Introduction

Recognizing that the level of success in fisheries development projects has been low, the First Consultation of Fisheries Donors was organized in 1986 to share experiences on fisheries projects and find ways of improving them. One of the major recommendations of that meeting was to undertake a study of the international fisheries research needs for developing countries.

This Study of International Fisheries Research (SIFR) was launched in March 1989, under the supervision of the World Bank, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the European Commission (EC) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Funded by 18 multilateral, bilateral and private donors, SIFR prepared a diagnosis of the fisheries and aquaculture sector for South and Southeast Asia, South America and Africa. It also formulated a strategy to strengthen research in these areas and to promote the development of this sector until the year 2000. With reference to aquaculture and Africa, two reports were published (Edwards et al., 1991; Pauly et al., 1991).

The results of the study were discussed in October 1991 at the Second Consultation of Fisheries Donors. Participants indicated that further work was required on the indicative action plan which was not sufficiently specific. A more direct participation of the recipient countries in determining the research priorities was recommended. It was also requested that the members of the SIFR Steering Committee (World Bank, EC, FAO, IDRC, NORAD and UNDP) take specific actions for worldwide diffusion of the information about SIFR and for the improvement of the Indicative Action Plan.

In line with its programme to improve the focus on the assistance needs of developing countries and as an answer to the request of the Second Consultation of Fisheries Donors, FAO launched in 1992 three regional follow-up studies on “Aquaculture Research capabilities, needs and priorities” in Latin America, in the Mediterranean Region and in Africa South of the Sahara. The draft report of the Latin American study has been discussed in July 1993 at the Sixth Session of the COPESCAL Working Party on Aquaculture. The draft report for Africa South of the Sahara was discussed in September 1993 at the Second Session of the CIFA Working Party on Aquaculture, and the study for the African countries bordering the Mediterranean should be discussed in 1994 in connection with a meeting of the UNDP/FAO MEDRAP II Project. The reports of meetings already held have been channelled to the SIFR Executive Secretariat and will, hopefully, be discussed at the Third Consultation of Fisheries Donors, scheduled for early 1994.

The FAO/SIFR follow-up study in sub-Saharan Africa was launched in July-August 1992. According to the financial resources available, 14 countries (Figure 1) were selected on the basis of the relative importance of their aquaculture sector, its development potential and the possibility of having access to reliable information¹. One senior resource person was approached in each country to prepare a National Study on aquaculture development and research, according to a standard outline. Following a detailed briefing in November/December 1992 by three FAO staff/consultants and the revision of their first draft during a second visit in January/February 1993 with the same FAO staff/consultants, 12 authors had sent their national study to FAO Headquarters by end April 1993. Burundi and Ghana having not succeeded to prepare such a report were eliminated from the SIFR follow-up study.

The present document on Aquaculture development and research in sub-Saharan Africa is essentially based on the analysis of the 12 National Studies prepared by African senior aquaculturists (Table 1). It is divided into two parts:

¹ The selected countries produced together about 90 percent by weight (85 percent of the total value) of the 1990 aquaculture production in Africa.

1. The study on Aquaculture development and research needs in sub-Saharan Africa mostly synthesizes the information presented in the National Studies on aquaculture development and research, and identifies regional/subregional priorities and constraints.

2. The Indicative action plan for aquaculture research in sub-Saharan Africa proposes a strategy on the basis of which interested donors could reorganize the distribution of limited financial resources in favour of development-oriented aquaculture research, by strengthening both the individual capabilities of the countries and regional/international cooperation.

This SIFR follow-up exercise was jointly financed by FAO, the EC and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). In the field, it was assisted by the FAO “Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme” (ALCOM), headquartered in Zimbabwe and active in the 10 southern African SADC countries.

The first draft of the present document was presented, discussed in detail and amended during the Second Session of the Working Party on Aquaculture of the Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA), convened by FAO in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 13 to 17 September 1993 and attended by all the authors of the national reviews.

The general conclusion of the CIFA Working Party was that the amended Synthesis report reflected adequately the present situation and trends of aquaculture in the countries which had contributed national reports and in the region as a whole. It also recognized that the proposed action programme reponded to the needs of the majority. It therefore accepted the formulation of the nine Aquaculture Research Programmes as amended during the meeting and approved their priority ranking.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

Figure 1. Sub-Saharan Africa and selected countries for SIFR follow-up review

Table 1. List of the National Studies prepared for the synthesis