the RECs. To ensure strategic and cost-effective implementation of project activities, Fish-GOV will ensure close partnership with partners within the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM) in order to minimize duplication and promote strategic use of available resources. There is very low capacity in African institutions for effective monitoring of high seas fisheries to optimize gains from the exploitation of these ecosystems. This poor capacity has marginalized African institutions at Regional Fisheries Management Organization forums such as ICCAT, IOTC, etc. Regional collaboration would increase the prospects of significant returns from high seas fisheries such as tuna and tuna-like species.
The Directorate General of Marine (DG Mare) of the European Union has recorded successful interventions in support of fisheries management and development on the continent as well as globally. Collaboration with the DG Mare will be beneficial, owing to the EU's long experience and exposure to issues related to governance of marine resources.
The overall objective is to enhance the contribution of fisheries resources to food security and economic growth in Africa. The specific objective is to improve institutional and policy environment for sustainable management and utilization of fisheries resources in Africa.
Stakeholders
Member States of the African Union
The ministries or departments responsible for fisheries in each of the 54 AU member states will be the major stake holders of the project.
Regional Economic Communities
The RECs are institutions of the African Union and have experiences with AU-IBAR on livestock and fisheries issues. Their regional mandate would be utilized in the mitigating risks such as lack of ownership of project activities. Their role would be particularly useful in setting up an apex body, for e.g. Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) centre. Examples of RECs include Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), etc.
Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs)
The RFBs have mandates for fisheries management within their geographical areas of competence. These bodies are constituted by member states with established protocols and working relationships. They provide the links with the fisheries management institutions of the AU member states and, by virtue of this, have extensive documentation and experiences on the fisheries of the member states. These institutions would therefore be very strategic to the project in promoting ownership of activities and outcomes. The RFBs currently collaborate with AU-IBAR on fisheries management issues and have participated in AU-IBAR organized events. Examples include Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), etc.
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
RFMOs are international organizations dedicated to the sustainable management of fishery resources in a particular region of international waters (areas beyond national jurisdiction), or of highly migratory species. They may focus on certain species e.g. International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for tuna but may also have expanded mandates to cover other marine resources e.g. the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
Fisherfolk Associations
Fishermen and fish farmers associations will mobilize their members from the different member states for effective participation in the activities of the project. They will be supported, through the project, to broaden the participation of their members and this will enhance the opportunity for articulation of the issues affecting them within regional decision-making forums.
To ensure effectiveness and sustainability, the Fish Gov project will work with stakeholders at national, regional and international levels. At national level, the departments in charge of fisheries and aquaculture development, the fisherfolks, the fish traders and all other players along the value chain will be targeted. At regional level the RECs, RFBs, RFMOs and NGOs working to improve sustainable fisheries development will be targeted.
African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources
The project will be implemented in joint management with AU-IBAR as the lead institution. AU-IBAR is a specialized technical agency of the African Union Commission (AUC) with the specific mandate of supporting and coordinating the utilization of animals (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States, which contributes to economic development, particularly in rural areas.
NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency
NPCA is a technical agency of the African Union and is implementing a technical programme that supports improved fisheries governance; sustainable production practices improving market access; preparation and implementation of fisheries management plans; development of aquaculture; and regulation of the access of foreign fleets to African fish stocks. A partnership arrangement between AU-IBAR and NPCA will be signed in which details on the activities to be implemented by the NPCA will be provided.
Results and Activities
The proposed objectives will be achieved through the following expected results with the following activities:
Result 1: Institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for sustainable fisheries management improved
The major thrust of this result area is to strengthen Africa's capacity for optimizing wealth from sustainable fisheries management through enhanced fisheries sector coordination, efficient MCS to curb IUU fishing activities, implementation of scientific-based fisheries management regimes, and effective participation in regional and international fisheries fora.
