1. The Consultation on Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone was organized in Bamako from 13 to 20 November 1974 to study the effects of the drought on Sahelian fisheries and formulate a general action programme for their protection and long-term development. This Consultation was also a review meeting of the Fisheries Mission financed by UNDP at the request of the Committee of Inland Fisheries for Africa of FAO (CIFA) which visited the following countries in the order given hereafter from 6 October to 12 November 1974: Niger, Dahomey, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.
2. It was recalled that CIFA was created by FAO under Article VI of its Constitution to provide to the Director-General of FAO and the member countries, an advisory intergovernmental body to facilitate the implementation of the FAO Programme in Africa as well as a regional cooperation for the development, utilization and protection of fishing resources in inland waters of Africa.
3. The Permanent Inter-State Committee for the Relief of the Drought in the Sahel (CILSS) and the Niger River Commission were the counterpart agencies for the FAO/UNDP Fisheries Mission and the Consultation on Fisheries Problems of the Sahelian Zone.
4. The following countries were represented by fisheries experts: Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Ethiopia, Upper Volta, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Chad. The following international organizations were also represented by experts: Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), the Permanent Inter-State Committee for the Relief of the Drought in the Sahel (CILSS), the United Nations Sahelian Office (UNSO), the Economic Community for West Africa (ECWA), the European Economic Community (EEC), the European Development Fund (EDF), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Reference is made to Annex 1, List of Participants.
5. The Consultation was opened by H.E. the Finance Minister of the Republic of Mali, Mr. Tiéoulé Konaté, who welcomed the participants. He explained that, even though suffering from the drought, Mali had accomplished much progress in fisheries development by creating an autonomous fishery management body thanks to the financial and material support received from the EDF. He stressed the importance of the programme against insect infestation, the need to develop training programmes at all levels, and to further research on the dynamics of the stocks. He assured the participants that Mali would put at the disposal of the Sahelian countries any common programme it had in the field of fisheries organization and development because of the large economic importance of the fish protein resources in the zone (Annex 2).
6. The UNDP Resident Representative in Mali, Mr. J.P. Schellenberg, in the name of the UNDP Director and the Director-General of FAO welcomed the Consultation participants. He mentioned the importance of the FAO/UNDP Fisheries Mission and of the review meeting. The rational management of the three large rivers and lakes basins of the Sahel must include, he said, the need in water of each user so that the maximum social benefit will result. It is, therefore, necessary that interested countries coordinate their fisheries development and management policies. CILSS and UNSO would ensure this coordination (Annex 3).
7. The Executive Secretary of CILSS, Mr. I. Konate, referred to the creation of CILSS in September 1973 whose purpose was to fight against the Sahelian drought through a grouped and unified development effort.
The coordinative role of CILSS should, he said, facilitate the formulation of development projects and speed up their implementation. He wished that a precise regional project to fully develop the fishery potential of the zone would materialize from the present effort (Annex 4).
8. The Agenda of the Consultation was approved (Annex 5).
9. Following tradition, the host country was asked to chair the Consultation in the person of Mr. J. Keita, Director of Waters and Forestry. Mr. B.F. Dada, Nigeria, was elected First Vice-Chairman and Mr. H. Loko, Dahomey, Second Vice-Chairman of the Consultation.
10. The discussion followed the order given in the timetable of the Consultation (document FPSZ/74/2) and is summarized hereafter in the same order.
11. Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Ethiopia, Upper Volta, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Chad submitted national reports (FPSZ/74/Inf. 2) most of which were discussed.
12. The documents of Mr. D. Winstanley (Precipitation-Climatology of the Sub-Sahara Zone -[10°–20° north] - FPSZ/74/6) and of Mr. Louis (The Great Basic Sources of Natural Energy -Insolation, precipitations) (FPSZ/74/7) were the basis of the discussion.
13. Mr. Winstanley analysed rainfall records from the beginning of the century for a large number of stations right across the zone. Variations of rainfall in time and space were described and related to climatic and atmospheric circulation conditions in other parts of the world. For the zone as a whole, there have been 5 major droughts this century, occurring at irregular intervals of from about 7 to 30 years: 1901–04; 1911–15; 1940–42; 1947–49 and 1968–73. Time series of rainfall data subjected to different methods of statistical analysis did not reveal regular cycles. The recent drought was most severe along the northern fringe of the Sahel zone and the severity decreased southward; along the Guinea coast, rainfall was above normal during the period 1968–73. Based on an analysis of historical data, Winstanley's forecast of rainfall for the zone as a whole would be average or above average for the next 5 years. It is highly probable that between about 1980 and 2000 there will be one or two other droughts affecting the entire zone.
14. Mr. Daget presented a paper by Mr. Louis on autoregulation of rainfall and the relationship between solar activity and rainfall at Maiduguri. This later relationship and the concept of autoregulation served as a basis for forecasting rainfalls at the Maiduguri station for 1974–75, and it could be used with respect to the whole Sahelian Zone. There was considerable discussion over the opposing views as to whether rainfall fluctuations are of fundamental importance in the socio-economic structure of the Sahel countries and further research should be encouraged.
15. Due to the importance of the rainfalls for the inland fisheries of the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, it is recommended:
that research on the climatology be systematically continued on the basis of the two conceptions above mentioned aiming at more precision in yearly meteorological forecasts;
that CILSS should notify WMO of the importance of climatic fluctuations to inland fisheries.
16. The documents of Mr. Lamagat (drought in the South-West African Sahel and its effects on the flood areas in the Niger, Senegal and Lake Chad Basins) (FPSZ/74/8) and of Mr. Choure and Mr. Lemoalle (Hydrological Evolution of Lake Chad during the drought) (FPSZ/74/9) were the basis of the discussion.
17. Since 1968, the climatic situation of the West African Sahel was featured by a generalized rainfall deficit which has been increasing from 1971 to 1973 inclusive. This drought period was a little less severe than those of the years 1910–14 or 1940–44, on a three- or five-year scale. Nevertheless, on a yearly scale, 1972 or 1973 seem to have been absolute records in the field of annual supply from the streams and mainly of minimum level flow.
18. Since 1968, the Senegal River is in deficit. The deficit for the module has been 28 percent in 1970, 22 percent in 1971, 66 percent in 1972 and about of the same order of magnitude in 1973. Since 1971, there was no noticeable overflow of the river.
19. For the Niger River, after a flood beyond the average in 1969, the deficits for the module at Koulikoro have been 28 percent in 1970, 18 percent in 1971 and 30 percent in 1972. The 1972 and 1973 floods have scarcely supplied the lakes on the left bank, Faguibine, Tele, Takara, Gouber. The right bank lakes have also been scarcely supplied. The Koraron was dry at the end of February as well as Lakes Garou and Haribongo fed by the Niangaye River. At mid-December 1972, in the Central Delta, only the triangle Diafarabe, Tenenkou, Guro-Modi had water. There was no overflow either in the Lake Debo area or in the areas located further downstream.
20. In the Lake Chad, a continuous lowering of the water level has been observed which worsened since 1968, the supplies of the last six years were all in deficit. Due to the decrease of water level, the Great Barrier was exposed at the level of Baga Kawa in June 1973 The area of the Northern Basin cut off water supply has rapidly decreased. The area of free water has dropped down to about 8 000 km2, i.e., one third of the 1964 area. There was no water in the Yaérés or floodplains either in 1972 or in 1973; during these years the Chari and Logone Rivers did not overflow.
21. However, it seems that during the 1974 rainy season rainfalls have been excedentary over the whole Sahelian Zone. It could be the same with the flow. As an example, the maximum of the Niger River at Koulikoro has been 10 percent (approximately) above the normal flow.
22. The reports of Mr. Daget (Biology of the Sahelian Fisheries, Annex 6) and the documents of Messrs. Stauch and Oji-Alala (Evolution of the Fisheries in the Lake Chad Basin during the last five years) (FPSZ/74/5) and of Mr. Fall (Evolution of the Fisheries in River Senegal (FPSZ/74/10), were the basis of the discussion.
23. Quantitative evaluation of the effects of the drought on fish production in the whole Sahelian area is difficult to make. In the basin streams themselves a very strong decrease of production has been recorded in 1973 while in the Lake Chad the production has noticeably increased. As in 1974, hydrolicity being close to the normal level, the reconstitution of the stocks does not seem endangered in any phase and should be reached in one or two years in all the natural waters communicating with the streams.
24. The importance of the exploitable stocks is closely related to the flooded areas every year during the flood period. A better knowledge of this relation would allow forecasting, one or two years in advance, the optimal tonnage that could be taken off from the stocks without endangering their reconstitution. For this purpose it is essential to have more complete and accurate statistics of production than those available and to start research on the dynamics of the exploited stocks. In order to reach these goals, it is necessary to consider the recruitment and training of medium and upper level officers whose number is too low or who are even non-existent in certain countries.
25. The Consultation strongly recommended that, in a regional fishery development for the Sahelian Zone an important place be given to the improvement of statistics, research on dynamics of stocks and training at all levels.
