Report of the Expert Consultation on Small-Scale Fisheries Management in Sub-Saharan Africa - Accra, Ghana, 12-14 December 2001

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FAO.
Report of the Expert Consultation on Small-Scale Fisheries Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Accra, Ghana, 12-14 December 2001.
FAO Fisheries Report. No. 701. Rome, FAO. 2004. 21p.

ABSTRACT

The Expert Consultation on Small-Scale Fisheries Management in Sub-Saharan Africa was held in the FAO Regional Office for Africa, Accra, Ghana, from 12 to 14 December 2001. It was attended by 11 experts from nine sub-Saharan countries. Mr Thomas Maembe, Director of Fisheries, United Republic of Tanzania, was elected Chairperson of the Consultation.

The Consultation made a thorough review of management approaches employed in the small-scale fisheries in the region and found that Government institutional arrangements/management was prevalent compared to traditional and co-management systems. However, most countries operate all three in various combinations and in varying circumstances. In view of the analysis of the experiences with regard to procedure, achievements, constraints and lessons learnt, co-management emerged as a viable option for the present, and should be pursued into the future.

The Consultation recommended, inter alia, that FAO assist in formulating guidelines for the development and introduction of co-management. The guidelines should include appropriate indicators through which to measure progress of co-management at national and regional level.