Appendix A
LIST OF DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS

MEMBER COUNTRIES

Botswana

Burundi, Republic of

N'GOMIRAKIZA, M.
Directeur du Département des Eaux et Forêts
Ministère de l'Agriculture
B.P. 1850
Bujumbura

Cameroon

Central African Republic

MALETOUNGOU, Z.
Directeur des Pêches
B.P. 1401
Landjia-Bangui

Chad

DIGUERA, B.
Directeur des Eaux, Forêts, Pêches et Chasses
Direction des Eaux, Forêts, Pêches et Chasses
B.P. 447
N'Djamena

KOURDINA, L.
Chef du Service des Pêches
Direction des Eaux, Forêts, Pêches et Chasses
B.P. 447
N'Djamena

Congo, People's Republic of the

Dahomey

HONVOU, L.A.
Ingénieur des Services agricoles
Ministère de l'Agriculture
B.P. 383
Cotonou

Egypt, Arab Republic of

EL BOLOCK, A.R.
Professor
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
101 Kasr El-Ainy St.
Cairo

ISHAK, M.M.
Professor
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
101 Kasr El-Ainy St.
Cairo

Ethiopia

MESKAL, Dr. Fissehah, H.
Faculty of Science
Addis Ababa University
P.O.Box 1176
Addis Ababa

Gabon

Gambia

TAYLOR-THOMAS, A. Olu
Senior Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Banjul

Ghana - Host Country -

ADJETEY, J.N.N.
Director of Fisheries
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 630
Accra

ADIASE, M.K.
Research Officer
Institute of Aquatic Biology
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
P.O.Box 38
Achimota

ADUMUA-BOSSMAN, Dr. J.
P.O.Box 398
c/o Department of Fisheries
Accra

AMMAH, Ph.A.
Deputy Fleet Manager
State Fishing Corporation
P.O.Box 211
Tema

ASAFO, C.K.
Senior Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 268
Tamale

DADZIE, Dr. St.
Fishery Biologist
Department of Zoology
University of Nairobi
P.O.Box 30197
Nairobi, Kenya

DENYOH, F.M.K.
Principal Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 165
Ho

DOWUONA, V.N.
Deputy Director of Fisheries
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 630
Accra

JOHN CLOTTEY, St.
Research Officer
Environmental Protection Council
Parliament House
Accra

KWEI, Dr. E.A.
Project Administrator
Volta Lake Research and Development Project
Volta River Authority
P.O.Box 88
Akosombo

MENSAH, E.M.
Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
P.O.Box 88
Akosombo

ODEI, Dr. M.A.
Senior Research Officer
Institute of Aquatic Biology
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research
P.O.Box 38
Achimota

ODOI-AKERSIE, W.
Senior Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 630
Accra

VANDERPUYE, C.J.
Research Fellow
Volta Basin Research Programme
University of Ghana
P.O.Box 88
Akosombo

YEBOAH, F.
Senior Planning Officer
Volta Lake Research and Development Project
Volta River Authority
P.O.Box 88
Akosombo

NSIAH, S.B. - Liaison Officer
Fisheries Officer
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O.Box 630
Accra

Ivory Coast

VIEYRA, A.R.
Directeur des Pêches Continentales
Ministère de l'Agriculture
B.P. 20896
Abidjan

COULIBALY, D.
Directeur du Service de Pisciculture
Ministère de l'Agriculture
B.P. 20896
Abidjan

DIA, A.El K.
Océanographe
B.P. V18 CRO
Abidjan

FANNY, Dr. A.
Directeur Projet Pêche AVB/FAO
B.P. 1041
Yamoussokro

Kenya, Republic of

Madagascar

Malawi

MATHOTHO, A.J.
Chief Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department Headquarters
P.O.Box 593
Lilongwe

MSISKA, O.V.
Fish Culturist
Kasinthula Research Station
P.O. Chikwawa

Mali

KONARE, A.
Directeur “Opération Pêche”
B.P. 91
Mopti

TRAORE, B.
Opération Pêche
B.P. 275
Bamako

Mauritius

ARDILL, J.D.
Senior Fisheries Officer
Ministry of Fisheries
Government House
Port Louis