- Activity 1.1 Enhance coordination in the fisheries sector for expeditious development of the sector
- Activity 1.2 Strengthen institutional capacity and systems for effective MCS to combating IUU fishing
- Activity 1.3 Support effective participation of African countries in RFMOs for sustainable high sea fisheries management
- Activity 1.4 Promote coherence and harmonization in fisheries policies and regulatory frameworks
- Activity 1.5 Ratification/adoption/application of international instruments for sustainable fisheries management
- Activity 1.6 Strengthen capacities for stock assessment, ecosystem -based surveys and fisheries statistical data collection
- Activity 1.7 Enhance capacities for fish diseases surveillance and control, timely collection, analysis and sharing of accurate sanitary information
- Activity 1.8 Strengthen capacities and promote regional arrangements for improved negotiation of fisheries access arrangements
- Activity 1.9 Strengthen capacities for access to market
Result 2: Sustainable fisheries management in small-scale fisheries including inland water bodies enhanced
This result area will aim at improving management of the small-scale fisheries for increased sustainable contribution to livelihoods, food and nutrition security, social-welfare, as well as increasing resilience. The small scale fisheries are crucially important for African communities as sources of livelihoods, food security and income. The full realization of this potential is constrained by weak institutional and resource capacities, resulting in unsustainable fishing practices and dwindling resource base.
- Activity 2.1 Strengthen policies and development strategies for inland water bodies
- Activity 2.2 Develop fisheries management plans for capture inland water fisheries
- Activity 2.3 Strengthen stakeholder organization, participation and promotion of community-based management of small-scale fisheries
- Activity 2.4 Strengthen capacity for improved management practices, including TURFs (territorial use rights fisheries), Co-managements, and establishment of MPAs (marine protected areas)
- Activity 2.5 Support capacity development for sustainable development of ornamental fisheries and trade
Result 3: Institutional capacity and regulatory framework for aquaculture development strengthened
The project will focus on capacity strengthening for sustainable aquaculture development. Despite decades of practice on aquaculture, the contribution of the aquaculture sub-sector is still marginally low as compared to capture fisheries. Despite signs of growth in countries like Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana, African aquaculture has been unable to adequately respond to the continent's nutritional needs. The major challenge is capacity building and regulatory frameworks to support sustainable commercial aquaculture development.
- Activity 3.1 Develop or improve regulatory frameworks and strategies for aquaculture development
- Activity 3.2 Strengthen capacities and policy frameworks for environmental monitoring, habitat and ecosystems preservation in aquaculture practices
- Activity 3.3 Strengthening aquaculture network and information sharing
- Activity 3.4 Develop appropriate extension and service delivery strategy for aquaculture development
Result 4: Advocacy, lessons learning for knowledge sharing and capacity for increased returns from fisheries and access to market enhanced
- Activity 4.1 Strengthen capacity for evidence based advocacy
- Activity 4.2 Support advocacy fora for fisheries reforms
- Activity 4.3 Strengthen capacity and support AU member states to mainstream fisheries in CAADP and development of fisheries and aquaculture investment plans
Communication and Visibility
A comprehensive communication and visibility work plan will be developed during the inception phase of the programme. This work plan will outline the following details:
- Target audiences and the communication objectives per target group
- Communication/visibility activities that will be undertaken
- Responsibilities for the execution of the activities
- Communication tools that will be applied
- Indicators to measure the communication impact
- Human and financial resources required for the execution of the plan.
AU-IBAR will ensure adequate visibility, using, whenever applicable, the standards of visibility described in the "Communication and Visibility Manual for EU External Actions" published by the European Commission (and those applied by the AUC for the AU-IBAR).
Complementary Activities on Fisheries Governance
The Fish Gov project will complement the following interventions:
The NEPAD FAO Fish Programme for Africa (NFFP)
The NFFP is implementing activities for improved governance, application of ecosystem-based approach and mitigation of climate change. The project will build on this collaboration in the specific areas of climate change adaptation measures, statistical data collection, fostering institutional linkages between RECs, RFBs and CSOs, aquaculture development and networking, and dissemination of best practices in fisheries governance. AU-IBAR is a member of the steering committee of this project.