26. Owing to considerable differences within the Sahelian Zone in the historical interest of the countries in their fisheries, the quality of the records of fish production varies greatly. As it is nearly impossible to develop and manage fisheries without knowledge of the results of the programmes undertaken, it is essential to monitor the performance of these fisheries everywhere in the region. There is need for more reliable records of catches, effort expended in fishing, value of the production, the distribution and marketing of catch, and of imports and exports of fish and fishing gear. In addition, better records of the movements of fishermen are needed as their mobility is responsible for many changes in the local intensity of fishing and for many problems of international adjustment to or regulation of such movements.
27. Assistance in organizing and carrying out fishery monitoring programmes can be particularly effective in these river basins if provided on a regional basis. The fish, as well as some of the fishermen, are highly mobile and it is necessary to evaluate the condition of the stocks as well as the effects of any changes made locally to the river or the fisheries on a regional basis. Therefore, some standardization is highly desirable. If analysis, or, particularly, action is to be taken promptly, informal as well as formal exchange of such data must be facilitated.
28. The document of Mr. Welcomme (The Fisheries Ecology of African Floodplains) (FPSZ/74/4) was the basis of the discussion.
29. Because the fisheries of the Sahelian Zone are based in large measure on floodplains, it is useful to take into account the knowledge acquired in other areas which can form a framework for consideration of future development and management activities to be undertaken in the region.
30. The productivity of floodplains is closely related to the alternating cycles of flood and dry seasons. With respect to the aquatic component of the system, an increase in productivity, both of plants and invertebrates, is noted during the rising water phase. This falls off as the area flooded decreases and is minimal at low water. These changes in primary productivity induce variations in the fish populations. Thus, periods of high reproductive activity and growth and low mortality at high water alternate with periods of low growth, negligeable reproduction and high mortality at low water.
31. The existence of this cycle, and work carried out in othe regions of Africa, lead to the conclusion that the importance of the fish population is closely tied to the intensity of the flood régime. This is further confirmed by the nature of the between-year fluctuations in catch in several systems, including that of the Niger at Mopti. A close correlation can be noted between the catch in any one year and the intensity of flooding in the year or years immediately preceding it.
32. The close dependence of the fishery on the flood cycle is the focal point of possible conflicts between fisheries and other users of the floodplain (agriculture, cattle rearing, rice culture, etc.). For example, dry season agriculture may require the premature draining of the plain which, by control of the flood régime, may diminish the intensity and duration of the flood. Similarly, in several regions of Africa, dams have arrested the flood cycle altogether over considerable areas of plain downstream and the resulting losses of fish population are barely compensated for by the increased production of the reservoirs.
33. Actions may be possible to preserve a certain production from the reaches of river downstream from dams which might equally be used to increase yield from uncontrolled floodplains. One such is the rearing of fish in water retained by damming the small streams which drain the floodplain pools. This method, which retains water in the pools throughout the year, has been tried successfully in Nigeria and Senegal. The Consultation felt that this type of management has wide possibilities throughout the Sahel region and should be further elaborated within the framework of any project for the development of fisheries in the area.
34. For the above reasons, the Consultation was of the opinion that fisheries of floodplain must be considered as intimately connected with all other uses of the plain. Any planning for the development of such regions should therefore include the participation of fisheries personnel to enable the activities of this vital sector to be adequately represented.
35. It was also noted that knowledge of the ecological mechanisms underlying the productivity of these systems is very poor and that considerable further study on a continuing basis is needed for the adequate elaboration of management policies for such areas and for the protection of their stocks. The CIFA Working Party on floodplains was thought to be the appropriate mechanism whereby such studies could be coordinated at the continental and eventually the world level. It was therefore suggested that this Working Party be convened on a regular basis.
36. Discussion was based on a verbal presentation by Mr. Vincke and the statements of national reports that fishculture and, sometimes, fishculture in rice fields are considered by some countries as a means for increasing their resources of animal protein.
37. Intensive fishculture is possible and profitable only in the vicinity of urban centres and if the following conditions exist: enough water for supplying the ponds the whole year round; availability of cheap local agricultural by-products for feeding the fish; organic or mineral fertilizers at a competitive price; and finally, fish species suitable for such commercial rearing.
In certain cases, joint breeding such as pig-fish and duck-fish could be considered.
38. In the climatic conditions of the Sahelian Zone intensive fishculture cannot be contemplated because of the lack of regular supply of a good enough quality of water all the year. In certain countries, mainly Nigeria and Northern-Centre of Togo and Dahomey, some possibilities would exist but this should be ascertained by investigations in the field.
39. Fishculture in rice fields or fish farming in irrigated rice fields could also be practised if fry of suitable species was easily obtainable for such a farming operation.
40. Right now, we are faced with the problem of rehabilitation of the natural water bodies which were permanent and of the pools of the same type which dry completely. Such pools will again be full after the 1974 rainfalls but it will probably be necessary to restock them.
41. Dipping fry of valuable species should be forecast in the dams which are not yet stocked and also in those which are now being constructed.
42. For a better use of some of these water bodies, it would be necessary to contemplate the establishment of some small breeding stations for stocking fish. Others could probably be stocked from those of the existing stations which are not too far away from the spilling areas.
43. Temporary ponds and pools dry up at low water. However, it seems possible to manage those so that they can hold water a longer time and thus obtain a more important fish production. This type of management should be tried experimentally in a well selected place.
44. All the delegations intervened on the problems related to fish rearing. The main topics of the discussion were:
the lack of economical data that would convince the governments to give the necessary funds for developing fishculture. In this regard, it was reminded that profitability is good with joint pig-fish rearing in forest area. Yields of such fish farms could reach 4–10 tons/ha/year
concerning fishculture in rice fields, the example of Malagasy shows that important fish supplies increase in a substantial way the income of the farmers
fishculture of the family type as practised in the past has not given the expected results. If it is true that this form of fishculture after a spectacular development has declined during the years 1960–65, there is, however, evidence that this fishculture is profitable but only in the vicinity of urban centres where marketing of the fish is possible and at the following conditions: availability of valuable technical farming, utilization of suitable fish species and suitable implementation of modern fish rearing techniques, especially fish feeding, pond fertilization as well as rearing period. In this respect, FAO works completed at Bangui, Central African Republic are evidential
the possibilities for better exploitation of the dams, some natural permanent water bodies, temporary pools and ponds. Utilization of these waters for agriculture is possible but preliminary studies and management are necessary.
45. The report of Mr. Charbonnier (Fish Processing and Marketing, Annex 7) was the basis of the discussion. The participants as representatives of producing and consuming countries have shown interest concerning that problem.
46. It was emphasized that careful fish processing, storage, packaging and transport should warrant a sound and good quality product.
47. Concerning processing itself it seems that drying after salting the fish, well accepted in some countries, is disliked in others. In the Sahelian Zone smoking is impaired by the lack of wood. The Consultation was of the opinion that the smoking equipment has to be designed in such a way as to process the maximum fish with the minimum wood.
48. The participants have estimated that the control of insects infestation, which causes severe losses, should have priority. They were interested to hear of the results of laboratory experiments completed at Mopti by the “Opération Pêche” using two biodegradable pesticides: Bioresmétrine and Gardona. The technique consists in soaking the fresh fish in an appropriate solution of these pesticides during a certain time, then to dry them as usual. The experiments would have demonstrated a good protection of the fish against insects during a long period.
49. Some fear has been expressed concerning the toxicity of the pesticides utilized and the possible errors of dosage when, after the experimental stage, they will be directly used by the fishermen themselves.
50. At this point a participant suggested that it could be useful to make comparative studies of efficiency and cost between the pesticides and common salt which acts, as experiments have shown, as a necrophageous insect repellent.
51. The interest for a reduction of the marketing cycle of fish has been emphasized, considering that losses due to infestation are proportional to the duration of storage and transport. Difficulties in this regard have been underlined and one of the suggested measures was to recommend to the competent authorities to improve the networks of communication between production and consumption places.
52. Fishing technology was the subject of another discussion. It seems that, mainly since the introduction of nylon threads, the fishermen have acquired a great skill in fishing gear construction. However, from surveys made at the Lake Chad showing that the Lake is normally underexploited, the participants thought that fish technology in deep water and rivers should be emphasized to allow an intensification and an extension of the exploitation which is generally practised during low waters.
53. Difficulties for setting a regulation of the fishing gear have been underlined due to the different sizes of fish to be caught. The participants felt that the major constraint was the enforcement of this regulation since the staff devoted to this task are generally insufficient in number.
54. As a conclusion of the debate, the Consultation estimated that any fishery development planning should include fish processing and marketing as well as fish technology programmes.
55. Surveys carried out by FAO have shown that training at all levels ranks among the major requirements for fisheries development in Africa and more specifically in the Sahelian Zone, where problems arise which are different from other fisheries.