Niger

Nigeria

DADA, B.F.
Acting Director
Federal Department of Fisheries
Victoria Island
P.M.B. 12529
Lagos

AFINOWI, M.A.
Research Officer
Federal Department of Fisheries
P.M.B. 5122
Port Harcourt
Rivers State

AWACHIE, Dr. J.B.E.
Professor
University of Nigeria
Nsukka

EZENWA, B.
Fisheries Research Officer
Federal Department of Fisheries
Victoria Island
P.M.B. 12529
Lagos

GAFFAR, J.A.
Senior Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Division
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Lagos State

IMEVBORE, A.
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Ife
Ife

ITA, E.O.
Fishery Biologist
Kainji Lake Research Project
P.M.B. 666
New Bussa

OLUBUNMI, O.E.
Principal Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Division
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Ibadan

OTOBO, F.O.
Senior Research Officer
Kainji Lake Research Project
P.M.B. 666
New Bussa

SAGUA, V.O.
Director
Kainji Lake Research Project
P.M.B. 666
New Bussa

Senegal

SENE, E.H.
Directeur des Eaux et Forêts
Direction des Eaux et Forêts
Ministère du Développement Rural et de l'Hydraulique
B.P. 1831
Dakar

FALL, A.O.
Chef de la Division Protection de la Nature
Direction des Eaux, Forêts, Chasses
Ministère du Développement Rural et de l'Hydraulique
B.P. 1831
Dakar

Sierra Leone

CHAYTOR, D.E.B.
Professor
Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography
University of Sierra Leone
Freetown

Somalia

The Sudan

MISHRIGI, S.Y.
Director
Fisheries Research
P.O.Box 1489
Khartoum

GEORGE, T.T.
Aquaculturist
Fisheries Research Station
P.O.Box 1489
Khartoum

Swaziland

Tanzania

IBRAHIM, K.H.
Fisheries Officer
Freshwater Fisheries Institute
Nyegesi
P.B. 1213
Mwanza

MAPUNDA, X.E.
Co-Manager
Lake Tanganyika Research and Development Project
P.O.Box 90
Kigoma

Togo

YABOURI, K.
Directeur du Service des Pêches
Direction du Service des Pêches
B.P. 1095
Lomé

Uganda

KANYIKE, E.S.
Senior Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
P.O.Box 4
Entebbe

Upper Volta

Zaire

Zambia

MUSHINGE, P.K.
Acting Deputy Director (Fisheries)
P.O.Box 100
Chilanga

CHIPUNGU, P.M.
Biologist
P.O.Box 100
Chilanga

OBSERVERS

United Kingdom

STONEMAN, J.
Fisheries Adviser
Ministry of Overseas Development
Eland House
Stag Place
London SW1
England

International Organizations

Economic Community for West Africa (ECWA)
B.P. 643, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta

SANGARE, M. - Ingénieur des Travaux Forestiers

International Foundation for Science (IFS)
Box 5073, S-102 42 Stockholm 5, Sweden

OKORIE, Dr. O.O. - Inland Fisheries Scientist
EAFFRO, P.O.Box 475
Mwanza, Tanzania

Interstate Permanent Committee for the Control of the Drought in the Sahel (CILSS)
B.P. 7049, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta

LOUPPE, D. - Fishery Expert

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization (EAFFRO)
P.O.Box 343, Jinja, Uganda

OKORIE, Dr. O.O. - Inland Fisheries Scientist

BASASIBWAKI, P. - Senior Research

OCENODONGO, D.L. - Fish. Research Scientist
EAFFRO, P.O.Box 475
Mwanza, Tanzania

Niger River Commission
B.P. 729, Niamey, Republic of Niger

DEHINDE, A.E. - Executive Secretary

Organization for the Development of the Senegal Basin
B.P. 3152, Dakar, Senegal

BA, Oumar - Economist

Visitors

FRANK, V.
Assistant, Ecologie Animale
Faculté Universitaire
61, Sq. van Bever
1180 Bruxelles, Belgium

LESSENT, P.
Direction Pêche et Pisciculture
Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT)
45bis, Av. de la Belle-Gabrielle
94130 Nogent-sur-Marne, France

LOVSHIN, L.L.
Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 36830, U.S.A.

