Technical workshop on small-scale fisheries in the Maghreb: state of the fisheries and data collection

More than 50 representatives from fisheries administrations, small-scale fisheries organizations and research institutions from Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia gathered in Tunis to prepare for data collection on small-scale fisheries in the Maghreb countries 2020. The workshop was organized by the FAO Subregional Office for North Africa (SNE).

During 3 days, the participants reviewed the status of small-scale fisheries in the sub-region, shared experiences and identified priorities in terms of data collection. It was recommended to focus on assessing the spatial distribution of marine small-scale fisheries, complementing other related activities in the region, for example the socio-economic data collection conducted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to support better fisheries management and governance.

Considering that the majority of fisheries in the Maghreb countries is small-scale, an increased understanding of the sector and better harmonization of data collection are greatly needed. This will also support the implementation of the GFCM Regional plan of action for small-scale fisheires in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

the workshop was organized by FAO-SNE