The Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of the second phase of the Fisheries Governance Project took place on December 6, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The African Union-Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) organised this meeting in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), supported by funding from the European Union (EU). The purpose of the meeting was to inform members about the current status of project implementation, highlight accomplishments, and request strategic advice for the ongoing success of the project.
A total of 40 participants came together from different institutions, such as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Member States, Regional Fisheries Bodies, development partners, and other stakeholders engaged in the governance of fisheries and aquaculture throughout Africa.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, the Director of the AUC-DARD, who stood in for H.E. Josefa Correia Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Blue Economy. Dr. Bahiigwa highlighted the significance of the FishGov 2 initiative in promoting sustainable practices in fisheries and aquaculture management throughout the continent.
Key statements were also made by:
• Dr. Ndiaga Gueye (FAO Regional Office for Africa), who highlighted FAO’s commitment to supporting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through collaborative partnerships.
• Mr. Gianluca Azzoni (EU Delegation to the African Union) reaffirmed the EU’s continuous support to the FishGov 2 project and other regional initiatives.
Solidarity statements were delivered by the Permanent Secretaries of countries such as Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Cameroon. The Permanent Secretary of Egypt emphasized the project’s critical role in shaping a sustainable future for African fisheries, while the representatives of Cote d’Ivoire and Uganda stressed the importance of inclusive governance and regional cooperation in addressing challenges like Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Technical Session
The technical session, moderated by Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, featured several important presentations, among them: Dr. Bernice Mclean presented Fifth Project Technical Coordination Committee recommendations for PSC endorsement. Delvis Fortes discussed FishGov 2 Project achievements, budget, and expenditure report. Catherine Oduor presented budget and expenditure report. Kennedy Oroko shared 2025 workplan.
Outcomes of the Meeting
The PSC members conveyed their gratitude for the advancements achieved in the execution of the FishGov 2 project, even in the face of numerous challenges. The recommendations from the Fifth Technical Coordination Committee, the Project Achievement Report, the Budget and Expenditure Report, and the 2025 Workplan received their endorsement.
Guidance was offered to enhance the efficiency of project implementation in the upcoming phases, emphasising the importance of strengthening governance structures, mobilising resources, and promoting greater regional collaboration.
Recommendations
The PSC members made several key recommendations to enhance the implementation and impact of the FishGov 2 project. They called for the initiation of a third phase to consolidate achievements from the first two phases and address emerging challenges in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Increased funding was recommended for the establishment and operationalization of Regional Aquatic Animal Health Networks (RAAHN) in three regions. Efforts to promote private-sector investment in aquaculture development were also emphasized. The PSC proposed organizing training workshops to identify commercially important fish species in Africa, guided by FAO’s best practices, and collaborating with regional fisheries bodies to conduct comprehensive stock assessments across the continent. Enhancing the capacity of AU Member States to utilize fisheries and aquaculture data for informed decision-making and sector reforms was highlighted as a priority. Additionally, the PSC recommended mobilizing resources to assess the carrying capacity of inland fisheries and aquaculture systems, strengthening collaboration with the FAO, and advocating for the institutionalization of the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Data (AFADATA) as an AU programme. Finally, the acceleration of financial execution was urged to ensure timely delivery of project activities.
The PSC praised the project team for their success in transforming Africa’s fisheries sector. The next PSC meeting will be announced, emphasizing ongoing collaboration and recommendations for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture governance.
Source : AU-IBAR