MICHA, J.-Cl.
Chargé de Cours
Facultés Universitaires
61, rue de Bruxelles
B-5000 Namur, Belgium

UNITED NATIONS
and
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

FELICIANO, Gregorio
Resident Representative of the UNDP in Ghana
P.O.Box 1423
Accra

FAO/UNDP PROJECTS

Fish Culture Development Project
B.P. 130, Foumban, Cameroon

WIEME, R. - Fish Culturist

Fish Culture Development Project
P.O.Box 872, Bangui, Central African Rep.

VINCKE, M.J. - Project Manager
MILLER, J.W. - Fishery Officer (Aquaculture)

Fishery Survey and Development Project
c/o UNDP, B.P. 863, Tunis, Tunisia

SIVALINGAM, S. - Fisheries Biologist (Aquaculture)

Fisheries Training Development Project
Central Fisheries Research Institute
P.O.Box 100, Chilanga, Zambia

MUSHINGE, P.K. - Co-Manager
CHIPUNGU, P.M. - Biologist

Integrated Fisheries Development Project
P.O.Box 593, Lilongwe, Malawi

MEECHAM, K. - Project Manager
PRUGININ, Y.  - Fish Culturist
TURNER, J.L. - Biologist, Box 27 Monkey Bay

International Eastern Central Atlantic Programme (CECAF)
B.P. 154, Dakar, Senegal

EVERETT, G.V. - Fish. Planning Adviser

Kainji Lake Research Project
P.M.B. 666, New Bussa, Nigeria

SAGUA, V.O.   - Director
ITA, E.O.          - Fishery Biologist
OTOBO, F.O.  - Senior Research Officer

Lake Kossou Project
B.P. 1041, Yamoussokro, Ivory Coast

COCHE, A.G.   - Team Leader
FANNY, Dr. A.   - Director Fishery Project
CAMPBELL, D. - Co-worker, Peace Corps volunteer

Lake Tanganyika Fisheries Research and Development Project
P.O.Box 90, Kigoma, Tanzania

SMART, J.K.        - Project Manager
CHAPMAN, D.W. - Biologist
MAPUNDA, X.E.   - Co-Manager

Volta Lake Research and Development Project
P.O.Box 88, Akosombo, Ghana

KWEI, Dr. E.A.     - Project Administrator
YEBOAH, F.         - Sr Planning Officer
MENSAH, E.M.     - Fish Processing
VANDERPUYE, C.J. - Biologist

Appendix B
ADDRESS BY Lt.Col. ALHAJI IDISSA, HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER FOR TRADE AND TOURISM ON BEHALF OF Lt.Col. P.K. NKEGBE, HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE Government of Ghana

(Kwame Nkruma Conference Centre)

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

When the Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa was opened last Monday, the distinguished delegates were welcomed to Ghana. However, I wish to take this opportunity to say a formal welcome to all of you to the Second Session of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa. I also say a big welcome to the observers from other International Organizations who have kindly accepted the invitation by the Food and Agriculture Organization to honour us with their presence.

The First Session of this Committee, as you were aware, was held in 1972 in N'Djamena (Fort-Lamy), Chad, and it is my understanding that this Second Session, which was preceded by the symposium, will review the major fields of CIFA's activities. This makes the Session a very important one and I deem it a great honour to have this opportunity to open it.