56. As far as training is concerned, there exists at Bouaké, the Ivory Cast, an Inland Fishery School with capacity for training about 10 fishery assistants and/or superintendents per year in courses of 10-month duration. The school is sponsored by the French organization Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT) and candidates from all French speaking countries must show a level of education corresponding at least to the French BEPC. Among the recommendations made for improving the programme of this school are the extension to 2 or 3 years duration of the courses and more emphasis on the practical aspect of inland fishery administration.
57. As regards the Central African Zone, a FAO/UNDP Project RAF/054 has trained from 1967–71 a number of fishery officers from C.A.R., Gabon, Congo and Cameroon. The project was headquartered at Bangui (C.A.R.) and it was giving courses of fishculture.
58. Based on the recommendations of this project a follow-up is now under consideration. Its purpose will be to train fishery officers of the Central African region in the discipline of both fishculture and inland fisheries.
59. On the basis of the findings of the mission which visited the Sahelian area in October/November 1974 it is now recommended: that a training school be established in one of the countries of the area. Mopti was suggested as the site of the school. It was further proposed that the training structure be divided into three categories, namely:
first, or lower level, for candidates with a primary education;
medium, or intermediary level, for candidates with a secondary education;
higher level, for candidates with a University degree.
60. The meeting agreed that candidates with a primary education intended for posts of attendants such as “Encadreurs” or “Moniteurs”, should be trained in their own countries by appropriate organizations to be set up by the governments concerned and that such a form of training should remain outside the responsibility of regional institutions.
61. There was an otherwise general agreement that students at the intermediary level intended for posts of fishery assistant and/or fishery superintendent should be trained in regional school.
62. The recommendation of the experts for the headquartering of this school at Mopti was considered favourably by the meeting.
63. The school could also specialize in training fishery officers at the higher level with a university degree for the Sahelian countries or even for other French speaking fishery officers outside the Sahelian Zone.
64. The recommendation for establishing such a training school at Mopti came from the fact that the sort of training available outside Africa or in the West African universities is not suitable and that the inland delta of Niger offers every natural condition for practical training at field level.
65. In regard to training of research officers with a B.Sc. or a M.Sc. and specializing in fishery biology, technology, economics and statistics, it is recommended: that a complementary training course of 1 or 2 years be given to them at the proposed Mopti school and that this period include fellowship tours to other institutions working in this field.
66. The theoretical and practical training to be given at Mopti for these specialists would be made possible if a Research Centre proposed by CILSS for the Sahelian Zone, whose importance was stressed by several delegates, was set up as a complementary institution of the proposed training centre.
67. Special mention should be made of the recommendation of the delegate from Nigeria that the institutions specializing in his country in fishery training could eventually be used for training of fishery officers from other countries. He proposed, in particular, that the training centre of Baga on the shore of Lake Chad be further assisted in order to be able to receive trainees at middle level.
68. In all countries concerned it will be essential that the personnel trained find employment. Consequently a preliminary survey of the requirements for fishery officers in the different countries should be made prior to define the size and detailed structures of the training centre.
69. The Consultation, in its discussion of the fishery administration, was concerned with the future of the trained personnel coming out of the proposed regional training centre. The Consultation expressed the wish that the fishery development programme of the region should benefit from consultant advice to help member countries, when necessary, to restructure the organization of the fisheries to ensure a place for the trained personnel.
70. The action programme of assistance to the fisheries of the Sahelian Zone was presented by Mr. Aubray of the FAO Operations Service (see Annex 8). It gave rise to numerous interventions. There was general agreement on the proposed programme by the participants and on the choice of Mopti as training centre.
71. Assistance for the training of monitors at home was stressed by some participants while others expressed the wish that consultant man/months in the first phase of the project should be used where possible to help realize ongoing national programmes.
72. Furthermore, matters connected with transport of fish (roads and motorization), the existing programme of the CTFT school at Bouaké, and within the area seminars should be closely studied in the first phase of the project.
73. The duration of the first phase of the project was established as 12 months. The Representative of Mali offered counterpart assistance to implement this first phase. Finally, it was unanimously recommended that UNDP, CILSS and UNSO, Ouagadougou, take the necessary steps to initiate immediately the first phase of the project.
CIFA MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE SAHELIAN ZONE
Cameroon
Chad
DIGUERA, B.
Chef
Inspection Eaux et Forêts
Sarh
Dahomey
LOKO, H.
Directeur des Pêches
B.P. 383
Cotonou
Ethiopia
KETSELA, Ato. K.
Director of Fisheries Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Addis Ababa
Ivory Coast
DIARRA, M.
Ingénieur Eaux et Forêts
Sous-Directeur Pisciculture et
Pêches continentales
Ministère de l'Agriculture
Abidjan
Mali
KEITA, J. (Liaison Officer)
Directeur
Service des Pêches
Bamako
KONARE, A.
Directeur Opération Pêche
Mopti
KONE, A.
Directeur-général adjoint
Service des Eaux et Forêts
Bamako
| COULIBALY, L. DIALLO, F. TEMBELY, A. LAMINE, H.A.M. DOGNY, J. TRAORE, B. KEITA, C. | Service des Eaux et Forêts Bamako Mali |
Mauritania
GUELEM, T.
Chef du Service des Pêches
Ministère de Planification et
Développement Industriel
Nouakchott
Niger
NAJADA, I.
Directeur Forêts
Niamey
Nigeria
DADA, B.F.
Chief Planning Officer
Federal Fisheries Department
PMB 12529
Lagos
Senegal
FALL, A.O.
Ingénieur
Responsable Pêches
Service Forêts
Développement Rural
Dakar
Sudan
Upper Volta
OUEDRAOGO, I.
Chef, Service Pêches
Direction Service Forestier et Environnement
Ministère Plan et Développement Rural
B.P. 7044
Ouagadougou
REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
Lake Chad Basin Commission
B.P. 727
N'Djamena
Chad
N'GARAM, A., Director, Fish. Div.
Economic Community for West Africa (ECWA)
B.P. 643
Ouagadougou
Upper Volta
SOW, A.
Chef, Bureau Communautaire des produits de la pêche
GOVERNMENT COOPERATING AGENCIES
Inter-State Committee for the Control of the Drought in the Sahelian Zone (CILSS)
Ouagadougou
Upper Volta
KONATE, I.
Executive Secretary
Niger River Commission
B.P. 729
Niamey
Niger
UNITED NATIONS SAHEL OFFICE (UNSO)
B.P. 366
Ouagadougou
Upper Volta
PLACKTOR, P.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
European Economic Community (EEC)
Bruxelles
Belgium
BERTRAND, M.
European Development Fund, Mali
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Geneva
Switzerland
LAMAGAT, J.P.
ORSTOM, Mali
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
NADEAU, J.
CIDA Representative
Bamako, Mali
PROULX, A.
Economist
WINSTANLEY, D.
Climatologist
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)
CORDONE, A.
UNDP Representative
866 United Nations Plaza
New York, N.Y., 10017
SCHELLENBERG, J.-P.
UNDP Resident Representative
Bamako, Mali
FAO/UNDP Projects
Fishculture Training and Research Project
Bangui, Central African Republic
VINCKE, M.J.
Project Manager
Fisheries Project
Mopti
SZABO, A.
Fish Processing Technologist
RAIMONDO, P.
In charge of training (PROPESCA, Italy)
Fishery Development Northeastern State
Maiduguri, Nigeria
STAUCH, A.
FAO Fishery Officer
Lake Kossou Fishery Development Programme
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
COCHE, A.
Project Manager.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
FANFANT, R.
FAO Country Representative
Bamako
Mali
WEST, W.-Q.B.
Regional Fishery Officer
FAO Regional Office for Africa
Acora, Ghana
Department of Fisheries
Fishery Resources and Environment Division | HENDERSON, H.F. Senior Fishery Resources Officer |
Aquatic Resources Survey and Evaluation Service | WELCOMME, R.L. Fishery Biologist (Floodplains) |
| Operations Service | AUBRAY, R. Project Operations Officer |
| RUDE, G. Administrative Assistant | |
| Consultant | DAGET, J. ORSTOM 24 rue Bayard Paris 8è, France |
| Policy and Planning Service | CHARBONNIER, D. Fishery Officer |
Secretariat
Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) | GAUDET, J.-L. Secretary | |
| CORBET, Mrs. F. Bilingual Stenographer | ||
| Translator | CHAUX, J.-L. - Rome, Italy | |
| Interpreters | CURTIS, M. FARRELL, P. PHILLIPS, O. CARASSO, | - France (Team Leader) - Italy - NigeriaG.H. - France |
| Interpretation Technicians | AMEDONE, E.J.K. MALLET, L.R. “Radio Ghana Corporation” Accra, Ghana | |
| Local Assistance | GAUDREAU, Mrs. L. WACHOWIAK, Mrs. M. DELORME, Mrs. L. | |
Mr. UNDP Resident Representative in Mali, Mr. Secretary of the Inland Fisheries Committee for Africa, Messrs. Delegates, Honourable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me to chair, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Mali, the Opening Ceremony of the Intergovernmental Consultation on Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone.
