CAOPA is a confederation of professional organizations (women and men) in the artisanal maritime and continental fisheries of Africa.
Since its creation, its main focus has been the promotion of sustainable artisanal fishing.
Creation and Membership
Created in 2010 in Banjul following annual meetings since 2000.
Officially recognized in 2013 by the Senegalese Government by Order No. 010046 of 01.07.2013 and published in the Official Gazette.
CAOPA Includes 26 Organizations from the following countries : Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Sierre Leone, Senegal, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, Uganda, Reunion (observer member).
Objectives
To stimulate an African dynamic for the development of sustainable artisanal fisheries for the well-being of artisanal fishing communities, and to contribute to the food security of the populations.
Main programmes
- Strengthening of Professional Organisations of Artisanal Fishing and Organizational Dynamics focused on transparency, democracy,
- Promotion of the role of women through policies to develop their activities;
- Define a programme for the creation of a single Federation of Professionals in the artisanal fisheries sector for each Member State;
- Adoption of a roadmap for the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries and the Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture Reform in Africa;
- Promotion of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI);
- Development of an action plan to support Protected Marine Areas in selected member countries;
- Mangrove sites restoration in some member countries.