1. The Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA) held its Eighth Session from 21 to 25 October 1990 at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt. The Session was attended by delegates from 18 member countries of the Committee and by observers from Mozambique, Netherlands, United Kingdom, the Organization of African Unity (QAU/STRC), the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (PTA) and the International Agency for Rural Industrialization (INARI). The list of participants is given in Appendix A.
2. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Frank Denyoh (Ghana), the outgoing Chairman. The Session was opened officially by the Honourable Prof. Dr. Youssef Wally, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt. He welcomed delegates on behalf of the Government and people of Egypt. He said that fisheries was a very important animal protein source for Egypt, and had made a remarkable progress in the last decade. The total fish production had increased from less than 120,000 tons in 1982 to about 300,000 tons now. Despite this impressive increase, Egypt still imported some 50,000 tons of low value fish annually to augment the domestic supply, the Minister confirmed. He asserted, however, that in return Egypt exported some 1,700 tons of high value fish in 1989.
3. In aquaculture development, the Minister highlighted the progress Egypt had made in recent years. The raising of common carp in rice fields which was started with 500 acres of cultivated area in 1983 had now been extended to cover an area of half a million acres of rice fields. The National Aquaculture Centre at Abbassa had been upgraded to international level by the provision of essential infrastructure, including research equipment and training facilities. This Centre now offered training not only to Egyptian aquaculturists but to foreigners including Africans, the Minister informed the Session. Furthermore, fish culture in cages had been well developed on the River Nile.
4. Dr. Armin Lindquist, FAO Assistant Director-General (Fisheries Department) addressed the Session on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, Dr. Edouard Saouma. He welcomed the delegates and thanked the Government of Egypt for hosting the Session and for the excellent facilities provided. He remarked with gratitude that this was the second time that CIFA was holding its session in Egypt.
5. Dr. Lindquist noted the high attendance of representatives from member countries and organizations and concluded that it was indicative of the importance which member countries continued to accord to CIFA. He maintained that CIFA was the Administrative frame for the work of its member countries and that FAO's role was to assist the Committee in this work.
6. In referring to the substantive items on the agenda, Dr. Lindquist stressed the importance of post-harvest fish technology, especially in the artisanal fisheries sector, and noted with satisfaction that the symposium being held in conjunction with the Session was on this subject. On the forecast for the development of African inland fisheries by the year 2000, he concurred that prognoses were difficult to make, but maintained that there was need for careful planning in capture fisheries and specifically in aquaculture, in order to stimulate development. He mentioned that because of the complex environmenal issues involved in fisheries development, it was being proposed to hold a symposium on environmentl problems for African inland fisheries at the next session of CIFA. Dr. Lindquist also referred to the preparation of the Source Book for African inland fisheries which would be a very interesting and valuable reference material.
7. The opening ceremony ended with Dr. F.L. Orach-Meza, the leader of the Ugandan delegation, moving a “vote of thanks”, on behalf of the delegates, to the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Prof. Dr. Youssef Wally, for opening the Session.
8. The Committee unanimously elected Dr. Salah El Zarka, the leader of the Egyptian Delegation, as Chairman for the Eighth Session, and Nigeria, Burundi and Swaziland as Vice-Chairmen. According to CIFA Rules of Procedure, they will remain in office until the beginning of the Ninth Session.
9. The agenda was adopted, as attached in Appendix B. The documents placed before the Committee are listed in Appendix C.
10. The Symposium was held on 21 and 22 October 1990. It was chaired by Mr. Frank Denyoh of Ghana. Dr. W. Ssali of Uganda acted as Rapporteur and Mr. F. Teutscher of FAO was the Technical Secretary. The theme of the Symposium, Post-Harvest Fish Technology, had been decided by the 7th Session of CIFA.
11. Five review papers had been prepared for the Symposium which were presented after a brief introduction by the Technical Secretary. In addition 10 country papers and case studies were also presented.
12. The papers covered the kinds and levels of post-harvest losses in African inland fisheries, the present and potential role of inland fish in food supply and in income generation, post-harvest fish technology and cooperative research in fish technology in Africa.
13. The kinds of post-harvest losses identified were material losses, losses in value and nutritional losses. Opportunities for increased production or value could be missed because of deficiencies in post-harvest handling and these could also be regarded as a kind of loss. Environmental degradation may occur where extensive fish smoking using inefficient smoking techniques leads to deforestation. General economic development leads to a shift from cured to fresh fish marketing, and post-harvest losses are then more of the financial type rather than material.