May I first welcome all the delegates, delegates of brother African countries, as well as international and national organizations for aid and cooperation. It is always a moment of happiness and encouragement for a Malian to welcome African delegations coming to discuss interests of Africa. The geopolitic conditions have certainly made us convinced supporters of an African construction focussed on Africa and the topic we shall deal with today, and which will be the subject of your discussions, is a topic exclusively focussed on Africa. In effect, the Inland Water Fish are caught by Africans, marketed by Africans and are almost exclusively consumed within the region, mainly by the rural populations. This is the reason why the Government of the Republic of Mali wishes to emphasize fisheries problems.
It is also why our Government thanks and congratulates deeply and sincerely the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the opportune initiative of organizing this Consultation.
We thank also the United Nations Development Programme for having accepted to finance the holding of such a meeting.
Both international organizations demonstrate their desire to help the African countries to solve their basic problems, namely: rational organization of natural resources exploitation to fill the actual needs of the African populations.
Messrs. delegates, during some ten days, in your capacity of experts, you will discuss the problems of inland fisheries in the Sahelian Zone. In doing so you will be helped by the large experience accumulated over the years by the different governments who have had to undertake concrete actions in favour of fisheries activity development. I ask you to analyse and criticize these actions in order to determine the bottlenecks to be cleared. Certainly you will analyse the fisheries problems under a new light; this one of the years of drought. You will observe that these years of drought have had a nefast impact on resource stocks.
Analysing briefly the case of the Malian fisheries, I will tell you that our country has made great progress in the field of fisheries development, fisherman training and promotion of fish marketing. Our country has undertaken a vast programme for fighting the wastage of the catches with important support from the European Development Fund (EDF). We have developed and begun to popularize techniques for the control of insects which deteriorate the fish. This waste represents 30 to 40 percent of the losses and was the main bottleneck in 1965–66. We strongly desire to resume EDF action in order to consolidate the gains and start real fisherman training.
The implementation of this programme of waste control has shown two other bottlenecks:
the lack of a training institution at a sufficient level and adapted to our specific conditions. With the help of the technical assistance supplied by EDF, we have established a service of base framing which is competent and active while administrators and fisheries managers at an upper level are clearly lacking. The situation is the same for technical and scientific framing;
knowledge at the level of the stocks and their dynamics, without which it is illusory to act on the fishing effort, i.e., to establish a really adapted legislation to a correct fisheries management.
The Government of the Republic of Mali has decided to clear both bottlenecks in the future. It is ready to do so with international help and in cooperation with other African countries facing similar problems. It is ready to give its modest cooperation to any country desiring to take advantage of its experience. All its gains in the field of fishery organization and promotion will be put at the service of any common action of the Sahelian countries.
The Government of the Republic of Mali considers that good management of the fish resources from its inland waters is of a high priority because these resources constitute one of the main protein intakes in the food of the populations. It is also convinced that any investment in the develpment of fisheries must be beneficial because this is a very dynamic sector of activity.
I cannot conclude without exhorting you, Messrs. delegates, to think deeply on the present needs of the African inland fisheries. I trust that, from your discussions, a comprehensive programme of action will arise for a harmonious development of the Sahelian fisheries.
Thank you.
It is an honour for me, on behalf of the Director of the United Nations Development Programme and of the Director-General of the FAO, to welcome you to this Consultation on Fisheries Problems in the Sahel.
As you are no doubt aware, this Consultation has been organized by the FAO Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA), under the auspices of the UNDP. It will consider the findings of a fisheries mission to the Sahelian countries which has covered about ten countries since the beginning of October 1974. The UNDP, when it answered the appeal from the CIFA for an emergency mission in the field of inland fisheries, did so for the following very definite reasons:
on the one hand, the great African rivers and lakes in the Sahel region are, to a large extent, in the area which has most suffered from the effects of the drought;
on the other hand, the obvious possibility of using to the hilt the fish protein existing on the spot and of protecting its exploitation. This was all the more urgent since the damages caused by the drought to the livestock, cattle and sheep, which it will take a great deal of time to palliate, made it absolutely essential to take urgent measures to improve the moral and physical conditions of the population of the Sahelian region, both in the immediate and in the long term.
This is why it was agreed that the fisheries mission would have a double objective, namely to estimate the damages caused by the drought in the areas of the Sahel where there is fishing activity and to prepare a regional programme of actions for the protection and long-term development of fishing in an area historically poor in animal protein; a situation rendered all the more serious in drought years.
Strangely enough, only a few of us up to now really understood the importance and the possibilities of fishing in the area situated immediately below the southern extremity of the Sahara. A look at the situation as a whole shows us that between the tenth and fifteenth parallels, there is a vast region covered with a network of very large rivers, numerous streams and several lakes. This region is divided into three large basins, that is, the Senegal, Niger and Chad Basins. As an indication, statistics show that this area, with a population of some 20 million inhabitants produces - under normal conditions - approximately 300 000 tons of fresh fish. This represents a very important contribution of protein of excellent quality, a good part of which is consumed locally. We also know that the production from this area is much appreciated throughout the whole of west Africa, whether Banda or Salanga, or in the recently presented form of smoked Nile perch or in pellets.
The biologists present here inform us that more than 120 species of fish inhabit the rivers and lakes of these three large basins. They further assure us that fish production depends to a large extent on the abundance and surface of the floodplains during the flood season. These plains represent rich pasture land for the reproduction and raising of fish. This is a very important biological factor.
It is also obvious that the rivers in the Sahel region play an important part in a number of economical activities besides fisheries: in particular, agriculture with its draining projects, flood control and irrigation works; and then the supply of electrical energy with the building of dams and reservoirs; and lastly, all industrial and domestic uses and the dangers connected with pollution.
Not only are these activities in conflict with each other but also, through the changes they create in the ecosystem, they often threaten the survival of the fish stocks needed for the fisheries, both artisanal and commercial.
It should therefore be noted, according to the best informed scientific opinion, that any intervention which modifies the water regime by narrowing the area of the floodplains or diminishing the length of flooding, can only give rise to a decrease in fish production.
There is, however, no doubt in my mind that the reasonable development of the three great river and lake basins in the Sahel region must take into account the water needs of each class of consumer so that it may be profitable, to the greatest possible extent, to social welfare. With this in view, it is therefore essential for the countries involved to coordinate their development strategy and intergrated development of fisheries.
The United Nations, as much as the countries directly involved, attach great importance to the integrated development of the three large basins in the Sahel region. The creation of the Inter-State Committee for Drought in the Sahel (CILSS) in 1973, the programme adopted by the first meeting of the heads of member states of the CILSS at Ouagadougou in September 1973, the project inventory (Compendium) prepared by a United Nations multi-agency mission under the direction of the special office for the Sahel and lastly, the opening of the liaison office for the Sahel in Ouagadougou in September 1974, are undeniable proofs.
It is true that until now fisheries development occupied a negligible place in the integrated planning of economic activities in the Sahel. Fortunately, however, the FAO/UNDP mission which preceded this Consultation, and the presence here of nearly all the Directors of Fisheries in the countries of the Sahel, put the fishing industry back into its right perspective. It is undeniable that for certain countries of the Sahel, such as Mali, Chad, Niger and Senegal, the fishing industry occupies a vital place in the economy of the region comparable, very often, to that of livestock.
Let us therefore hope that this Consultation crowns the efforts of the FAO/UNDP mission and that it achieves its objectives, that is to say, the preparation of a concrete plan of action for the protection and development of inland fishing in the Sahel region which has suffered so much.
Mr. President, Mr. Resident Representative of the UNDP, Excellencies, Gentlemen,
Since the aims of the Mission, as well as the fundamental objectives of the present Consultation have been defined by yourself, Mr. President, and by the Resident Representative of the UNDP, I would like, on behalf of the CILSS which, together with the Niger River Commission, is the principal cooperating agency, to thank first of all the Government of Mail for having kindly accepted to house this meeting. I would also thank those countries, intergovernmental and international organizations, who have kindly made available to the Mission experts and scientists of world fame. My thanks also go to the non-member countries of the CILSS who have accepted to take part in this Conference.
Given the social, economic and nutritional importance of fishing in our countries, I would like to take the liberty of expressing two wishes:
first of all, to see a definite regional programme set up with the aim of revalorizing the fisheries potential in our region, covering technological, production and training aspects;
I should also like to see neighbouring countries taking an interest in this project in order to give concrete reality to the fact that our countries of the Sahelian and Sudan-Forest areas are naturally and economically complementary.
Opening of the Consultation
Adoption of the Agenda and Arrangements for the Consultation
Election of officers for the Consultation
General Review of the Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone
Action Programme for the Protection and Development of Fisheries in the Context of the Economic Priorities of the Sahelian Zone
Other Matters
Adoption of the Report
by
J. Daget
Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique
d'Outre-Mer (ORSTOM)
24 rue Bayard, Paris 8è, France
For a clear understanding of the influence of the drought on fish stocks and yields in the Sahelian Zone, the following two principles should be remembered:
the denser the fish populations the easier is the fishing and the higher are the catches per unit of effort. Consequently, the decrease in water volume due to the drought has, to begin with, produced an increase in catch (weight), mainly in the underexploited water bodies;
as reproduction and growth of the young fishes of many species takes place currently in the flooded areas at high waters, any decrease in the area of these zones and in the duration of submersion implies, for the following year, a decrease in the biomass (existing tonnage), smaller recruitment, smaller size fish and scarcity of some species.