Mr. Chairman, since the N'Djamena (Fort-Lamy) Session, a lot of things have happened which call for a thorough re-examination of national and international plans for feeding the world's growing population. We are all too familiar with the events in Sahelian and sub-Sahelian Africa. The world food situation has given cause for concern to the extent that under the auspices of the United Nations a World Food Conference was held in Rome in November 1974 to consider what practical steps should be taken to overcome the threat that faces not only Africa but the whole of mankind. Apart from the problems posed by the scarcity of food brought about by natural calamities as was experienced in the Sahelian belt, it is known that in the developing countries especially, there is a case for examining our dietary habits. In this respect, we need to look for sources of protein, for example, and there is no doubt that fish provides one of the cheapest sources.

Traditionally, most nations have depended upon the sea and the natural lakes and rivers for their fisheries resources but it has become obvious that something very considerable will have to be done to produce the fish for the millions. The natural conditions of the sea, lakes and rivers cannot be relied upon to feed the world without adequate steps being taken either to replenish the resources at a faster rate than we extract from them or to build up entirely new fish farms.

Taking our continent as a whole, we should have the body of water - the sea, the lakes and rivers -to provide us with firm basis for developing of fisheries resources. But for some considerable time now, a number of the countries that have access to the sea do not appear to be enjoying even the seasonal harvest that the sea normally brings. This may be a natural phenomenon but there are other problems that are of our own making. There is the question of fishing rights in territorial waters of fishing zones of sovereign states. There is also the uncertainty about the final outcome of the Conference of the Law of the Sea whether some acceptable solutions will be found to the problems of an equitable sharing of the fisheries resources of the ocean.

All these serve to emphasize the extreme importance of the work of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa and the premium African countries should place on the deliberations at this Session.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, there is a long way to go in achieving a full-scale development of inland fisheries on our continent, though aquaculture has been known in one or two African countries for centuries. We, therefore, need to intensify our research programmes and up-date what has been done in the past. For example, in 1969, a fish culture survey was carried out in seven west African countries by a fisheries team from Auburn University, Alabama, United States of America, and it concluded that some of the countries provided a good environment for the establishment of a co-operative programme of fish culture development.

In Ghana, our Fisheries Department is carrying out fish farming on an experimental basis in the Northern, Upper and Greater Accra Regions. And, here, I wish to express our thanks to FAO in supporting the programme by contributing fishing materials and other items. The Government has also drawn up a five-year fisheries programme which aims at developing about 400 hectares of fish farms throughout the country. It is also hoped to utilize more fully the fisheries resources offered by the Volta Lake. The present production from this source now stands at about 40 000 metric tons per annum.

Mr. Chairman, in this brief opening address, it will be impossible for me to dwell in any great detail on the needs of all the participating countries. But I am convinced that the decision by FAO to establish CIFA is a clear indication of its awareness of the need for action, not merely paper work, in the development of inland fisheries in Africa.

Your Association is a very young one but, like the youth of today, much is expected of it. Your deliberations will therefore be of crucial importance to the whole continent and I can assure you that all the Governments of participating countries will be looking forward to the proposals that will emerge from this room.

I, therefore, trust that you will approach your task with zeal and dedication. I also hope that the observers who have been invited to this Session will be in a better position after the meeting to advise their individual organizations on what forms of assistance both CIFA and the individual African countries may require in building up their programmes for the development of inland fisheries.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, may I wish you all God's guidance and a very successful session. I trust that you will also enjoy your short stay here in Ghana.

Thank you.

Appendix C
ADDRESS BY MR. YOHANNES HABTU, ACTING REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFRICA

Your Excellency,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity of addressing, on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, this Second Session of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA).

May I also tell you how much we appreciate the generous hospitality of the Government of Ghana, the host of this meeting. May I therefore, in the name of the Director-General and on my own behalf, express to His Excellency Colonel I.K. Acheampong, Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council of Ghana, and the Government of Ghana, our sincere gratitude for the arrangements so gracefully put at our disposal.

When the Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr. M.C. Mensah addressed the First Session of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa which was held in N'Djamena, Chad in November to December 1972, some of you will remember that while we all heartily welcomed the establishment of CIFA, we still felt that a number of important points had to be stressed.

It may be appropriate to start my address by reviewing with you those pertinent points.