The WWF-East Africa Coastal initiative
The Fish Gov proposal would complement WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) initiative in the SWIO (Southwest Indian Ocean) in strengthening capacity of AU MS in SWIO for optimizing benefits from exploitation of tuna and tuna-like species, promoting implementation of RBFM and fostering regional collaboration for shared fish stocks management.
The WWF-WAMPO WAMER project in West Africa
The West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER) programme started in 2000 and is run from Dakar, Senegal and funded by WWF. It is designed to address critical marine biodiversity and fisheries issues in the West African eco- region. WWF is in partnership with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), WI (Wetlands International) and NEPAD.
The Fish Gov project would complement the activities of this programme in improving management capacity for marine protected areas, expanding the scope for capacity building in fisheries access arrangements and improving management of small-scale fisheries.
The NPCA PAF
PAF is the International Partnership for African Fisheries Governance and Trade implemented by the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency and funded by DFID. PAF works to improve the sustainability of Africa's fisheries and improve the returns provided by this sector. Through PAF, AU organised the first Conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) in September 2010, which has provided the basis for the on-going work on Pan-African fisheries Policy Framework and Reform Strategy.
The Fish Gov project would complement the activities (for institutional building and linkages) of the PAF working groups in aquaculture development, fisheries governance and IUU fishing, finance and small-enterprise development and trade. The working group on governance has conducted major interventions on issues of good governance for sustainable fisheries, including supporting policy and legislative review, enhancing transparency in fisheries management, and supporting implementation of conservation measures such as marine protected areas (e.g. Sierra Leone and Ghana). The PAF working on SIP (Stop Illegal Fishing) has fostered collaboration and established mechanisms for cooperation between countries (e.g. Liberia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Namibia) in curbing IUU fishing.
EU-ACP Fish 11 Programme in the African Region
The aim of the programme is to improve fisheries management in ACP countries so as to ensure that fisheries resources under the jurisdiction of these countries are exploited in a sustainable manner. The programme is implemented in Western, Central, Eastern and Southern African. The project will synergize and complement activities of this programme, particularly in the following programmatic areas: i) Improvement of fisheries policies and management plans at regional and national levels; ii) Development of business-supportive regulatory frameworks and private sector investment; and iii) Knowledge and information dissemination on fisheries management and trade at regional level.
World Bank PROFISH Programme - 'Scramble for fish' project'
The PROFISH is a global programme on fisheries aimed at promoting and facilitating the increased contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to sustainable economic growth, better nutrition, economic opportunities for women, and poverty alleviation.
The Fish Gov project would complement the activities of this programme by utilizing the outputs of the activities of PROFISH programme on the evaluation of status of fisheries access agreements in targeted countries. Under the Scramble for Fish programme, and jointly with PAF, information is being generated, through case studies, on fisheries access agreements between selected AU coastal states (e.g. Mozambique, Senegal) and EU or bilateral agencies (e.g. Korea, China). The project will utilize the outcome of these case studies to complement the capacity-building activities on equitable and sustainable fisheries access agreements on the continent. AU-IBAR has also conducted two continental training workshops for AU MS, on capacity development for negotiating fair fisheries access agreements and thus will complement the activities of this project.
The Regional Marine and Coastal Conservation Programme for West Africa (PRCM)
The Fish Gov project will liaise with the PRCM to complement activities in awareness creation and knowledge broadening in EU Common Fisheries Policy and the necessary reforms by mobilizing stakeholders, especially women in fisheries management activities; integrated coastal zone management, including implementing frameworks for establishing MPAs and their management.
