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14 and 18 March 2024, Virtual

In collaboration with the SVC4SIDS project, FAO's EAF Nansen Programme delivered virtual training sessions on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) on 14 and 18 March 2024. This initiative highlights FAO's unified commitment to sustainable fisheries management.

The EAF is a framework adopted and promoted by FAO to manage fisheries considering the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability through an integrated approach. A key focus of the training was to introduce its concepts and applications, including some of tools and resources available for strategic planning and the definition of management measures in consultation with stakeholders.

Cabo Verde, as an African small island developing state, relies on its fisheries sector for food security, employment, and income generation. Despite an increase in fisheries production over the past decades, recent SVC4SIDS's value chain analysis findings indicate potential stock deterioration, particularly of the mackerel scad. Addressing these challenges through improved fisheries management and capacity building in EAF is an important step toward sustainable fisheries.

The training was officially opened by Ms Merete Tandstad, Coordinator FAO EAF-Nansen Programme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO, and Ms Iolanda Brites, Officer, Direção Nacional de Pesca e Aquacultura (DNPA). It was facilitated by Mr José Lopes da Veiga, National Project Coordinator, and attended by 20 participants from diverse institutions in Cabo Verde, including DNPA, Instituto do Mar (IMAR), Escola do Mar (EMAR), and the private sector, SUCLA. The training covered essential EAF concepts and applications and the practical aspects of implementing EAF, including defining operational objectives, selecting indicators and performance criteria, and conducting risk assessments. It also provided opportunities for sharing experiences from other cases, such as in Lebanon, Malawi, and Turkey.

The training session highlighted the need for sustainable fishing practices that are ecologically responsible, socially acceptable, and economically viable. This comprehensive approach requires collaborative efforts among various stakeholders, including government agencies, fishing communities, and dependent industries. 

Photo: Mr Marcelo Vasconcellos, Fishery Resources Officer at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, leads the EAF training sessions.

About the EAF Nansen Programme

The EAF-Nansen Programme is a partnership between FAO, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), regional organisations, and partner countries in Africa and the Bay of Bengal. Since 1975, the Programme has collaborated with 58 countries across Africa, Asia, and South America, assisting them in both fisheries research and management.

Collaboration between SVC4SIDS project and EAF Nansen Programme

Since early 2024, the SVC4SIDS project has been collaboratively working with the EAF Nansen Programme on activities in Cabo Verde, focusing on updating the fisheries management plan. This aligns with Cabo Verde's Strategic Plan for Marine Research 2023-2030 and is part of the comprehensive applied research strategy developed by IMAR. The collaboration will continue throughout 2024 to finalise the improved management plan.