First of all, it was pointed out that the total average catch in any one year, from the inland waters of the member countries of CIFA amounted to about 1.3 million tons of fish, and that this was equivalent to about half the total catch of fish of these countries in most of which fish is the main source of animal protein. At that time it was also asserted that the estimated production figure of 1.3 million tons quoted above could be practically doubled if appropriate measures were taken to improve management methods and to develop fisheries. I am pleased to say that the recent CIFA Working Party on Artisanal Fisheries held here in Accra in February this year has again confirmed this statement. According to the Report of that Working Party, the present fishery stocks in African inland waters could, generally speaking, be exploited twice as much as they presently are. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now left to us to devise the appropriate ways and means of meeting this realization which will help to bridge the protein gap in our region.

It was also stressed at that Working Party that the main constraints to further fisheries development were:

1. lack of knowledge of the potential of the resources;

2. lack of capital (credit) for the purchase of modern, efficient and adequate fishing gear and boats, often over-priced in the local market;

3. scattered and often inaccessible fishermen's villages, lack of access roads, lack of fast reliable water transport and suitable landing points;

4. inadequacy or total lack of fish preservation, processing, marketing and distribution facilities, thus resulting in important product losses due mostly to the perishable nature of the product or insect infestation;

5. seasonal character of fishery resulting in irregular income and consequent loan repayment difficulties;

6. rapidly ageing fishermen population due to urban migration of younger fishermen;

7. lack of effective fishermen organizations, such as cooperatives, credit organizations, etc.;

8. inadequacy of government fishery services and personnel and inability of fishery services either to obtain additional posts for their staff or retain the trained fishery personnel.

It was agreed at the CIFA Working Party that many of these constraints could be greatly alleviated if, first and foremost, the governments recognized the importance of fish in national nutrition, the large total production already resulting from often badly organized fishing efforts and the tremendous gains to be achieved with a more dynamic national fishery policy.

I think that the conclusions of the Accra Working Party have a great significance and are much in accord with the aims and purpose of CIFA, that is the production of more protein food from readily available resources.

Secondly as was stated at N'Djamena, the main purpose of CIFA is to be the catalyst in promoting international collaboration in order to achieve this objective of providing more plentiful and cheaper protein.

Let me now turn briefly to the progress achieved by the Committee since its inception three years ago. The exploitation of the numerous international rivers and lakes in Africa necessitates a joint approach by the riparian states. I am pleased to note the substantial progress that has been made in that direction since the First Session of CIFA. I am referring in particular to the emergency action of FAO with the assistance of UNDP with respect to the fisheries of the Sahelian Zone. As you well know, CIFA fielded a mission in September 1974 and a regional project for the conservation and development of the fisheries of the Sahelian Zone in now under way. I am also pleased to see that a regional project for the development of small-scale fisheries in the inland waters of Africa is being proposed to the delegates at this meeting, and I feel confident that international collaboration will progress further in this most important field for the development of the inland fisheries of the region.

This regional approach is very evident in the documentation we have at hand for this Session. A document that has attracted my attention on this topic of international collaboration is that concerned with cooperation with African bodies dealing with inland fisheries in Africa. The number of bodies whose terms of reference include fisheries is impressive and brings out the fact that CIFA being the FAO body specialized in fisheries for all African countries has to play a very important role in coordinating and harmonizing the efforts of all the other bodies in order to arrive at sustained maximum fish production in the inland waters of Africa.

Since the First Session of CIFA, the Regional Office for Africa has been reorganized to reflect the importance of fisheries and food production in Africa. Our fisheries staff has been strengthened - we now have two posts of Fisheries Officers in the regular programme and two other posts in the Regional UNDP assisted projects - a Regional Aquaculture Adviser and a Regional Fisheries Statistician. An additional post of Regional Aquaculture Officer is being established in our regular programme in the next biennium 1976/77. In response to several requests in the Africa Region and in order to meet the growing need for assistance in aquaculture development, the FAO Regional Office has also made a provision for the services of a Consultant to undertake a feasibility study of aquaculture development possibilities as and when required. It is hoped that with this nucleus of staff, we will be able to improve our services and play fully our role of coordinating the development activities and the transfers of knowledge and technology to the Member Nations of the Africa Region.

