The Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT) organized from 22 to 24 February 2022, in Tangier (MOROCCO) a conference on “artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, major components of an inclusive socio-economic development”.
The objective was to draw the attention {of the public} to the importance and role played by small-scale fishermen, fish farmers and fisheries workers in the Region. During this meeting, the participants made a declaration, the text of which is given below.
DECLARATION
We, participants of the Conference on ” Artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, major components of inclusive socio-economic development ”, organized by ATLAFCO, in Tangier (Morocco)22- 24 February 2022
Celebrating the “International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture”, as decreed by the seventy-second session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly
A. Welcoming the proclamation of the year 2022, International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), which recognizes the strategic importance of these sectors, particularly in Africa, due to their strong contribution to food security and nutrition of populations, job creation and national wealth as well as their role as a safety net, particularly in favor of fishing communities.
B. Recalling that the IYAFA 2022 fits well with the Artisanal Fisheries Guidelines and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14b , which encourage the implementation of a legal, regulatory, political or institutional framework recognizing and protecting the rights access of small-scale fishermen to marine resources and markets;
C. Convinced than sustainable social development is essential to ensure inclusive sustainable development;
D. Referring to the Global Action Plan for IYAFA 2022 (referred to as the Global Action Plan) for the purposes of coordinating the development and implementation of activities for the International Year;
E. Taking into account ATLAFCO ‘s strategy for which artisanal fisheries and aquaculture constitute a major pillar for the sustainable development of the sector in the Region;
F. Concerned about the challenges still facing artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, exacerbated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which are hampering the release of their full potential and further weakening the already precarious situation of the communities that
depend on them;
G. Aware of the many threats generated by competition from other sectors included in blue economy strategies, which are financially and politically more powerful, such as oil and gas exploitation and mass tourism, which jeopardize the future of the artisanal fisheries and aquaculture ;
H. Convinced of the need to launch a global dynamic capable of strengthening the means of action of all actors involved in the important sector of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, in a sustainable perspective;
I. Welcoming achievements and successful experiences in building awareness, science-policy interface , stakeholder empowerment and partnerships in the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors;
Urge the various stakeholders, each in its own right, and for the purpose of a better contribution of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to poverty reduction, food and nutrition security and inclusive socioeconomic development, to promote and actively participate in the development and/or implementation of development strategies and management policies for artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, based on:
The right of access of small-scale fishermen to living aquatic resources and the granting of exclusive fishing rights in coastal areas, paying particular attention to the preservation of the biodiversity of coastal areas;
- The involvement and participation of artisanal fishers and fish farmers in decision-making in order to take into account their interests and take advantage of their endogenous knowledge, particularly in maritime spatial planning (MSP) to minimize conflicts between artisanal fisheries and aquaculture and other activities of the blue economy, the management of marine protected areas, surveillance, research and scientific monitoring of fishing and aquaculture;
- The promotion of regional cooperation for better harmonization of policies and effective management of shared ecosystems and living resources of artisanal fisheries;
- Strengthening the voice of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in international decisionmaking bodies on fisheries and aquaculture;
- Facilitation of market access local, national and international sources of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture products, guaranteeing fair and non-discriminatory trade, the removal of existing barriers, the strengthening of producer organizations and cooperatives and the promotion of fishing products and artisanal aquaculture by supporting participation in trade shows and fairs;
- Improving the artisanal fisheries and aquaculture value chain and their profitability by reducing physical and monetary losses or wastage on catches, applying quality, health safety and traceability standards, innovation and processing rewarding, boosting distribution and promoting direct human consumption;
- The creation of dedicated infrastructures offering integrated services to artisanal fisheries and aquaculture communities as development poles (structured landing points, fishing villages);
- Development and strengthening the resilience of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture communities by:
The establishment of safe and healthy working conditions and the improvement of safety at sea and the access of fishers, aqua culturists and their communities to social protection programs, in particular by proceeding with the ratification and implementation of relevant international conventions and standards (ILO Convention C188);
Putting in place the necessary measures to strengthen the resilience of artisanal fisheries communities to the effects of climate change and epidemics;
Support for women operating in artisanal fisheries and aquaculture for their social advancement through their empowerment through the application of the principles of the gender approach, promoting non-discrimination, access to education and training, technology, credit, entrepreneurship, services and fisheries infrastructure, as well as their effective participation in professional organizations and decision-making processes and bodies;
Raising awareness, training and support for artisanal fishermen and aqua culturists.
Done in Tangier, February 23, 2022