The Head of NEPAD’s Natural Resources Governance Programme, Dr Hamady Diop, has said that they have identified priority
actions for sustainable development of small-scale fisheries, reports
NaijaAgroNet.
Diop made this known at an AU-IBAR and NEPAD Agency’s joint
side-event on Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa, held in Rome recently.
“The Policy Framework and Reform Strategy acknowledges the
diversity of uses of fish resources and advocates a broad, inclusive approach
to fisheries management and aquaculture development,” he said.
Diop also noted that the priority is a blue print for
fisheries and aquaculture to effectively contribute to Africa’s
transformational goals.
He pointed out that Africa’s priority actions for the
sustainable development of small-scale fisheries include strengthening the
governance of the sector; improving the contribution of small-scale fisheries
to food and nutritional security, and wealth creation; as well as reducing the
susceptibility of small-scale fisheries to climate change and related risks.
In the case of aquaculture, priority actions, he said, among
others include establishing an enabling environment; improving service
delivery; capacity building; trans-boundary ecosystem management for
aquaculture, and; innovation, which also entails research and development.
NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Policy Framework and Reform
Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa addresses conservation and sustainable resource use;
Small scale fisheries development, Sustainable aquaculture development,
Responsible and equitable fish trade and marketing, Strengthened regional and
sub regional cooperation, Awareness Enhancing and human capacity development
and High seas fisheries.