The present situation must be analysed sector by sector.
The effects of the drought on Lake Chad have been studied by the N'Djamena ORSTOM research scientists who have been checking the evolution of the stocks and of the fisheries since 1964, and by the Federal Fisheries Service of Nigeria, which controls the commercialized tonnages passing through Maiduguri since 1969. From 1963 to 1968–70, the total production of the Lake has increased from 21 000 to 38 000 tons; since 1969–70, mainly due to the decrease of water volume in 1972 and 1973, the production shows a rapid increase up to 135 000 tons in 1973–74. This increase was noticeable mainly in the northern basin of the Lake which has been isolated since April/May 1973 and the level of which is constantly decreasing. In five years, its production has been multiplied by four while, during the same period, production in the southern basin has only multiplied by 2.6. These figures are indicative of the general evolution of the fisheries but they are certainly underestimated in absolute value. They are evaluated in terms of tons of fresh fish utilizing an average conversion coefficient of 3 (3 tons of fresh fish for 1 ton of Banda or Salanga), somewhat less than the real coefficient and not taking into consideration the autoconsumption-always difficult to evaluate in figures. However, the latter has increased considerably due to the increase of the number of Lake fishermen, particularly in the northern basin.
On the contrary, in the stream network, particularly the Chari Delta, production has decreased considerably, the Yaérés not having been flooded in 1972 and 1973. In a 12-km long sector between Ndjameria and the Lake, during the last four months of the year, the controlled production of the large mesh drifting gillnets was 916 tons in 1971, 404 tons in 1972 and 70 tons in 1973, which means 13 times less due to the migration to the Lake of almost all the fishermen.
The four states around the Lake have been affected differently by these rapid changes in production. In the Cameroons zone, yielding have much decreased; in the Nigerian and Nigerien zones they have increased considerably and in the Chad zone, which is part lake, part streams, they have decreased in very noticeable manner. However, if the whole conventions basis is considered, it cannot be said that the drought has had disastrous effects on fisheries which never reached such high production figures before. This is due to the existence of very important stocks in the Lake and to the fact that intensive exploitation has been made not only possible, but also necessary by the lowering of the water level. In fact, all the fish isolated in the northern basin, which produced more than 100 000 tons in 1973–74, would have disappeared through natural mortality if they had not been fished. Massive mortality can occur in shallow waters when wind storms cause suspension of bed sediments and liberate the toxic or reductive products which were mixed with them. Large quantities of Tilapia have been lost in this manner. There has not therefore been any abusive exploitation because, due to the lack of animal proteins in these regions, it would have been regrettable to leave this recoverable protein unused as otherwise it would have disappeared with no profit and this is what would have happened if, in the northern basin, there had not been intensive fishing.
Concerning the future of fisheries in the Chad Basin, the following facts should be noted. The 1974 flood, if it does not reach the average calculated for the period 1932–66, has been sufficient to flood a great part of the Yaérés and allow fairly normal reproduction of the different species in the stream. The level of the southern basin is rapidly increasing the southeastern archipelago will receive water and it can be forecast that migrations will resume. It is likely that a certain volume of water will pass over the Great Barrier and feed the northern basin but this volume will not be sufficient to prevent another general decrease in level in that basin in 1975. Stocks should therefore continue to be exploited, using all the means available to the fishermen at the present time. In the stream network of the delta and the southern part of the Lake, where there are few fishermen, the stocks, this year, will have the opportunity of partial reconstitution and, next year, of feeding fishermen in the areas which are now neglected. Obviously, the future of these stocks will depend on the 1975 flood and the following ones, the magnitude of which cannot be forecast. However, the future has to be considered with a certain optimism taking into account the three following remarks:
Lake Chad has already been submitted to drought periods such as the present one. None of the species existing in the Chad Basin are threatened to disappear because of these cyclic phenomena.
All the species of economic importance have a strong resilience, that is to say they are able to restock rapidly all the environments as soon as they receive water and their normal productivity is re-established.
The example of Lake Chilwa shows that in tropical countries fish stocks are very rapidly restored. In 1955 and 1966 this Lake produced 9 800 and 8 000 tons. In two years, production has dropped to almost nothing, the Lake being almost completely dry: 3 600 tons in 1967 and 100 tons in 1968. In 1969, just after water had come back, 3 200 tons were fished. It is probably a similar evolution that will occur in the northern basin where it is probably that production will decline rapidly in 1975 to increase as fast as it decreased as soon as this basin is fed normally.
In the Upper Volta, the supply of fresh fish checked at Ouagadougou (morning market only), at Banfora and at Diebougou is known for the years 1971–73:
| 1971 (kg) | 1972 (kg) | 1973 (kg) | |
| Ouagadougou | 86 088 | 87 567 | 88 267 |
| Banfora | 22 396 | 22 846 | 25 465 |
| Diebougou | 19 063 (+4 480) | 13 409 | 7 642 (+600) |
For Diebougou, the figures between brackets correspond to the amounts sent to Bobo Dioulasso and the 1971 total of 19 063 kg corresponds only to one month, the supplies not having been checked in October. On the whole, the supply of fish to Ouagadougou and to Banfora were affected by the drought up to the end of 1973. At Diebougou, however, the marketable quantities coming from the Bougouri-Ba have decreased at the rate of 3:1 in 2 years (monthly averages 2 140 kg in 1971 and 687 kg in 1973).
In the Niger Basin some statistics show the effects of the drought have varied according to the previous rate of exploitation. In an area strongly fished like the one supplying fresh fish to Mopti, there was a drastic decrease in 1973. While the average was 1 254 tons since 1966, and in 1972 1 103 tons were still recorded, in 1973 the production dropped to 289 tons in 10 months or 28 tons per month in 1973 instead of 90 tons in 1972 and 104 tons average during the previous years. The ratio of the decrease was therefore 3.5:1. At Niamey, where fishing is less intensive, the average was about 500 tons, in 1972 the production of fresh fish checked on the market reached 602 tons (50 tons per month), in 1973 from January to July, monthly production was kept at 50 tons and it is only in 1974, from May to September, that a slight decrease was noticed, down to 37 tons per month.
The trade of dried or smoked fish, coming from the whole of the Middle Niger, according to figures supplied by Mopti, already showed a definite decrease in 1971 and 1972 which was not due to the drought. Since 1972 to 1973, commercialized tonnages have decreased at a 1.3:1 ratio only for the domestic market and at a 1.9:1 ratio for exports. For 1974 a commercialized tonnage, half of the 1973 one, is forecast but production should increase in 1975.
Total tonnage (dried and smoked) shipped from Mopti (in tons)
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | |
| Domestic market | 6 048 | 4 975 | 5 005 | 3 819 |
| Export market | 5 148 | 3 868 | 2 850 | 1 514 |
| Total | 11 196 | 8 843 | 7 855 | 5 333 |
| Fresh equivalent weight | 33 588 | 26 529 | 23 565 | 16 000 |
The evaluation made by the Fisheries Service and the CTFT in the Senegal Basin allow calculation of the effects of the drought on production. For example, the marketing statistics at Richard Toll and Dagana mention 1 031 tons in 1973 against 2 700 tons in 1972 and 2 900 tons in 1973. These figures include fresh fish and dried fish expressed in fresh fish equivalent (× 3) but autoconsumption by fishermen is neglected. The decrease from 1972–73 ranges from 2.6 to 1 which is comparable to the one recorded in the other basins. However, for the whole of the Senegal Basin, production has dropped to almost nothing due to over-fishing of the stocks since 1969, the cause of which was an abusive use of large seines with small mesh size and this had justified the implementation of a regulation limiting the destructive effects of these seines. Either this regulation had not been implemented with the necessary severity, or the drought impaired its effects; the Fisheries Service has estimated the total production at 12 000 tons in 1973. However, an OERS report states that in 1968 the production on both banks of the middle and inferior course of the river reached 30 000 tons. These figures seem to be acceptable and they correspond to a decreased ratio of 2.5:1 in five years. From 1972–73 the production of Lake Guiers dropped from 912 tons to 343 tons and that of the Upper Delta from 6 341 tons to 3 687 tons, which means, for the whole of both sectors, a global decrease of 7 373 to 4 030 tons at a ratio of 1.8:1.
The 1974 flood and the rise of Lake Guiers' level are favourable factors for the reconstitution of exploitable stocks. However, taking into account their degradation over a period of some years and the difficulties in implementing efficiently the regulations specified by the Senegalese and Mauritanian authorities, it is to be feared that reconstituti of the stocks will take more time and be more difficult in the Senegal Basin than in the other basins of the Sahelian Zone affected by the drought.
