23rd FAO Working Group on small pelagic stock assessment in northwest Africa meeting
25 June - 2 July 2024, Dakar, Senegal - The 23rd meeting of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Stocks in Northwest Africa was held at the headquarters of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Committee (SRFC) in Dakar, with the support of the EAF-Nansen Programme. It brought together experts to discuss and assess the region's fisheries resources.
The goal of this meeting was to provide an accurate and up-to-date assessment of small pelagic stocks, which are essential for the sustainable management of fisheries in the region. Using the most recent data and the most advanced assessment models, the experts formulated recommendations for sustainable management strategies for these pelagic resources.
In his opening remarks, Mr Khallahi Brahim, Permanent Secretary of the SRFC, underlined the importance of this meeting. "This working group is very important because it allows our countries to have up-to-date scientific information that will be used to make informed decisions for the well-being of all," said Mr Brahim.
The meeting was an important opportunity to share knowledge and formulate relevant recommendations on the sustainable management of stocks and the strengthening of regional cooperation in fisheries management in northwest Africa.
The participants also highlighted the need for greater regional cooperation to address common challenges and optimise conservation efforts. The recommendations made at the workshop should serve as a basis for the development of national and regional policies and action plans aimed at ensuring the effective and sustainable management of small pelagics.
In conclusion, this Working Group is important for the management of northwest Africa's fisheries resources, as the recommendations and strategies proposed will determine the future of the region's fisheries, thus contributing to the preservation of the marine ecosystem and the well-being of the people who depend on it.
The EAF-Nansen Programme is a longstanding partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Norway, executed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR).
The Programme is also one of the endorsed ‘Decade Actions’ under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).