Fish harvesting in Kenya: ©FAO/Ami Vitale

15th September 2015, Addis Ababa– The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched today the East Africa Consultation Workshop on improving small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the context of food security and poverty eradication. This event is organized by the FAO Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) in collaboration with FAO HQ Fisheries Division.

The overall objective of the workshop is to facilitate the understanding of the principles of the SSF Guidelines and their application in order to support sustainable small-scale fisheries in the region; and, it is in response to direct demand from the region, and within the evolving framework of a Global Assistance Programme to support the promotion and application of the Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries.

In his opening remarks, and speaking on behalf of the Sub-Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative to AU and UNECA noted that, collaboration among all stockholders is the key to the implementations of these guidelines. " These SSF Guidelines belong to those who seek to work in partnership among all essential actors to ensure the small-scale fisheries sector’s long term social, economic and environmental development " said Mr. Amadou Allahoury.

Moreover, "we will have to continue our collaboration, and there is a responsibility of all actors to ensure that there is practical implementation of the principles of the SSF Guidelines at community and household levels, and that whatever we do, secures or unlocks the benefits that sustainable small-scale fisheries have the potential to provide in achieving the eradication of both food insecurity and poverty", he added.

During his statements and on behalf of the State Minister of Agriculture for Ethiopia, Mr. Hussein Abegaz Issa from the Fishery Sector, Animal Production and Feed development Directorate emphasized that "these voluntary guidelines are the first internationally agreed instrument dedicated entirely to the immensely important – but until now often neglected - small-scale fisheries sector."

Mr Abegaz Issa concluded his remarks by expressing the commitment of the Ethiopian Government "Ethiopia as a country is looking forward the implementation of this SSF Guidelines and will participate fully to ensure that the guidelines meet the intended purpose".

The East Africa Consultation Workshop convenes 45 participants from government officers, civil society representatives, researchers, regional organization representatives and development partners from the countries covered by the FAO Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa and from Tanzania.

More informations:

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/forum/discussions/SSF_Guidelines

https://sites.google.com/site/smallscalefisheries/tanzania

https://sites.google.com/site/smallscalefisheries/events/kenya

Contact:

Eddy Patrick Donkeng

Communications Officer (FAO SFE)

Email: [email protected]