African journalists, experts discuss sustainable fisheries

Elmina (C/R), Mar. 3, GNA - More than 100 African Journalists and fisheries experts have converged at Elmina in the Central Region to discuss challenges and opportunities in the African fisheries sector and how the media can contribute to its sustainability.

The project dubbed: 'The African Journalist for Sustainable Fisheries workshop', is being attended by participants from countries including Ghana, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Togo.

The five-day workshop under the theme: "Harnessing the power of the media to raise Awareness on Africa's fisheries", was also aimed at assisting African journalists in producing fact-based reports on fisheries to create awareness and an enabling environment for reforms.

It is being jointly hosted by the World Bank and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with USAID and the West Africa Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission.

The fisheries sector plays a crucial social and nutritional role in Africa.

Averagely, fish and fish products account for 18 per cent of animal protein intake by African consumers while the sector provides employment for more than 12 million people.

Currently, fisheries and aquaculture sector contributes 24 billion dollars to the African economy, representing 1.3 percent of the total African GDP in 2011.

However, this generates far lower returns than was expected, because of over-exploitation, poor management, and illegal fishing.

Prof Martin Tsamenyi from the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong , said there is the need to enforce the various fisheries laws to the sustainability of the sector.

Mr Brain Crawford, Director of Sustainable Fisheries Management Project of USAID, said open access and subsidies on fuel for fishing were some of the problems facing the sector and must be addressed.

GNA