The African Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA) received on March 25, 2022, at its headquarters in Mbour (Senegal), Ms. Anne S. Henshaw PhD, Environment Program Manager of the OAK Foundation and Ms. Justine Dossa of Ocenas5.
The objective was to discuss the possibility of collaboration between OAK and CAOPA in the implementation of CAOPA’s programs and projects, depending on the topics covered by OAK Foundation.
At the office of CAOPA, President Gaoussou after welcoming the delegation, he made the history of the creation of the continental organization, with 27 member countries. Mr. Gueye made it known that CAOPA has its own Charter which defines the rules to be followed for its composition (parity between men and women) and its good functioning. He stated the general objective of “boosting an African dynamic of development of sustainable artisanal fisheries for the well-being of artisanal fishing communities, and contribute to food security of populations.
Talking about the activities, Gaoussou GUEYE underlined that CAOPA focuses on two key events during the year: the International Women’s Rights Day (March 8) and the World Fishing Day (November 21). For each of these events, CAOPA organizes a two-day workshop on priority issues and the third day is devoted to the reading of a declaration on a fish processing site.
According to him, these are important moments that bring together the different sector actors and local authorities, to make advocacy to improve the working conditions of professionals.
The Côte d’Ivoire (Locodjro) was mentioned as a successful example. The site has been well developed, a nursery has been built to keep children in school.
The training, awareness-raising and popularization of the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries and the development of national action plans; the priorities of CAOPA for IYAFA 2022 were also on the discussion agenda. After this global presentation, Mrs. Anne Henshaw presented her organization created in 1983. OAK is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Oak Foudation commits its resources to solving global, social and environmental problems, especially those that have a major impact on the lives of disadvantaged people. OAK essentially covers six (6) programs: environment, housing, human rights, education, women’s issues, child sexual abuse.
She then appreciated the actions carried out by CAOPA before indicating that OAK is interested in activities related to artisanal fishing and the environment.
At the end of the fruitful exchanges, CAOPA’s team and the host delegation went to Nianing to meet the fishing communities.
Welcomed at the fisherman’s house of the said locality, the delegation stated the aim of the meeting: “to exchange with the coastal communities in order to collect difficulties they encounter in the exercise of their activities”.
In a meeting room of more than 50 participants (men and women), the floor was first given to the captains of the canoes.
The problems mentioned were, among others: training, equipment, lack of delimitation of fishing zones, conflicts between artisanal and industrial fishermen, too many licenses for industrial fishing, etc.
In terms of co-management, the Nianing fishermen pleaded for the status of supervisor, the capacity building of supervisors, their financial motivation, etc.
As for women of the Solidarity Fund of Nianing, they did not hesitate to praise CAOPA and its President Gaoussou Gueye for the support they have received since the beginning of their activities in 2014.
However, they are interested in strengthening their managerial capacity and management. And they want substantial funding to carry out their activities.
The potential partner took note and congratulated all actors for their various initiatives.
The meeting ended with a visit to the processing site of seafood products in Nianing and the landing quay.
COMMUNICATION Officer