AU-IBAR organized a Consultative Meeting for the establishment of an African Platform for Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) held in Cotonou, Benin from 22nd to 24th April 2015.
The overall objective of the meeting was to establish an African Platform for Regional Institutions for Fisheries and Aquatic Systems (APRIFAS). The specific objectives were to:
- Validate the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedures for African Platform of Regional Institutions for fisheries and aquatic systems (APRIFAS);
- Establish an Africa Platform for Regional Institutions for fisheries and aquatic systems
- Improve on the RFBs institutional assessment reports and propose roadmap for their rationalization;
- Review elements contained in the draft legal text for anchorage of ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) and COREP (Fisheries Commission for Central Gulf of Guinea).
In attendance at the meeting were thirty five delegates from Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs), Water Basin Commissions (WBCs), the European Union (EU), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), African Union agencies (AUC-DREA, AU-IBAR and NEPAD) and experts.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Simplice Nouala, Chief Animal Production Officer, AU-IBAR welcomed the participants on behalf of the Director of AU-IBAR, Professor Ahmed A. El-Sawalhy.
His Excellency Issa Azizou, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Republic of Benin officially opened the meeting.