The effects of the drought on fish stocks vary according to the geographic area and the level of previous exploitations. The whole Senegal Basin has been the most affected. The Niger and Volta Basins have been affected to a lesser degree while the Chad Basin had an increased production. However, in the Sahelian areas the future of fisheries is not endangered because rapid reconstitution of the stocks can be expected as soon as the ecological conditions will allow this to happen. Hydraulicity of 1974, close to the average, has brought water to the floodplains and a fairly normal reproduction. Signs of restoration of the situation are already noticeable mainly in the Mopti area where big fish have appeared again. The situation would have worsened rapidly had a third exceptionally dry season followed those of 1972 and 1973. Consequently, the opinion of the expert is that the establishment of fish farms for restocking natural water is not justified. These areas are not suitable for the installation of fry producing stations which could be only regularly supplied with water through very expensive pumping. The investment and running costs would be very high and the results more than dubious. Dumping fry into waters where there is already a diversified population in a natural equilibrium does not necessarily bring a rise in production in proportion to the expenses involved.
However, restocking is necessary in closed waters where fish population have disappeared due to the drought as well as in the reservoirs having naturally no fish species of interest for fishing. The best and cheapest solution would be to request fry from the existing fish farms in more humid areas (Ivory Coast, South Nigeria, South Cameroons), the fry belonging to species adapted to Sahelian conditions such as Tilapia nilotica, Heterotis niloticus, Lates niloticus, Clarias lazera. No technical problems arise as regards transport by truck, airplane or helicopter for long distances, the fish being dumped gently in the water body to be restocked.
The clearest effects of the drought for a biologist were to demonstrate the importance of certain stocks underexploited for a long time. Now the problem giving some trouble is to know to what extent exploitation of these stocks can be continued without endangering their reconstitution and in relation to the very variable hydraulicity from one year to another in the Sahelian Zone. The solution to this problem needs surveys and research at two levels:
At the level of production statistics, more complete and accurate than the present ones which concern only certain marketing centres. These production statistics can be established by medium level officers as they are already in some countries. Where there are none, or where they are in insufficient numbers, their training or reconversion does not seem to raise difficulties.
At the level of the dynamics of the exploitable stocks, research may be long and difficult and should be undertaken by specialists or higher grade officers having an adequate university training and working in relation with research centres or institutes already existing or to be established. Such a centre exists at N'Djamena for the Chad Basin. It is financed now by French bilateral aid. Its infrastructure is sufficient but it would be useful to extend and support its activity in the fields interesting directly the study of exploitable stocks. A similar centre would be desirable for the Niger River and its floodplains. It could use the infrastructure already existing in Mali and also, probably, for the training of local upper grade officers, the University of Abidjan and a Nigerian university, where the teaching on aquatic ecology and applied biology could be oriented to inland fisheries.
Fish production in the Sahelian areas could be increased through a better controlled and more rational exploitation of the existing stocks. This could be done also by the equipment of some natural pools or some dams. The biology expert hopes that the flood areas may be mapped accurately and that a very rigorous study of the relation between these areas, the curves of river floods and fish production will be made. Also, he hopes that in each hydro-agriculture development project, a fish biology expert will be consulted, in order to foresee the equipment which would allow all the flood areas which are not suitable for agriculture to be reserved for fish production.
by
D. Charbonnier
Fishery Officer, FAO
In the African Sahelian area, fish processing and marketing are conditioned by the essential following factors:
Sahelian climate is warm and almost always dry, this allows the practice of drying processing practically all around the year.
Climatic conditions are profitable also to smoking as they restrain rehydration of the product.
On the other hand, the Sahelian climate is unfavourable to fish keeping because it favours the pullulation of insects which attack the prepared product. In tropical regions this fact raises acute difficulties (the percentage of loss due to insects can be very high) which are unknown by stockfish producers in some cold areas of Northern Europe or America.
Fish smoking is nevertheless impaired by scarcity of wood in many areas of the Sahelian Zone.
Fish processing done on a family scale costs practically nothing, handpower being supplied by the members of the family. The only expenses to be foreseen sometimes are the cost of wood and of salt in some cases.
More sophisticated methods than the current ones need investments which should be compensated by an increased value of the product or by a decrease in losses which implies a greater profit. Such establishments cannot be foreseen except in large fish collection centres.
The unloading sites for fish are extremely dispersed and mobile, making collection difficult.
They are, particularly in the case of fish in floodable areas, far from the big marketing centres. Apart from this, roads connecting the unloading sites with those where the fish is consumed are practically non-existent. The fishermen are, therefore, obliged to keep the treated fish in their camps for long periods thus favouring its degradation by insects.
Methods of distribution of fresh or frozen fish depend closely on conditions indicated in (vii) and (viii), and which specify the severe limitations of this type of marketing.
It is, finally, necessary to underline the fact that a considerable amount of the fish caught in the Sahelian Zone is exported to countries with a high hygrometry, located south of this region. This implies very particular preservation qualities and duration required for the product.
It is within this framework, defined and limited by these various factors, that measures to valorize the fish industry can be foreseen, bearing, at the same time, on improvement of its products and increase in the tons weight put into commercial circuits. In most cases, these measures should be applied:
At the level of the fishermen's camps
In relation to the drying, smoking, and eventually the salt drying (which however is not yet habitually used in the Sahelian Zone), stacking and efforts to combat predatory insects.
At the level of collection centres
The aim would be to completely destroy the insects and to perfect the quality of the product prepared in the camps. In some cases the techniques which cannot be applied in the camps could be envisaged (collection of fresh fish, special preparations of this fresh fish).
At the marketing level
At least as far as it affects the length and quality of preservation of fish products.
In the light of these general considerations, we would summarize hereafter the findings of the mission during its stay in the various Sahelian countries. The first paragraph will be devoted to Mali which alone constitutes an illustration of the problems facing the Sahelian fishing industry.
Fishing is one of the principal activities of the Malian economy, with a production of about 100 000 tons a year (fresh weight) before the drought period. The greater part of this production is exported, either dried or smoked, to the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and, to some extent, Upper Volta.
The Malian Government has set up, in order to favour expansion in this field of activity, an organization called “Operation Fish”, having authority over the whole of the fishing industry.
Further, a three-year project, financed by the EDF, entitled “Development of Fishing in Mali”, is operational since 1971. The programme (Mal.F. 1 181 000 are still to be paid by the EDF) includes the following actions:
extension, in the fishermen's camps, of more functional techniques for drying and smoking the fish, for combatting insects, and for stocking;
maintenance of motors for the boats;
research on problems connected with more intensive exploitation of the Niger waters, and experiments on variation of the forms of production and marketing (fresh fish, fillets of smoked fish, canning, etc.);
improvement, enlargement or building of installations in the principal marketing centre of Mopti or the secondary ones of Dioro, Gao and Dire;
extension and professional training of middle-level personnel of the Fish Operation.
Lastly, a three-month study of the possibility to make and commercialize in Mali a protein-rich concentrate from fresh fish is foreseen for 1975 under the auspices of a cooperative programme FAO/NORAD (Norwegian International Development Agency). This will be accompanied by acceptability tests on the protein concentrate.
Almost all the fish caught in Lake Chad is marketed dried or smoked. Exports are made, by the countries surrounding the Lake, to the Central African Republic and, above all, to Nigeria.
A study, financed by the French fund for Aid and Cooperation has been carried out by the CTFT with a view to developing fishing in Lake Chad between 1962 and 1973. The part of the study of “Fish technology” concerns the preparation of a salted and dried product; the wood required for smoking is, in fact, rarely found in the region of the Lake and the populations along the coast of Nigeria are already used to consuming salt-dried fish which is distributed to them under the name of “stockfish”.
It seems that the experiment has been successful: the fish, salt-treated for 24–36 hours (10 percent of its weight in salt), then hung up for drying for 5 or 6 days after a quick rinse, keeps perfectly for long periods, is dry and free from insects. It also seems to have been well received by certain consumers; the Lake Chad Commission has recognized the interest of this preparation and has tried to diffuse it in the member countries. We are not yet in a position, however, to say whether this presentation will receive the success hoped for or if its impact on the price of salt, particularly high in the Sahelian Zone, will not have an adverse effect on the price of the finished product.
It seems, however, that big efforts should be made to produce salt-dried fish which adds to its qualities of taste, often appreciated, remarkable keeping properties and resistance to insects.
The problems of these two countries, which exploit the middle course of the Niger, are similar: fresh fish is marketed as far as this is possible and the fish which cannot be sold in this way is smoked.
An FAO/UNDP 18-month fishery development project is now operating in Niger. It foresees, for each country, the presence of a specialist in preservation and treatment of fish as well as fellowships in these subjects.
A 3-year project for “Development of Forest Resources, Wildlife and Fishing”, has just been set up for execution by the FAO/UNDP.
