CFI in Côte d’Ivoire
For Côte d’Ivoire, artisanal fisheries play a big role in the country’s fishing sector, representing 70 percent of national production, at around 100 000 tonnes a year. Fish is a popular and important source of food for many Ivorians, contributing close to 40 percent of all animal protein consumed annually.
Coastal fisheries also provide thousands of jobs – over 70 000 direct jobs and 400 000 indirect jobs for the West African country. Coastal fish, such as sardines, help to supply local and central markets such as the economic capital, Abidjan and the port city of San-Pédro. Smoked fish products, for which mangrove wood is often used to give the fish the smoky taste, is primarily for domestic demand and consumption. Women, who make up for almost two-thirds of the coastal fishing and post-harvest job market, mainly carry out the fish smoking process.
The country also has around 9 000 hectares of mangrove forests, which are by nature natural fishing grounds. However, many mangroves have suffered degradation or loss. This is mainly because mangrove wood is chopped down to be used to smoke fish and as firewood to cook meals.
Over five years, the CFI team will work with stakeholders in Côte d'Ivoire to make coastal fisheries more sustainable, protecting the environment - including mangrove conservation work – to deliver economic and social benefits for Ivorians.
FAO and partners will carry out a number of activities, including:
- Improving fisheries governance and management;
- Restoring mangrove forests for better fisheries;
- Capacity building and best practices in coastal fisheries.