Progress report for
Improvement of regional fisheries governance in Western Africa
Achievement at a glance
In April 2017, the European Commission adopted the PESCAO programme (EUR 15 million, 5 years). The overall objective is to enhance the contribution of fisheries resource to sustainable development, food security and poverty alleviation in West Africa. The specific objective is to improve regional fisheries governance in the region through better coordination of national fisheries policies. The expected results are as follows:<br>- A West African fisheries and aquaculture policy is developed and coordination of regional stakeholders is improved.
<br>- Prevention of and responses to IUU fishing are strengthened through improved monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) at national and regional levels.
<br>- Marine resources management at the regional level is improved, building resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems to perturbations.
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<br>The implementation of PESCAO started in 2018. The first annual steering committee took place in November 2018 in Abuja (Nigeria).
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<br>In 2018, two campaigns at sea against IUU fishing were organized by the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), with the participation and support of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA).
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<br>In summary, all contracts were signed and activities started in 2018.
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Beneficiaries
PESCAO is implemented by ECOWAS, SRFC, FCWC, EFCA, FAO, University of Portsmouth and Agro Campus. Actions will cover the 13 countries that are members of ECOWAS: Benin, Cape Verde, Cte dIvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.