In cognizance of the greater part that Aquaculture is going to play in the development of the fisheries of Africa, two important meetings have already taken place in Accra this year. From 2 to 17 July 1975, we held the First Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Planning, and then preceding your meeting, a three-day Symposium on Aquaculture just ended yesterday. Though it is not my intention to give you a catalogue of FAO activities in fisheries since the first session, it is necessary to add that besides those already mentioned, several other FAO meetings, all geared to improve inland fisheries, have taken place, notably the FAO/SIDA Seminar on Fish Utilization held in Lusaka, Zambia last May and the Working Party on Aquaculture organized by CIFA in March last year in Nairobi, Kenya. Thus judging from the work so far accomplished, I am confident that CIFA will achieve conclusive results in these and other aspects of its work in the near future. I can assure you, distinguished delegates, that FAO will continue to support the work of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa with all its available means.

I sincerely wish you a very successful meeting. Thank you.

Appendix D
ADDRESS BY MR. C.H. CLAY, FAO HEADQUARTERS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, AND OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL (FISHERIES)

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have completed item 1 of the provisional agenda of this session, and I would like to to proceed to item 2. Before doing so, however, I would like, as FAO Headquarters representative of the Director-General, to convey to you his best wishes, and those of Mr. Fred Popper, Assistant Director-General (Fisheries) for a successful session.

There is no need for me to review with you your terms of reference. They are set out in the statute of the Committee, and Mr. Y. Habtu has already touched upon them in his address. I would like, nevertheless, to emphasize that CIFA has responsibility for a large continent which holds many possibilities for fishery development. This young body has, nevertheless, already made its mark and I am pleased to take this opportunity not only to enlarge a little on Mr. Habtu's remarks concerning the progress so far accomplished, but also to suggest what we might expect this session to achieve, and the main trends for the future.

You will remember that at the First Session of CIFA, in selecting the areas of work, you grouped the priorities under eight headings. These are: training, cooperation with respect to international waters, stock assessment, dissemination of information, standardization of data reporting, aquaculture, floodplain fisheries and artisanal fisheries.

Looking at our agenda, I note with satisfaction the mention of many of these priorities and in particular, the areas of concentration identified among them by the First Session such as aquaculture, stock assessment, floodplains, artisanal fisheries and cooperation with African bodies dealing with inland fisheries.

The Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa which was held these last few days is, as you know, one in a series of regional symposia held in preparation for the FAO Technical Conference on Aquaculture to be held in Kyoto, Japan, next year. I am looking forward to seeing the conclusions and recommendations of the Symposium which will be reviewed by this Committee. From the Symposium discussions, it appears that the major problems and needs include better understanding of the economics involved, better planning, more training and research. This Committee has the task of sharpening these priorities and determining a programme approach in this most promising field.

In the field of artisanal fisheries, FAO has quickly followed up the recommendations of the Accra Working Party described by Mr. Habtu and a specific and dynamic proposal will be put to this Committee. This consists of a regional project for the development of small-scale fisheries in inland Africa which will be multi-disciplinary in its approach. It will collaborate closely with the FAO Regional Office for Africa where it could be located, and will be given further support by CIFA which provides an ideal forum for the coordination of regional activities. You will note that the immediate objectives of the proposed project also include the organization of two workshops on small-scale fisheries development for appropriate government planners and fishery personnel.

In the field of floodplain fisheries, the Correspondence Working Party has already put together all available information in a basic document on the Fisheries Ecology of African Floodplains which has been published and circulated in the CIFA Technical Paper series¹ This subject will be discussed further during this session. The time is getting nearer when an international dialogue extending outside this continent may be necessary on the question of floodplain fisheries.

