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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 14:30:11
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DailyNews Editorial: Unless we combat Corruption …
The report revealed at the opening of fisheries ministers meeting underway here in Banjul that the mismanagement of African fisheries is costing the continent about $50b annually is disturbing.
It is even more worrying that our fish resource is depleting at an alarming rate.
This situation is threatening the lives of millions of people whose livelihoods depend on fisheries.
Fish has the potential to make a poor person rich and also turn low income generating countries into medium and infact larger income earning countries.
The fisheries sector is reported to create jobs for over 200m people from its production to trade.
It is an interesting co-incidence that while African fisheries ministers and experts converge here at this crucial time when our fish stock are reaching their ‘catch limit’ the BBC on Monday relayed that Norway was the poorest country in Europe 100 years ago, but currently among the richest countries in Europe thanks to its fisheries sector.
This is a lesson for African countries that if we properly manage our fish resources, Africa can overcome poverty.
Management of our fish resources is crucial for providing food security for the people as it provides the cheapest protein to most households.
The fish in our waters have far outmatched that of any-where, but Africa is said to contribute only 8 percent of the global trade in fish.
Essentially, any policy to be developed for the fisheries sector for reform should be premised on governance reform in Africa.
For Africa to usefully exploit the fisheries resources, as any other resources for that matter, a good governance framework is required for the delivery of the strategy.
There must be policies, institutions and processes to facilitate the planning, design and implementation of appropriate fisheries development and management arrangements.
The fundamental principles of good governance - accountability, transparency and participation – should no doubt underpin any policy or strategy development.
The rate at which the continent is being robbed off this strategic resource is serious.
This problem is fuelled by Africa’s inability to curb corruption, which is almost synonymous to Africa’s identity.
If we are to succeed in exploiting fish resources to benefit the greater masses, African people must first fight corruption.
Its should mean those issuing licenses for fishing give licenses to fishermen who can proof to sustainably fish.
It also means authorities to start rejecting the monies dashed to them especially those fishing illegally using trawlers catching even juvenile fish. It should as well mean that our naval security who patrol our waters to prevent illegal activity bring the culprits to book rather than setting them free after giving them some money.
Unless we combat these corrupt activities, any attempt to reform the sector would be a futile exercise.
Source: DailyNews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 14:52:19
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Toubab, thanks for the youtoube video above. Its very informative. Here is more about the ongoing conference in The Gambia.
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Fisheries Experts Discuss African Fisheries Strategic Plan
By: Momodou S. Jallow
The first-ever conference of African fisheries and aquaculture ministers Monday kicked-off with fisheries experts forum at Sheraton Hotel, The Gambia.
Over 400 fisheries experts from Africa and beyond are expected to develop a strategic plan for the African fisheries sector, latest today, for ministers to validate it tomorrow.
Under the theme "African Fisheries and Aquaculture: contributing towards agricultural development and economic growth," experts are to also assess how far African governments have gone in the implementation of the African fisheries plan of action adopted by the heads of state and government in the 2005 Abuja Summit.
"Africa’s fisheries sector makes vital contribution to the food and nutrition security of over 200 million people and provides income for over 10 million people", The Gambia’s fisheries minister Lamin Kaba Bajo has said in his opening statement.
Minister Bajo added: "fish has become a leading export commodity for Africa, but its benefits have been at risk as the exploitation of natural fish stocks are reaching their catch limits and aquaculture production is yet to attain its potential."
He called for cooperation among states inorder to address the challenges that pose a threat to the sector such as depleting fishery stocks, degradation of coastal environment and the loss of coastal habitats.
Tim Bostock, Fisheries Advisor of the Department for International Development Fund of UK (DIFD) said it is strange that fisheries has failed to capture the attention of donors and national governments despite its potential to ensure food security and export earnings as well creation of jobs.
"African international trade in fish products is estimated at $4.3b; 8% of the global fisheries trade," he said, noting however that the continent is losing about $50b yearly because of mismanagement of fisheries.
Other speakers included Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, head of food security at the African Union Commission and Dr Babagana Ahmadu, FAO representative in The Gambia and Gengezi Mgidlana, representative of the chief executive officer of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) who echoed the same views. Meanwhile the programme was funded by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), African Union (AU), DIFD, and FAO.