As regards the section “Fish technology”, the project foresees a study of ways of improving treatment of fish products and organization of the marketing of fresh and treated fish. At present, the fish captured near centres is sold fresh, the rest being simply grilled and smoked.
The problems facing these two countries as regards preserving and marketing of fish captured in the Senegal River and its hydrographic network are of the same kind: dispersion of the fishing sites and difficulty in preparing well preserved products. The fish which cannot be sold fresh is simply dried.
However, there does not seem to be a project at this time which aims at palliating these difficulties.
A UNDP 5-year project called “Fishing Training and Development, Province of Upper Nile, southern region” (TF/SUD/19-DEN) should start in 1975. The aim is to improve fish production by training and improved methods of fishing and fish processing.
1. As a result of the mission of FAO experts to 8 countries of the Sahelian Zone and the discussions held in Bamako in November 1974, a programme of action was suggested which consists in the establishment at Mopti in the Central Delta of the Niger River of an Inland Fishery Development Centre for the Fishery of the Sahelian Area. The purpose of the centre will be to:
train middle-and high-level fishery officers, including the field training of fishery scientists;
undertake research and applied work on fishery biology, limnology, floodplains, stock assessment and other scientific areas related with fishery monitoring;
carry out research and development programmes in the field of fishing, fish processing and fish marketing technology;
give advisory assistance in fishery organization, programming and management;
initiate a programme of restocking of existing water bodies through establishment in Upper Volta of a fish-breeding station.
Small substations of the project would be established in the countries according to their priority for research and assistance.
In addition to the fishculture station of Upper Volta it is proposed to establish a project substation at Niamey in Niger and Richard Toll in Senegal.
In any case, the role of the project headquarter centre of Mopti will be essentially regional and the experts will spend part of their activities in visiting the other countries of the Sahelian Zone.
2. A regional project of 4-year duration has been prepared for an amount of about U.S.$ 5 million.
The project would include about 430 man/months of experts and the necessary financial provisions for the construction of buildings (houses for the experts, school, laboratories, substations), the purchase of equipment (vehicles, laboratory equipment, furniture, boats, etc.), the operation and maintenance of the project equipment, the fellowships for the students to attend the courses of the school of Mopti and the intensive travelling of the experts.
The proposed capacity of the school would be of 30–40 students at a time.
3. Because of the need to prepare carefully the project, namely:
elaborate the programme of construction of the school, laboratories, substations and houses;
prepare the work programme;
define the terms of reference of the experts;
work out the teaching programme of the school; and
determine the number of students from the different countries to be admitted to the school,
a preparatory phase of 1 year will be needed which will start mid-1975 and cost about a quarter of a million U.S.A. dollars. The first phase will include 48 man/months of experts and be operated from Mopti in Mali.
4. During the discussion held on 19 November 1974 it was suggested that due attention be given to the importance of maintaining the fishery school of Bouaké and possibly to use it and adapt it to the fishery training programme to be set up for the Sahelian Zone.
It was also recommended to investigate the possibility to develop intensive fishculture schemes and to study the ways and means to ensure better distribution of the fish from the producing areas, possibly through construction of feed roads.
It was agreed that the proposed Regional Fishery Development Centre of Mopti give assistance to the fishery of the various countries in the area on a broad basis according to their needs and that the preparatory project should not exceed one year duration.
5. Subject to these comments and suggestions, the meeting approved the above-mentioned programme of action proposed by the experts and recommended that every step be taken so that the preparatory project be implemented at the latest date in July 1975.
The meeting also considered favourably the outline of a large-scale project for the period 1977–80.
Project of the Governments of:
Cameroon, Chad, Dahomey, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Upper Volta
| Project title: | Regional Project for the Review of Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone | ||
| Number: | RAF/74/055/A/01/12 | Duration: four months | |
| Sector: | Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Meteorology (05) | ||
| Sub-sector: | Fisheries (0530) | ||
Government Cooperating Agencies: Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahelian Zone (CILSS), the Niger River Commission, and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) | Executing Agency: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) | ||
| Date of submission: 12 July 1974 | Starting date: 1 August 1974 | ||
| Governments contribution: not applicable | UNDP contribution: $75 000 | ||
| U.S.dollar | |||
| Submitted on behalf of Executing Agency: | |||
| Date: | |||
| (Signature) | |||
| Approved on behalf of UNDP: | |||
| Date: | |||
| (signature) | |||
I. BACKGROUND AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
A. Justification of the Project
1. A reconnaissance by the FAO Regional Fishery Officer for Africa who visited Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal in April/May 1974 followed by discussions in Rome with visiting FAO Country Representatives and fishery experts from the area, indicated the seriousness of the fishery problems in the area and prompted an emergency request to UNDP and the development of this project.
2. On 12 July 1974 FAO submitted to UNDP a request for emergency assistance in a Regional Project for the Review of Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone. By cable of 18 July 1974 UNDP agreed to FAO request and authorized FAO to take action on recruitment and other preparatory steps for timely fielding of a mission while finalizing the Project Document. This document defines the two phases of this project: a fishery mission to the Sahelian Zone, and, an intergovernmental review meeting in the area immediately following the mission.
3. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the extent of the damages caused to the fisheries by the Sahelian drought, and to prepare an overall action programme for the protection and long-term development of the fisheries in the area. This will be carried out first by fielding a fishery mission to visit the most important fish production areas affected by drought in the Sahelian Zone and second, by organizing an intergovernmental meeting in the area, to review the mission report and work out an action programme for the protection of the fisheries and the long-term development of fish catching, processing and marketing under both continued drought or normal rain conditions. Conflicts in water use as far as it affects the fisheries will also be carefully examined.
B. Institutional Framework
1. FAO through the Committee for the Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) will act as Executing Agency. This Committee was established in 1971 by FAO to provide intergovernmental machinery in particular to develop regional cooperation for the development, utilization and conservation of the continental fishery resources of Africa. Its membership of thirty African countries includes all those in the Sahelian Zone. The Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahelian Zone (CILSS), the Niger River Commission, and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) will act as Government Cooperating Agencies.
2. The area of responsibility of the project will be the countries in the Sahelian Zone where fisheries are affected by the drought.
3. In view of the emergency conditions in the area, the present request for emergency assistance was submitted to UNDP with a view to initiation of the project activities as of 1 August 1974, and the fielding of the mission at the beginning of October 1974.
C. Future UNDP Assistance
In addition to assisting in the formulation of a fishery policy the task force and the review meeting will identify areas where further studies, surveys and development projects will be necessary and for which further assistance may be required.
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
A. Long-rang objectives
The long-range objectives are:
To prevent a drop in protein consumption in the countries of the Sahelian Zone.
To increase availability of fish protein to the countries of the area in accordance with their development plans.
B. Short-range objectives
The short-range objectives are:
To evaluate the extent of the damage caused to the fisheries by the Sahelian drought.
To recommend measures to minimize or stop the damage to the fisheries.
To recommend measures to further develop the fisheries of the zone.
To produce a report on the findings of the mission relative to 1) and to 2) above.
To prepare an action programme as a result of discussions at the intergovernmental meeting following the mission.
III. WORK PLAN
| A. | Description of Project Activities | Location | Starting Date and Proposed Duration |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Preparatory Activities | |||
| The project will be located at FAO Headquarters during the preparatory phase where the support of the technical divisions of the Department of Fisheries is available to carry out the preparatory work, consisting of: documentation for the mission, elaboration of the mission itinerary in consultation with Government Cooperating Agencies, and briefing of the mission. | FAO Hqs Rome Italy | July, August and September 1974 | |
| B. | Description of UNDP Input | ||
| 1. Preparation of mission and meeting: consultants to prepare background documentation described under preparatory activities. | Rome | August and September 1974 | |
| 2. Fielding of mission: consultants (economist, biologist, technologist and administrator) under the leadership of CIFA, to visit countries with important inland fisheries in the Sahelian Zone, i.e. the Senegal, the Niger and the Chad Basins in particular. The mission should carry out the following tasks: | Sahelian Zone | 6 October to 12 November 1974 | |
| i) | To visit the main fish reproduction, production, processing and marketing centres affected by the drought. | ||
| ii) | To evaluate the damages suffered by the fisheries. | ||
| iii) | To identify the limits to further fishery development under continued drought conditions. | ||
| iv) | To identify possible action in the fields of fish utilization and marketing which could lead to a better utilization of fishery products under continued drought conditions. | ||
| v) | To identify possible action to rehabilitate the lake, river and flood plain fisheries in the area under a normal hydrological cycle. | ||
| vi) | To evaluate possibilities of fish culture in impoundments in the flood plain area. | ||
| 3. Report: Review and finalization of the mission report in order to prepare an action programme accordingly. | Bamako | Mid-November 1974 | |
| 4. Travels: Charter of an aircraft to enable consultants, experts and government representatives to visit any area of interest to the mission in the Sahel. | Sahelian Zone | October and November 1974 | |
| 5. Intergovernmental meeting: Consultants (task force and other experts) to prepare documentation for the intergovernmental meeting to review the mission report and prepare an action programme for the short and long-term development of fish protein production in the area under both drought and normal hydrological conditions, and to coordinate fishery protection and development programmes with other economic activity groups exploiting the waters of the Sahelian Zone. | Bamako, Mali | 13 November to 21 November 1974 | |
PROJECT BUDGET COVERED BY UNDP CONTRIBUTION
(In U.S. Dollars)
Region: Africa
Project No.: RAF/74/055/A/01/12
Title: Regional Project for the Review of Fisheries Problems in the Sahelian Zone
| Code No. | PROJECT PERSONNEL COMPONENT | Total | 1974 | ||
| m/m | U.S.$ | m/m | U.S.$ | ||
| 10. | PROJECT PERSONNEL COMPONENT | ||||
| 11. | Experts, Task Force (Consultants) | ||||
| 11.01 | Fishery Economist Consultant | 2 | 5 000 | 2 | 5 000 |
| 02 | Fishery Biologist Consultant | 2 | 5 000 | 2 | 5 000 |
| 03 | Fishery Biologist Consultant | 2 | 5 000 | 2 | 5 000 |
| 04 | Fishery Technologist Consultant | 2 | 5 000 | 2 | 5 000 |
| 13 | Administrative Support Personnel | 4 000 | 4 000 | ||
| 16.12 | Experts, Review Meeting (Agency Experts in the field of economy, biology and technology) | 4 | 10 000 | 4 | 10 000 |
| 16.32 | UNDP Personnel | 1 | 3 000 | 1 | 3 000 |
| 19. | Component Total | 13 | 37 000 | 13 | 37 000 |
| 50. | MISCELLANEOUS COMPONENT | ||||
| 53. | Sundry 1 | 38 000 | 38 000 | ||
| 59. | Component Total | 38 000 | 38 000 | ||
| 99. | GRAND TOTAL | 75 000 | 75 000 | ||
COMPOSITION OF THE MISSION
GAUDET, J.-L.