The CIFA correspondence Working Group on stock assessment was very active during the inter-sessional period and should be commended for its work. Methodology has again been re-examined at the Ad hoc Meeting on the development of quicker methods of resource appraisal in inland waters. I hope you will have a chance to study the report of the ad hoc meeting and refine the terms of reference of this CIFA Group.

On the emergency situation that developed in the Sahelian Zone, CIFA, thanks to an allocation by UNDP, has been quick to react as Mr. Habtu has noted. Following a multi-disciplinary mission to the stricken area, a Government consultation was organized in Bamako, Mali, in November 1974 and an action programme was approved for the protection and development of the Sahelian fisheries. To implement this programme UNDP has approved of the preparation of a regional project to formulate a full-scale programme.

A specific suggestion to create a CIFA Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Sahel to provide guidance to the regional project is being put to your Committee.

It has already been noted that cooperation with African bodies dealing with inland fisheries has increased since the creation of CIFA. Nevertheless, further cooperation is indeed possible and desirable and a basic document on this topic is among the papers submitted for this meeting. I am sure your suggestions to further increase cooperation will be welcomed.

There are a number of other items on our agenda which we will deal with in an order to be agreed on by you, and which I need not elaborate further here. Before proceeding, may I once more congratulate you on achievements to date, and look forward to a successful session and continuing achievements.

¹ CIFA Tech.Pap., (3):51 p., by Welcomme, R.L. (1975)

Appendix E
AGENDA

1. Opening of the session

2. Adoption of the agenda and arrangements for the session

3. Major fields of activities of CIFA

   1. aquaculture

   2. artisanal fisheries

   3. floodplain fisheries of Africa

   4. assessment of fish populations

4. Development of fisheries in the Sahelian Zone

5. Cooperation with African bodies dealing with fisheries

6. Report of the Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa

7. Symposium in conjunction with the Third Session

8. Any other matters

9. Election of officers

10. Date and place of the Third Session

11. Adoption of the report

Appendix F
LIST OF DOCUMENTS

Appendix G
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECOND SESSION OF CIFA

During the Second Session, the Committee made, endorsed or enforced the following recommendations:

Recommendation 75/1

aiming at the creation of an Ad hoc Sub-Committee of CIFA for the protection and Development of the Fisheries in the Sahelian zone (see page 2 of the Report).

Recommendation 75/2

that (a) CIFA should invite African international bodies dealing with fisheries to send observers to all relevant CIFA meetings and likewise be invited by these bodies to meetings where inland fishery matters are discussed; (b) CIFA should carry out in-depth studies of those bodies more concerned with fishery development. In this context, the OMVS, the Niger River Commission, the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the future Lake Victoria Fishery Commission were mentioned; (c) CIFA should, upon request, provide assistance to countries having international fishery waters but no agencies to promote international collaboration, with a view to establish such agencies.

Recommendation 75/3

that the short-term objectives of the proposed project (see CIFA/75/5, Sup.1) be revised by the Secretariat in accordance with the wishes of the Working Party on artisanal fisheries and that the proposed project thus amended be given full support of FAO and UNDP for its early implementation and that supplementary support from appropriate donor agencies be sought.

Recommendation 75/4

(re. floodplain fisheries) that member countries concentrate more efforts on the gathering of data. There is however a need for advice as to research objectives and programmes which should come from an international group or body.

Recommendation 75/5

that the possibilities for a regional project for river and floodplain fisheries be investigated. Action at the national level, concerned with particular floodplains, should take the form of projects within overall national planning which could eventually be coordinated by the regional project.

Recommendation 75/6

that river and floodplain fisheries should form the subject of a Symposium or Seminar to be held in conjunction with the next session of CIFA.

Recommendation 75/7

that the existing Correspondence Working Party should be transformed into a Working Party on River and Floodplain Fisheries, and that it should meet twice during the intersessional period.

Recommendation 75/8

that the Centre (for acoustic surveys in the inland waters of Africa) provide assistance and training in the use of ordinary acoustic methods and gear as well as providing the specialized expertise and gear needed for biomass estimation.

