Introduction
African fisheries and aquaculture are at a turning point. The fish sector makes a vital contribution to the food and nutritional security of 200 million Africans and it provides income for over 10 million engaged in fish production, processing and trade. Moreover, fish has become a leading export commodity for Africa, with an annual export value of US$ 2.7 billion. Yet these benefits are at risk as the exploitation of natural fish stocks is reaching its limit and aquaculture production has not yet fulfilled its potential.
Strategic investments are needed urgently to safeguard the future contribution of Africa's fish sector to poverty alleviation and regional economic development. Broadly, investment is needed to (i) improve the management of natural fish stocks, (ii) develop aquaculture production, and (iii) enhance fish trade in domestic, regional and global markets. In support of this investment, capacity needs to be strengthened at both the regional and national level for research, technology transfer and policy development. As a first step, stakeholders in the region need to build a common and strategic understanding of the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for Africa's development and of the challenges being faced by the sector.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is taking the lead in developing regional priorities for future investments in fisheries and aquaculture as part of its wider agriculture program. Following an invitation from HE President Olusegun Obasanjo, the WorldFish Center and FAO are supporting NEPAD in organising a Technical Symposium and Fish for All Summit for Africa in Abuja, Nigeria from 22-25 August 2005.
The Abuja Summit will highlight how investments in fisheries development will help African countries and their international partners to achieve their commitments to the UN Millennium Development Goals and the WSSD Plan of Implementation. It will support NEPAD's role as a catalyst and facilitator of Africa's socio-economic transformation agenda by bringing together key stakeholders from African Union (AU) member states, Regional Economic Communities, civil society, scientific institutions and international organisations.
Objectives
The objectives of the Summit are:
- To establish a shared understanding among key stakeholders of the current status and likely future trends of African fisheries and aquaculture.
- To identify priorities for the development of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa within the context of the NEPAD programme.
- To agree future directions for research and capacity building in support of these development priorities.
Format
Dates |
Event |
22–23 August |
Technical Symposium: New Directions for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa
|
24 August |
Nigeria Fisheries Day and Africa Fisheries Exhibition
|
25 August |
NEPAD Fish For All Summit
|
The Summit week will start with a two-day Technical Symposium on “New Directions for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa" that will bring together experts and senior officials from AU member states to discuss findings of a comprehensive regional consultative process on the future of African fisheries and aquaculture. Participants will be drawn from government, academia, NGOs, and the private sector, and from the international development community. They will combine technical expertise and management experience in fisheries and aquaculture as well as the related fields of rural development, agriculture, marketing, water, and environment. It is anticipated that the number of participants in the technical symposium will be approximately 100.
The meeting will close with a one-day regional Summit at which the major conclusions from the technical meeting will be presented, and the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to NEPAD's agenda will be highlighted. It is anticipated that the number of participants at the Summit will be approximately 150.
Outputs
The Summit will produce two main outputs:
1. The Abuja Declaration on African Fisheries and NEPAD.
2. A NEPAD Action Plan for investment in support of fisheries and aquaculture development in Africa .
Preparation
The Summit will be hosted by the Nigerian Government and is being organised through the NEPAD Secretariat, FAO and the WorldFish Center, with the support of a consortium of partners. Three preparatory technical meetings will be held to develop the Action Plan. These meetings will focus on Inland Fisheries, Marine Fisheries, and Aquaculture, and will be held respectively in Lilongwe (30-31 May), Dakar (8-9 June), and Cairo (27-28 June).
Contact
For further information contact the WorldFish Center at: nepad@worldfish-eg.org
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