14. As to the levels of post-harvest losses it was pointed out that measurement was rather complicated and time consuming, but that for reasons of attracting funds for development action and also for defining this action, realistic estimates were required. Available data on losses of dry matter in cured fish showed a wide range of value, reflecting the differences in product characteristics, storage conditions and storage time. It was noted that little information was available on losses in value, nutritional losses, lost opportunities and environmental losses. The major cause of material post-harvest losses was beetle infestation of cured fishery products.
15. The important role of African inland fish in food supply and income generation was emphasized. It was estimated for example that about 180,000 tons of small pelagic species, caught in the great lakes, provided food for some 60 million people, and had a final product value of some 45 million US dollars. In addition to food, these species provided an estimated 10,000 tons of fish meal used in the Eastern/Southern African sub-region for poultry production. With the exception of some exports, in particular of Nile perch from Kenya, all the inland catches were consumed within the region, thus promoting substantial intra-regional trade in inland fishery products.
16. It was pointed out that whereas the post-harvest sector contributed significantly to fisheries development in some areas, it did not do so in others. Lack of roads connecting producer and consumer centres was identified as the major obstacle to development in the post-harvest sector. Other obstacles identified were lack of research (market research, product development), training opportunities and credit facilities, in particular for small scale operators. As to the latter, the example from Tanzania showed that small operators, in particular women, were very loan worthy.
17. Notable examples of development in the inland fisheries post-harvest sector include the trade in various Nile perch products both within and outside the region (Kenya reported in 1988 export earnings of KSh 400 million, approximately US$ 16 million, from Nile perch); the local trade in fresh, often iced, inland fish in many countries; the use of Limnothrissa in Rwanda and Zimbabwe in fresh, frozen, salted-dried and hygienically dried forms, including mechanically dried; the use of powdered forms of dried fish as weaning food in, for instance, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya; and the controlled use of approved insecticides on cured fish in Malawi and Mali.
18. The Committee noted that cooperative research in the post-harvest sector was carried out in the framework of the Cooperative Research Programme on Fish Technology in Africa, coordinated by FAO. This programme had fostered research and technical cooperation among scientists in participating institutions, strengthened national research capabilities and facilitated the exchange of information and transfer of technology. It was, however, recognized that FAO's Regular Programme funds were not sufficient to bring out the full potential of the Cooperative Programme and that extra budgetary support was urgently needed.
19. Possible actions which could be undertaken to deal with the problems identified above include:
exchange of information on technologies, product characteristcs and markets in CIFA member countries to serve as examples for development of the post-harvest sector in other member countries;
the improvement of infrastructure, in particular roads and other communication to link producers in a more direct way to consumers, including those in export markets and alleviation of other constraints such as inadequate human resources and lack of credit, while paying attention in particular to the important role that women play in the fisheries post-harvest sector;
recognizing and strengthening of the important role of research in fish technology (including demonstration, product development, market research and consumer research) as a catalyzer of development;
strengthening of human resources in fish technology and marketing through adequate training;
education of consumers and promotion of consumption of those products that would help alleviate post-harvest losses, but which are unfamiliar at present, such as salted-dried products in some countries;
CIFA member countries ensuring that pesticides used in preserving fishery products are approved for use on food by the Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Pesticide Residues and that residues are within the limits established by this Committee, while regular checks should be implemented on stored cured fishery products to check for residues of unapproved pesticides;
noting that pollution of certain inland water bodies in Africa by fertilizers and pesticides/herbicides from agriculture and by raw sewage appears to affect the quality of fish caught in these waters, research should be carried out in all water bodies to monitor pollution of them and the effect it has on the quality of the fish;
recognizing that fresh fish marketing brings higher returns to fishermen, facilities such as the “bandas”1 in Kenya should be provided and investments, such as ice machines, insulated boxes and vans, should be promoted;
recognizing that fermented fishery products are important in many countries and little is known about such products, a study into types, quantities, markets and economic importance should be carried out in Africa;
member countries should give full support to the Cooperative Research Programme on Fish Technology in Africa and should take note of the generous offer of the International Agency for Rural Industrialization (INARI) to consider requests for assistance in this area;
in order to limit deforestation as a result of fish smoking, the fishery sector should promote the cultivated production of fuelwood as well as the introduction of more efficient smoking techniques such as the Chorkor oven, while encouraging the use of fresh fish and other products which do not require fuelwood.