Source: DailyNews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 15:12:59
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Policy Makers Urged
By Saikou Jammeh
African policy makers are urged to reform the fisheries sector inorder to overturn the "alarming depletion" of fish resources, as the first-ever fisheries ministers meeting kicks-off at Sheraton Hotel in Banjul on Monday.
African fisheries ministers will on Thursday validate a strategic plan for the African fisheries sector, which is being developed by fisheries experts.
Ministers and experts are to also assess how far African governments have gone in the implementation of the African fisheries plan of action adopted by the heads of state and government during the 2005 Abuja Summit.
Under the theme "African Fisheries and Aquaculture: contributing towards agricultural development and economic growth," the conference also seeks to improve sustainable management of fish resources, develop the Aquaculture production and stimulate the trade at the national, regional and world markets.
Need for reform
According to the head of communications and public relations at Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission, Mr. Amadou Mbooj, "It is time for policy makers to reform the sector in terms of policies and decide new ways of exploitation of our fish resource because it is alarmingly depleting.
Fisheries, Mbooj said has been for a long time an income generating activity for African countries. "It contributes to food security and provides employment for millions of people," he said.
Infact official statistics have shown that the fisheries sector employs about 10 million jobs in Africa. Fish provides food especially proteins and nutrients for 30 percent of Africans and an average revenue of about $5 billion to African economies annually.
Alarmingly depleting
However this sector has been marred by various challenges, Mbooj and Beatrice Gorez, the Coordinator for the Belgium based NGO, Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements, have agreed.
Illegal fishing, pollution of our waters, and high demand among other challenges reported to have been plaguing the sector.
According to Beatrice, artisanal fishermen are bearing the brunt of these irregularities because they are being neglected by policy makers.
Although Mbooj said there is a political will to address the situation, Beatrice disagrees.
She said artisanal fishermen lack access to basic facilities to add value to their products in order to meet the basic sanitary standards to export to the new markets.
"If you want to export to the new market there are hygienic conditions to comply with," she said. "You need to have clean ice on board, have access to water, clean landing sites, clean transportation systems and all of that is not available to artisanal fishermen."
It’s a shared responsibility
But for Mbooj, it’s a shared responsibility. Even illegal fishing has been practised by artisanal fishermen.
"We are all responsible," he said, "it’s not time for putting blame on the governments. Let’s think strategically and try to think of new ways of fishing."
Meanwhile for the next few days ministers and their technocrats are expected to deliberate on the worrying state of the African fisheries sector, which is said to be losing about $50b yearly due to mismanagement.
Although Mbooj believes that if Africans speak with one voice at the Sheraton they will make an impact, tomorrow will prove whether a breakthrough could be made.
Source: DailyNews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 17:55:35
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Africa losing US $2 - 5 billion Fisheries Revenue due to Mismanagement Says DFID Fisheries Advisor
By Publisher on 22-09-10
“The mismanagement of fisheries is costing economies some US $50 billion each year. This vast loss of wealth is shared, probably disproportionately by African countries. Africa may be losing the potential to harvest some US $2 to 5 billion of economic returns every year as a direct outcome of mismanagement”, said Mr. Tom Bastook.
Mr. Bastook made this remark at the opening of the experts meeting held on Monday, 20th September, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel, ahead of the Conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Agriculture in the Gambia.
The DFID Fisheries Advisor said “We know that illegal fishing is removing-stealing fish at some US $1billion from the waters of sub-Saharan Africa every year.”
He added that despite fisheries being one of Africa’s most valuable renewable natural assets and that inspite of the threats to their integrity, it seems strange that fisheries consistently fail to capture the serious attention of many donors and national governments.
He stressed that better fisheries governance and management, combined with effective monitoring, improved market access and trade, must play an integral part in this issue.
“Not only are African economies and regional food suppliers the potential beneficiaries, but the growing number of international market where purchasing decisions are increasingly determined on the legitimacy and sustainability of supply chains”, said the DFID Fisheries Expert.
Dr. Babagana Ahmadou, the FAO Representative to The Gambia, said there are challenges on the African continent that have stifled the growth of aquaculture. He identified one of these challenges as the inadequate number of feed production companies that are capable of producing knowledge based sustainable feeds and feed ingredients.
The FAO Rep. noted that the challenges to achieving sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture are global and need to be addressed through coordinated action
Source: Foroyaa Online |
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