At a time when countries across the Caribbean are faced with economic challenges, innovation in one of its prime sectors – the fisheries and aquaculture sector – can spur the kind of growth needed to help buttress the regional economy. But this kind of change won’t come overnight. The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is working with Member States from around the region, as they prepare to take the first steps in converting fish waste to fish wealth – a change which could multiply earnings from the sector.
In 2001 and 2008 the Asian Development Bank undertook studies to quantify benefits from the fisheries sectors of Pacific Island countries. Summaries of those studies are provided in Appendix 1 of the present book. In February 2014 discussions between the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) resulted in an agreement to sponsor an update of the earlier publications. A consultant was retained and the fieldwork to collect information began in early August 2014, and was completed in early November.
At a time when countries across the Caribbean region are faced with economic challenges, innovation in one of its prime sectors—the fisheries and aquaculture sector—can spur the kind of growth needed to help buttress the regional economy. However, this kind of change won’t come overnight. The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is working with Member States from around the region, as they prepare to take the first steps in converting fish waste to fish wealth—a change which could multiply earnings from the sector.
Ghana and Italy have agreed to promote and create fisheries clusters in the country. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to that effect in Accra between the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Mazara del Vallo-Cosvop of Italy. Sector Minister Sherry Ayittey initialed for Ghana while Giovanni Tumbioli, President of the Fish District of Italy signed for his country. Madam Ayittey revealed that a fish health policy to monitor the quality of fish sold to consumers will be launched at the end of this month.
The European Union lifted a ban on fish exports from Guinea on Wednesday, after finding that the Western African country had successfully taken action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish are caught illegally each year around the world, corresponding to at least 15 per cent of world catches or a value of around 10 billion euros (11.1 billion dollars) annually, according to the European Commission. As the world‘s biggest importer of fisheries products, the EU has been cracking down on the issue, which depletes fish stocks.
A “ground-breaking” international treaty to combat fishing pirates took effect Sunday, becoming legally binding in 29 countries that so far have adhered to it, the UN’s food agency said. Under it, countries are legally required to inspect trawlers when they enter their ports for signs of illicit catches. “This is a great day in the continuing effort to build sustainable fisheries that can help feed the world,” said Graziano da Silva, director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). We hail those countries that have already signed on to the agreement and who will begin implementing it as of today.
The Fisheries Commission fears an imminent European Commission (EC) ban on the exportation of Ghana's fish again, if the fisheries laws are not enforced to the letter. About eight months ago, the EC, which is the executive of the European Union and promotes its general interest, lifted an export ban on Ghana, citing significant reforms in Ghana's fisheries governance. But recent illegal activities are getting the EC worried again.
EU vessels to catch shrimp, tuna and other fish in return for funds, but critics say there is little evidence that EU cash is helping Mauritanian fishing communities. The EU has renewed a four-year fishing agreement with Mauritania that will allow more than 100 EU vessels into Mauritania’s waters in return for funding that will support local fishing communities.
The European Union has renewed a four year fishing agreement with Mauritania that will allow over 100 EU vessels into Mauritania’s waters in return for funding that will support local fishing communities. But the deal has its critics. The agreement, which was greenlit by the European Parliament, is an avenue for the member states to bolster a burgeoning domestic demand for fish that the bloc is unable to satisfy. Since 2009, EU imports of fish stock for local consumption have risen by 6% each year. In 2014 alone, the bloc imported €21 billion, quadruple that of meat imports. The agreement, which dates back to 1987, is considered crucial because it is the most comprehensive the EU has had with any African country and belongs to the sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) that gives EU vessels access to third countries fishing waters. The new deal will come under the umbrella of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, which has committed the bloc to more sustainable fishing, in stark contrast to the overfishing of the African coast that was undertaken in the past.
Source: euractiv.com
Not only did the state company EMATUM (Mozambique Tuna Company) borrow hundreds of millions of dollars on the European bond market to purchase a brand new fleet of fishing boats, but it now turns out that the boats are not fit for purpose. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Adriano Maleiane, told deputies of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, last week that ten of the 24 EMATUM fishing boats are being refitted in South Africa so that they meet the technical specifications demanded by the European Union for boats that catch fisheries produce intended for the European market. But the boats were all built at a shipyard, Constructions Mechaniques de Normandie (CMN), in the French port of Cherbourg, and France is a member of the European Union. Maleiane was thus effectively claiming that boats built recently in a European shipyard do not meet the European Union's own specifications for fishing boats.
Source: allafrica.com