Fish seminar
“Need for definition of small and artisanal fisheries”.
Photo: E. Barton, © Europeaid
How can ACP States make the most of their fisheries for the greatest number of people, arrest declining stocks and add value to exports? The importance of this asset to ACP States was reflected in the pool of participants from ACP governments, the Commonwealth Secretariat, EU aid agencies, the private sector, regional organisations, NGOs and experts, who put what’s at stake for the industry at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels, January 22–24.
The next step is to move up a political notch on the outcome of the Brussels meeting. Participants highlighted the sustainable development of fisheries in ACP States, protection of the aquatic environment, the scope for eco-labelling in the industry, food security in ACP States and the vital importance of maximising the benefits of small scale fisheries activities for communities. Here, it was agreed that what was needed was a definition of ‘artisanal and small scale fisheries’. Also pressing are amended ‘rules of origin’ to make investment in ACP fish processing more attractive.
Organised with the help of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat, www.acpsec.org, the Commonwealth Secretariat, www.commonwealth.org, and Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Technische Zusammenarbeit, www.gtz.de.