Recommendation 75/9

that institutions engaged in research in stock assessment and fish management give more attention to empirical studies of the effects of exploitation. Particularly needed was a large-scale approach through which detailed fishery research could be directed toward a statistically valid sample of each of several types of inland fisheries.

Recommendation 75/10

(re.stock assessment) that a continent-wide programme should be established to develop knowledge of river fisheries and improve strategies for their development and management.

Recommendation 75/11

that FAO consider the establishment of a post of Adviser in Fishery Data Processing with particular attention to African fishery needs.

Recommendation 75/12

that fishery departments, institutes and projects should expand the coverage of statistical programmes especially to include economic data, and seek advice of statisticians when planning and designing all such programmes to ensure both scientific reliability and integration within an overall evaluation programme.

Recommendation 75/13

that a training course(s) in inland stock assessment be arranged in Africa as soon as practicable and that additional fellowship assistance be sought for in-depth training of qualified individuals.

Recommendation 75/14

that FAO should explore the possibilities of setting up short training courses in statistics on a country-by-country basis.

Recommendation 75/15

(re. estimation of aquaculture potential) - that governments undertake surveys of the aquaculture potential in their countries; that the governments avail themselves, wherever necessary, of the assistance that may be obtainable through FAO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the Regional Development Banks, bilateral aid agencies and other national and international agencies.

Recommendation 75/16

(re. aquaculture planning) - that the governments draw up plans for aquaculture development with the assistance of qualified specialists, wherever necessary, and that they lay down in advance the concrete objectives to be pursued and procedures to be followed; that the governments integrate aquaculture development in national fishery development, rural development schemes and overall economic development plans.

Recommendation 75/17

(re. development of pilot commercial farms) - that governments whose programmes are approaching the stage of large-scale development take the initiative to establish pilot commercial farms; that established pilot farms be subsequently used as national research and training centres; that governments avail themselves of the assistance that may be available from FAO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the Regional Development Banks, bilateral aid agencies and other national and international agencies for this purpose.

Recommendation 75/18

(re. African centre for aquaculture) - that a centre for aquaculture be founded in Africa to conduct research on problems of a regional scope and organize advanced training for aquaculturists; that this regional centre maintain close ties with selected national research and training centres; that FAO seek the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other financing agencies for the establishment of this centre as soon as feasible.

Recommendation 75/19

(re. research on endemic species) - that the governments of the region give these institutions the support needed to develop an intensive programme of studies aimed at determining the suitability of endemic species for cultivation and expediting domestication of those proven to have potential; that studies on the impact of introduced species on the ecology of indigenous species receive special attention; that research programme include studies on the development of artificial feeds from locally available ingredients and upgrading of nursery management techniques.

Recommendation 75/20

(re. use of low-cost production systems) - that governments of the region undertake feasibility studies aimed at the integration of aquaculture in these environments.

Recommendation 75/21

(re. coordination of aquaculture research) - that governments in the region endorse and support the exchange of information, experience and personnel; that the CIFA Secretariat investigate the possibility of establishing a cooperative programme of research on aquaculture among participating countries along lines followed in other regions.

Recommendation 75/22

that the Working Party on aquaculture be continued with the following terms of reference: to collect and disseminate information to government agencies and research workers on (a) aquaculture economics available from national UNDP development projects and government fish culture establishments; (b) the major parasites and diseases of cultivated fishes and methods for their prevention and control; (c) the ecological impact of introduced exotic fish and shellfish; and considering that these terms of reference constitute information gathering activities it is suggested that the Working Party be enlarged and initiate its work by correspondence.

Recommendation 75/23

(Symposium in conjunction with the Third Session) - that priority be given to the second theme, i.e., the organization of a Symposium on the management and development of floodplains, while retaining in the objectives of the symposium, consideration of questions on the planning and the economics of floodplains. It was decided that the subject planning and development of inland fisheries should form the subject of a basic study by FAO which should be presented at the third session of CIFA and, ultimately, provide the basis of a future symposium.