20. The Secretariat introduced the document - Prospects and Trends of African Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Toward the Year 2000 - presented in Appendix D. The document detailed the present status of inland fisheries and aquaculture which gave an estimated production of 1.8 million tons from inland fisheries and 70,000 tons from aquaculture in 1988. The document forecast a continued modest increase in inland fisheries provided no severe droughts occurred. The production from aquaculture could increase to 120,000 – 130,000 tons by the end of the century. Major constraints related to management, degradation of the environment, training, research, information and investments in the sector were identified.
21. The Committee concluded that there was a potential for increased production from inland waters, which could be realized through improved management of existing stocks, utilization of unexploited stocks and increased exploitation of reservoirs. Expansion of culture-based fisheries and aquaculture provided a vast potential for growth in production. To realize this potential, there was a need to improve the information base for management, infrastructure, support services and training as well as prevent environmental degradation.
22. It was noted that environmental degradation was a major concern for further development. While fisheries and aquaculture were adversely affected by deforestation, soil erosion and pollution, it was pointed out that the causes for these arose from other developmental sectors. There was thus a need for a broad approach at national level in involving and mobilizing those responsible for planning overall basic development sectors to prevent environment problems. With regard to international actions, the Committee was informed that environment would be a major issue for the next session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 1991 and that a United Nations Conference on environment and development would be held in 1992. The question of environment had also been identified as a priority area for the coming biennium in FAO's own programme.
23. Major constraints on development were identified as:
the continuing need for more trained personnel at all levels for research, management and extension. Several countries would need continued external support for training. Regional projects could play an important role in this respect.
lack of statistical data for management and access to information were serious constraints. There was a need to strengthen the flow of information on management methods and technologies between the countries.
the need for intensified applied research. The reserch should be of a multidisciplinary character including also socio-economics. While external assistance would be required in several countries, it was suggested that resources could be increased at national levels by encouraging universities to undertake more applied research.
the economic difficulties that limit investments in management, research, training and infrastructure which are essential elements for the realization of the potential.
24. The Committee noted that further expression of its inter-sessional work through its subsidiary bodies, working parties and networks would depend on the commitment of national administrations and the participation of scientists and fishery workers from the member countries.
25. In order to assist in the development and management of the fisheries of Lake Nasser/Nubia the delegate of Sudan requested that a sub-committee be formed for this reservoir. The request was seconded by the delegate of Egypt. The Committee recommended the formation of this sub-committee provided the participating countries would meet the costs involved.
26. The Secretariat introduced this agenda item on the basis of document CIFA/90/4. The document summarized all the actions that had been taken by FAO concerning the recommendations made and major decisions taken at the Seventh Session of CIFA.
27. No specific discussions were held on this agenda item because most of the actions taken were covered by other items on the agenda. However, the discussions which ensued later on the other related agenda items showed that the Committee was satisfied with the efforts which FAO had made in implementing the recommendations and the results so far obtained. The important role which the two regional projects viz the Integrated Aquaculture Programme for Local Community Development (ALCOM) and the Inland Fisheries Planning, Development and Management in Eastern/Central/Southern Africa (IFIP), had played in assisting member countries in their aquaculture development and fisheries planning was commended. The activities of these regional projects had helped to strengthen national capabilities, enhanced regional collaboration and promoted technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC), it was emphasized.
28. The background and status of the SIFRA activity were summarized. In brief, Volume 2 (Western Africa) had been published and was being distributed; Volume 1 (Central and Southern Africa) had just been published. Volume 3 (Northern Africa) was in the final stages of preparation and its publication was expected by the end of 1990.
29. The Data Base of the Inland Fishery Resources of Africa (DIFRA) had been prepared in a near final form and was demonstrated during the Session. It awaited the final input of data from SIFRA Volume 3. Meanwhile, work was progressing on formulating new potential yield models for African Inland waters using DIFRA. These models would come out in 1991 as a CIFA Occasional Paper, the Committee was informed.
30. Comments on the SIFRA and DIFRA activities were positive. The need to update the data both as national and CIFA Secretariat activities was brought up. The importance of the fishery statistics that make up the SIFRA volumes and data base to individual countries in preparing their own programmes was emphasized.