Mission Leader
Secretary
FAO Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA)
FAO, Rome, Italy
DAGET, J., Biologist
General Inspector of Research
ORSTOM
46, rue d'Ulm
75005 Paris, France
CHARBONNIER, D.
Fishery Officer
FAO, Rome, Italy
PROULX, A.
CIDA Consultant
Economist, Environment Canada
Fontaine Bldg
Ottawa, Canada
ITINERARY (6 October–22 November 1974)
| Rome | 6/10 | |
| Paris | 6/10 | |
| Niamey | 7/10 | |
| Cotonou | 10/10 | |
| Porto Novo | 11/10 | |
| Cotonou | 11/10 | |
| Douala | 12/10 | |
| Ndjamena | 13/10 | |
| Yaoundé | 18/10 | |
| Lagos | 21/10 | |
| Abidjan | 22/10 | |
| Ouagadougou | 23/10 | |
| Bamako | 26/10 | |
| Mopti | 29/10 | |
| Ouagadougou (Gaudet, J.-L.) | 3–5/11 | |
| Bamako | 3/11 | |
| Dakar | 4/11 | -Gaudet joins 5/11 |
| Richard-Toll | 5/11 | |
| Rosso | 6/11 | |
| Dakar | 7/11 | |
| Bamako - Gaudet 8/11, others | 12/11 | |
| Rome | 22/11 | (Daget stops in Paris 25/11) |
PERSONS CONCTATED
Niger (7–10 October 1974)
Mr. A. Rotival
UNDP Resident Representative, Niamey
Mr. Annou Mahamane
Secretary of State
Ministry of Rural Economy, Climate and Assistance to Populations, Niamey
Mr. Adamou Souleymane
Chief, Fishery Sector, Niamey
Mr. Geffrey Povonny
Peace Corps, Niamey
Mr. Jules Bolduc
CIDA, Elnasa Bldg, Niamey
Mr. Michel Hoepffner
Hydrology Service, ORSTOM
Elnasa Bldg, Niamey
Mr. Bagassoli
Technical Adviser
Ministry of Rural Economy, Climate and Assistance to Populations, Niamey
Mr. Ibrahim Najada
Director, Water, Forestry and Hunting
Niamey
Dahomey (10–13 October 1974)
H.E. Captain Djibil Moriba
Minister of Rural Development and Cooperative Action, Porto Novo
Mr. Harold T. Loko
Director of Fisheries, Cotonou
Mr. A.M. Gbaguidi
Ingénieur
Director of Hydrology, Cotonou
Mr. H. Dade
Fish Technologist, Cotonou
Mr. Liamidé Akambi
Fishery Assistant, Cotonou
Mr. Abel Afouda
Hydrology engineer, Cotonou
Chad (14–18 October 1974)
Mr. F. Bonnevie
UNDP Resident Representative, N'Djamena
Mr. Bocar Ly
FAO Country Representative, N'Djamena
Mr. L. Lemoalle
Hydrology ORSTOM, N'Djamena
Mr. Malik
Deputy Director
Ministry of Planning, N'Djamena
Mr. Moita
Ministry of Planning, N'Djamena
Mr. Malik Sow
Director, Waters and Forestry, N'Djamena
Mr. Hoinathy Honimadji
Forestry Service, N'Djamena
Mr. Lassou Courdima
Forestry Service, N'Djamena
Mr. Tran-Hoang-Anh
Technical Adviser, Water and Forestry
N'Djamena
Cameroon (18–21 October 1974)
Mr. Robert J.G. Gallien
FAO Country Representative, Yaoundé
Mr. Gustave Gamon Mbeng
Director
Water and Forestry, Yaoundé
Mr. Victor Balinga
Chief, Fauna and Forestry Environment Service, Yaoundé
Mr. Evambane
Engineer, Waters and Forestry, Yaoundé
Mr. Jean Marox
Deputy Chief, Fauna and Forestry Environment Service, Yaoundé
Mr. Luc Calvin Ebale
Chief, Inland Fisheries and Fishculture
Yaoundé
H.E. the Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Yaoundé
Nigeria (21–22 October 1974)
Mr. I.F. Dada
Chief Planning Officer
Federal Department of Fisheries, Lagos
Mr. John G. Tabor
Principal Research Officer
Federal Department of Fisheries, Lagos
Ivory Coast (22–23 October 1974)
Mr. A.R. Vieyra
Director
Fishculture and Inland Fishery Service
Abidjan
Upper Volta (23–25 October 1974)
Mr. J. Hogel
UNDP Resident Representative, Ouagadougou
Mr. K.A. Mariko, Chief NGO
Interstate Committee for the Control of the Drought in the Sahelian Zone (CILSS), Ouagadougou
Mr. Nizet
Associate Expert, CILSS, Ouagadougou
Mr. Barry
Director, Forestry, Environment and Nature Protection Service, Ouagadougou
Mr. Turkoz
Project Manager, Forestry
c/o UNDP Resident Representative
Ouagadougou
Mr. J. Piot, Expert
Centre Technique Forestier Tropical
Ouagadougou
Miss Brenda McSweeney
Assistant to UNDP Resident Representative
Ouagadougou
Mr. Courtant
Technical Adviser
Volta Valleys Authority, Ouagadougou
Mr. Sorgo
Director
Volta Valleys Authority, Ouagadougou
Dr. B. Roman, Biologist, Ouagadougou
Mr. G. Magdi, Director
United Nations Sahel Office (UNSO)
Ouagadougou
Mr. Guincarey Banakoye
Director Financial Contract
Economic Commission of West Africa (CEAO)
Ouagadougou
Mr. Abdoulaye Sow
Chief, CEAO Community Office for Fishery Products, Ouagadougou
Mr. Keita Bakuary
CEAO Director of Cabinet, Ouagadougou
Mr. I. Konate (Gaudet, 4 November 1974)
Executive Secretary, CILSS, Ouagadougou
Mali (26 October–2 November 1974)
Mr. J.P. Schellenberg
UNDP Resident Representative, Bamako
Mr. R. Fanfant
FAO Country Representative, Bamako
Mr. Mesnil
Assistant to UNDP Resident Representative
Bamako
Mr. A. Szabo
Fishery Expert
Opération Pêche, Mopti
Mr. J. Keita
Director
Water and Forestry, Bamako
H.E. Sidi Coulibaly, Minister of Production
Mr. Bertrand
Representative
Fonds Européen de Développement (FED)
Bamako
Mr. A. Konaré
Chief, Opération Pêche, Mopti
Mr. P. Raimondo (PROPESCA)
Opération Pêche, Mopti
Senegal (4–6 November 1974)
Mr. El Hadji Sène
Director, Water, Forestry and Hunting
Dakar
Mr. A.O. Fall
Engineer, Fisheries Service, Dakar
Mr. Giffard, Director
Centre Technique Forestier Tropical
Dakar
Mr. Blin
Centre Technique Forestier Tropical
Richard-Toll
Mauritania (6 November 1974)
Mr. Thiam Guède
Director
Artisanal and Industrial Fisheries
Rosso
12–20 November 1974, Bamako, Mali
see List of Participants (Annex 1)
