1. The Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) held its Fifth Session from 15 to 20 January 1983 in Cairo, Egypt. The Session was attended by representatives from thirteen member countries of the Committee, by representatives from the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, by observers from Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the African Development Bank. A list of participants is given in Appendix A.
2. The Session was opened by Professor Dr. Ibrahim Gamil Badran, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt. He welcomed the participants and drew attention to the importance of the inland fisheries of Africa, and the need for their protection and development. He also made reference to the problem of water pollution in the African inland waters and to the necessity for cooperation among the countries to prevent pollution through national and international regulatory measures, laws and actions.
3. The participants were welcomed by H.E. Engineer Farouk Affify, Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Egypt, on behalf of H.E. the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. He drew the attention of the participants to the problem of food security in Africa. In this connection he stressed the need for continuous fisheries research and management, dissemination of knowledge among the African countries, inter alia through the exchange of experts, the training of staff needed for fishing industry, the development of aquaculture and the introduction of new species which might be suitable for culture and the introduction of new technology in the fisheries field.
4. Dr. A. Labon, Officer-in-Charge, Fisheries Department, FAO, addressed the participants on behalf of the Director-General of FAO. He referred to the plan of action for the implementation of the Monrovia strategy for the economic development of Africa, adopted at Addis Ababa in April 1980, and which recommended an increase in fish production in Africa by one million tons by 1985, from both marine and inland fisheries. He referred to the importance of the small-scale fishermen, the theme of the present session, and the need for their support and development. Emphasis on the development of small-scale fisheries is a firm policy of the Director-General of FAO with regard to the Organization's work in fisheries. Dr. Labon also announced the contribution of Denmark of 5 million dollars to finance a small-scale fisheries development project for West Africa.
5. The participants were also addressed by the representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt, who expressed the readiness of the UNDP to assist in the fisheries development programmes in Africa.
6. Prof. Dr. A. Latif, Head of the Egyptian delegation, chaired the Fifth Session of CIFA, as Egypt was elected chairman at the Fourth Session of CIFA.