31. The Committee considered the reports of the Fourth and Fifth Sessions of the Sub-Committee on Lake Tanganyika (CIFA/90/INF.3 and INF. 4). The Committee noted with satisfaction the progress achieved for the implementation of the Regional Fisheries Research Project for Lake Tanganyika. The Committee appreciated the interest expressed by some major donors in funding this regional project, particularly Finnish International Development Agency (FINNIDA), Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) and Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD).
32. The Committee endorsed the reports of the Fourth and Fifth Sessions of the Sub-Committee and in particular the recommendation of the Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee calling for immediate implementation of the regional project. The delegate from Burundi reiterated his country's offer that the regional project be based in Burundi.
33. The new terms of reference of the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika as adopted by the Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee and shown in Appendix F of this report were endorsed by the Committee.
34. The Sub-Committee held its Fifth Session in Mwanza, Tanzania from 12–14 September 1989. The session summarized the recent trends in the fisheries of the lake, which were very similar in all the countries. It also identified the need to study socio-economic aspects of the lake fisheries in more detail. On the basis of these deliberations, a list of priorities for research and management were identified. The principle formulated during the session was that the Sub-Committee be replaced eventually by a Commission formed by the three riparian countries. In view of the long time span needed for the formal establishment of such a Commission, the session felt that the present Sub-Committee should continue as the principal intergovernmenal advisory body for research and management of the fisheries of Lake Victoria.
35. A workshop on statistics had been successfully organized in Uganda (21–26 May 1990) as a follow-up to the Fifth Session. Uganda confirmed its invitation to host the Sixth Session of the Sub-Committee in 1991 after appropriate consultations with the Chairman of the Sub-Committee and the Director-General of FAO.
36. The Committee took note of the report of the Fifth Session (FAO Fisheries Report 430).
37. The report of the Fourth Session of the Sub-Committee held in Conakry, Guinea from 7 to 10 May 1990 was presented. The Committee noted the important constraints related to the development and management of fisheries in the Sahelian zone. It noted in particular that the inland fisheries legislation was in urgent need of revision in that region in order to provide the required framework for fisheries development and management.
38. The Committee felt also that since the Sahelian zone was an area where the environment was extremely sensitive to natural changes or man's action, steps should be taken to include in its fishery management plans, measures to protect the environment.
39. The Committee endorsed the report of the Sub-Committee and its main recommendations. In particular, the Committee urged FAO to take all possible measures to initiate action regarding the formulation of the sub-regional project for planning, management and development of the fisheries in the Sahelian zone requested by the Sub-Committee for the Sahel.
40. The committee also took note of the on-going activity concerning the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad Basin fisheries as explained by the observer from LCBC. It supported the regional programme of action elaborated during the LCBC Seminar on Fisheries Planning and Development held in N'Djamena (Chad) in January 1990.
41. The report of the Second Session (Nairobi, Kenya 23–27 October 1989) was summarized. Noteworthy among the intersessional activities was the publication in an international journal of “Scientific Bases for Pollution Control in African Inland Waters” prepared by the Working Party, and the preparation of “Scientific Bases for Control of Organic Pollution in African Inland Waters”.
42. The future work of the Working Party is to include a paper on metals in the aquatic environment.
43. The Working Paty had recommended that a symposium on pollution and fisheries be held in conjunction with the ninth Session of CIFA. This fits in well with the symposium topic proposed elsewhere during the eighth Session on “Inland fisheries, Aquaculture and the Environment”.
44. In discussion, the need to ensure that the Working Party's publications are distributed to all CIFA member countries was stressed.
45. Following a recommendation of the Sixth Session of CIFA, a working group had been convened to examine the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)/European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) Code of Practice for Minimizing the Risks of Introduction of Aquatic Organisms and modify it to the needs of Africa. The modified code presented in Document CIFA/90/7 was judged to be useful as a set of guidelines to member countries as to how to proceed with their own practices and regulations for introductions of fish species. Some countries also felt that the provisions of the code should apply to aquatic plants. The Committee did not feel, however, that international action for the control of the movement of fish would be practical at the present stage of African fisheries and aquaculture development. It was therefore decided, for the time being, not to proceed further with this issue.