Indian Ocean Commission/SMARTFISH programme for Indian Ocean
One of the primary tasks of the EU-funded SMARTFISH Programme is that regional fisheries strategies and policy instruments are harmonised and brought into one overall implementable process to ensure sustainable outcomes in marine and inland fisheries management and development through a more appropriate framework.
The Fish Gov project would be complemented by the EU SMARTFISH Indian Ocean project in the specific areas of fostering coherence in regional fisheries policy, aquaculture development, and cross-cutting issues, particularly on gender and youth.
The Fish Trade Project by World Fish, AU-IBAR and NPCA
The Fish Gov project will strengthen capacity for regional trade in fish and fish product for increased food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Synergies and complementarities would be developed between Fish Gov and the Fish Trade project in capacity development in SPS, and food quality and safety issues, and capacity development for an accredited competent authority for certification.
On-going AU-IBAR initiatives
AU-IBAR is implementing a suite of initiatives geared towards enforcing the contribution of fisheries to food security, poverty alleviation and economic growth on the continent. The Fish Gov project will complement the work initiated by AU-IBAR on the formulation and implementation of a coordination mechanism in African fisheries, capacity building in negotiating equitable and sustainable fisheries access arrangements, capacity building for coherent fisheries policy development, aquaculture development, sustainable management of large marine ecosystems, and fostering institutional linkages.
PANSPSO
The Fish Gov project will complement the activities of the PANSPSO on capacity and institutional strengthening for SPS standards setting and promoting compliance with these standards.
ARIS (Animal Resource Information System) fish disease reporting will be done through the disease module of ARIS whereas a separate module of fisheries database will be created.
Veterinary Governance Project.
The Fish Gov project will complement the ongoing activities of the AU-IBAR veterinary governance (Vet-Gov) project on consultation processes for formulation of regulatory of frameworks and policies.
Aquaculture industry assessment by AU-IBAR, FAO and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
AU-IBAR, in collaboration with NPCA, is working towards the development of a Pan African aquaculture strategy. In this regard, AU-IBAR, FAO and USDA are presently conducting an industry assessment in selected AU member states for articulating lessons and packaging best practices for sustainable aquaculture development on the continent.
Complementarity with the WorldFish, AU-IBAR and NPCA Fish Trade Project
The foreseen activities in Result 1 of the project, on strengthening surveillance for fish diseases and sanitary improvement, improving capacity for access agreement negotiations and market access would complement the activities of the fish trade project in enhancing the contribution of the sector to food security and economic growth of the continent.
Context/Lessons Learnt
The Fish Gov project will take on board the following lessons learnt from several African countries, as detailed below:
Namibia and South Africa
The fisheries policies of Namibia and South Africa were among six policies from five countries world-wide short-listed for the 2012 Future Policy Award - an international award that celebrates effective and exemplary ocean and coastal policies. Namibia received the Silver Award on the basis of its Marine Resources Act 2000. The organizers recognized that Namibia successfully manages its marine resources and has instituted a more ecologically and economically-sustainable fishing industry by implementing a rights-based and scientific approach to fisheries management. Namibia inherited severely over-exploited and unregulated fisheries when it gained independence in 1990. The Marine Resources Act established strict monitoring and control systems and regulations addressing the key drivers of degradation of marine capture fisheries: by-catch, illegal fishing, overcapacity from subsidies and harmful fishing gear. The fishing industry has created new jobs and improved food security for Namibians. Most fish stocks are now stable, and fishing license fees and levies on catches contribute to the national economy
Mauritania
The Mauritanian fishery illustrates how legislative instruments can be used to manage fisheries successfully. The tax-based system is very effective in extracting resource rent. Taxes are set higher on fish products that were processed at sea and exported so as to encourage development of local onshore processing.
Senegal
Senegalese fisheries are characterized by over-exploitation of demersal coastal resources and overcapacity. The fishermen have, however, instituted the individual quota system as well as a deterrence system to promote compliance. This innovation led to increased revenue for fisher-folks, decreased fishing time and fishing pressure.
Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria
Aquaculture development is impressive in Egypt's tilapia culture, in Ghana for cage culture for tilapia and in Nigeria for catfish. Egypt is the largest producer of about 1 million tons of fish from aquaculture and adopts practices for sustainable aquaculture development.
Solomon and other Pacific Islands
Development of community-based management plans and monitoring methods tailored to local conditions led to the adoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries.
West African Regional Fisheries project, Institutional Support for Fisheries Management (ISFM), Sierra Leone and the ACP Fish II programme
These projects identified the following measures to be key in the sustainable management of fisheries in LMEs and reducing IUU: need for sound legal framework; institutional mechanism for coordination; transparency e.g. vessels registers; empowering fishing communities; training, capacity for prosecuting cases; the power of market access – EU's IUU regulation, stakeholder participation in fisheries management and decision making processes, participatory approach in policy and legal frameworks formulation for fisheries resources management; and needs assessment procedures in fisheries and priority areas of intervention.
African Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) projects and Strategic Partnership for Fisheries Investment Fund (SPFIF)
These projects highlighted the importance of regional and continental harmonization of legislation and policies in support of conservation, management and utilization of coastal and marine resources, the need for coordinated regional and continental development approaches and empowerment of communities in evaluation and management of resources in LMEs.
Reinforcing Veterinary Governance (Vet-Gov) in Africa and PANSPSO at AU-IBAR
The Vet- Gov project established collaborative arrangements with the RECs and posted experts to strengthen the human capacity of these institutions.
The Fish Gov project will draw on lessons in the process of establishing common positions, creating conductive and participatory change environment through evidence-based advocacy and knowledge creation and building institutional and individual capacity.
PANAPSO contributed immensely in developing science-based arguments for effective participation in standard settings organizations like the OIE and Codex Alimentarius. This strengthened capacity enabled African countries, with a common position, to revise or amend relevant sections or clauses in the reports of these organizations that were deemed suitable or appropriate in the interest of the continent.
Policy Briefs
Resources
Other Notes
Gender
Women play major roles in post-harvest activities while youths contribute significantly to fishing activities. Appropriate policy is needed to empower women in fisheries and aquaculture activities and also promote their inclusion in decision-making processes. The Fish Gov project would strengthen the role of women in fisheries management through capacity development and empowerment. There are existing women organizations dedicated to improving the welfare of women in fisheries development (e.g. EAIFFPA, RAFEP, etc.). These organizations will be supported for enhanced roles in aquaculture, fish marketing and trade, and for effective participation in fisheries management and decision-making processes. Their role in awareness campaigns for HIV/AIDs in fishing communities would be enhanced.
The youth are crucial, particularly in small-scale fisheries, aquaculture and industrial fishing operations. Their effective functions should be enhanced by youth empowerment programmes, access to facilities and resources, training programmes and by playing bigger roles in decision-making processes. These vulnerable groups would benefit immensely from the project outcomes and impacts. The capacity of the youth in supplementary activities like boat-building and marine engineering would be strengthened. Alternative livelihood strategies such as crop and animal husbandry would be facilitated.
Nutrition
The project will contribute immensely to addressing the dietary protein and micro-nutrients (nutrition) requirements of the citizens of the continent, especially the rural and riparian communities. The intervention would result in increased fish supplies and affordability.
Climate change and environmental sustainability
In view of the rising threat of climate changes to fishing communities and their livelihoods, strategies will be developed to minimize climate change effects and promote effective responses and adaptation mechanisms. The issues of combating unsustainable environmental challenges e.g. pollution, habitat degradation, rapid fish stock collapses, etc. will be addressed in project implementation.
Good governance and human rights
The support to institutional change will be based on the good governance principles of participation, inclusion, transparency and accountability, and will inspire the development of the policies and strategies envisaged. This approach should have an important leverage effect on promoting and expanding good governance to other sectors.