46. A progress report prepared by the Secretariat was discussed. The FAO World Fisheries Conference was held in 1984 and the Strategy endorsed on that occasion was being reviewed every fourth year, the Committee noted. The first review took place in 1987 and the next one was due for the Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries to be held in April 1991. The Director-General of FAO had therefore sought the collaboration of governments and concerned organizations in the preparation of the progress report on the implementation of the Strategy, The Committee was informed.
47. The Committee noted that several governments had already given detailed comments in their replies to the Director-General.
48. The five Programmes of Action adopted by the FAO World Fisheries Conference had a target of US$ 15 million annually, which had been reached. At the Eighteenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries held in 1989 the target was set to US$ 20 million and it was expected that that target would also be reached for regional cooperation.
49. The Committee commended the efforts that had been made with regard to African inland fisheries and stressed the strong need for continued support from donors.
50. The Committee took note of the document prepared by the Secretariat and expressed appreciation for the work being carried out in the member countries by the on-going projects.
51. In discussions under this and other items of the agenda, many delegations remarked that further development of the fisheries sector would depend on continued assistance on all aspects of fisheries and aquaculture through regional and national projects. Areas particularly identified were those of training, the collection and interpretation of fisheries statistical data and aquaculture.
52. The collaboration between FAO and the various African regional and sub-regional bodies was reviewed. The increasing collaboration between FAO and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in assisting those bodies was particularly underlined.
53. Although the number of sub-regional organizations having development expertise in the field of inland fisheries was particularly high in Africa, the Committee noted that CIFA remained the only inter-governmental body dealing exclusively with inland fisheries.
54. The need was identified to reinforce collaboration and cooperation among the various institutions with a view to avoiding duplication of effort and making those organizations more efficient in the field of inland fisheries.
55. The observer for the Scientific, Technical and Research Commission of the Organization of African Unity (STRC/OAU) informed the Session about the activities of his organization, in particular those of the Inter-African Committee on Oceanography, Marine and Inland Fisheries. He observed that there was a proliferation of sub-regional organizations concerned with fisheries in Africa, and suggested that the activities of these sub-regional organizations should be coordinated by a central body, such as OAU, to avoid possible duplication. Several delegates welcomed this suggestion and called for further studies of the role of STRC/OAU in this regard.
56. In introducing this agenda item (document CIFA/90/11), the Secretariat informed the Committee that it had become customary for a major symposium to be held in conjunction with each session of CIFA. Topics covered by past CIFA sessions had included resource evaluation, aquaculture development, rivers and floodplain fisheries, fisheries management and development in river basins, prospects of extension services with particular reference to the artisanal fisheries sector and professional training, as well as the development and management of fisheries in small water bodies. In conjunction with this present session, a symposium on post-harvest fish technology had been organized.
57. The Committee expressed its concern that the cumulative effects of many different human activities were becoming sufficiently large to adversely affect the capacity of the environment to support a greater and sustainable development of fisheries and fishculture. Further noting that such a development might also have adverse effects on the environment, the Committee endorsed the proposal that the theme of the symposium to be organized in conjunction with the Ninth Session should be “Inland Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Environment”.
58. The need to reactivate this Working Party was reiterated by several delegations. A priority topic for consideration should be the synthesis of information on African reservoirs as much work had been progressing on individual water bodies with little communication of information at regional level. The Secretariat assured the Committee that the working group would begin work during the coming intersession and that nominations for participants should be forwarded to the Secretariat by interested member countries with least delay.
59. The Committee was informed that the Fisheries Society of Africa (FISA) was formally launched on 23 October 1990 in Cairo, Egypt. The Assistant Director-General (Fisheries), Dr. Armin H. Lindqusit, on behalf of FAO, wished the new society success.
60. A delegate from Uganda informed the Committee that the European Economic Community (EEC) and the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC) had agreed to finance the immediate reactivation of the African Journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and Fisheries. The Committee expressed its gratitude to EEC and IDRC for the assistance, and delegates were requested to inform potential authors accordingly.
61. The Committee was informed that according to Rule IV.2 of the Rules of Procedure of CIFA, sessions of CIFA were convened by the Director-General of FAO who decided on the date and place of the Session, in consultation with the Chairman and the competent authorities of the host country, taking into account the views expressed by the Committee.
62. With the above understanding, the delegates of Nigeria, Kenya, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Cote d'Ivoire expressed the willingness of their respective countries to host the Ninth session of CIFA in 1993, pending the final approval of their governments, which would be communicated to the Director-General of FAO.
63. The Report was adopted on 25 October 1990.
