Publications
Below are the most recent CECAF publications. Publications are categorized into four types:
Reports |
Technical and extra-ordinary documents |
CECAF/ECAF Series |
Serial publications |
Statutory meetings |
Regular Committee Meetings and Scientific Sub-Committee meetings |
Working group meetings |
Small Pelagic North, Small Pelagic South, Demersal Species North, Demersal Species South and Artisanal Fisheries working groups |
Recent documents
This summary provides the preliminary results, not yet validated by the Scientific Sub-Committee (SSC) of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), of the twenty-fourth meeting of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa, from 20 to 28 May 2025 in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Scientists from the Gambia, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Spain, and the Netherlands attended the meeting, as well as representatives of the European Commission (DG MARE), the Russian Federation, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), and the EAF- Nansen programme. The overall objective of the Working Group is to assess the state of the small pelagic resources in Northwest Africa and make recommendations on fisheries management and exploitation options aimed at ensuring optimal and sustainable use of small pelagic fish resources for the benefit of coastal countries.
Au Sénégal le secteur de la pêche est plus que vital pour les communautés côtières et de l’inter land du fait de sa contribution à la sécurité alimentaire, à la stabilité sociale mais également à l’équilibre de la balance commerciale. Malgré cela, la pêche artisanale et ses communautés sont souvent vulnérables et sous-représentées dans les processus décisionnels. Pour assurer la gestion durable des ressources halieutiques nécessitant une collaboration vitale entre les parties prenantes et les décideurs à tous les niveaux. Financé par l'Union europeen dans le programme «Amélioration de la gouvernance régionale des pêches en Afrique de l'Ouest» (PESCAO), la Confédération africaine des organisations de la pêche artisanale (CAOPA) et l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’Alimentation et l’Agriculture (FAO) Comité de pêche pour l’Atlantique Centre Est (COPACE), avec l'appui du projet et de l’équipe Moyens de subsistance équitables de la division des pêches et de l’aquaculture de la FAO, a mené une enquête nationale pour mieux comprendre l'état de la cogestion des pêches dans le pays.
This document is the report for the regional meeting held to discuss the results and lessons learnt from the PESCAO Programme. The meeting hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with financial support from the European Union convened 97 participants under the guise of the “Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa” (PESCAO) Programme Component 3 “Improved management of marine resources at the regional level, and enhanced resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems to perturbations” in Abuja from 3 to 5, 2023. The objectives of the meeting were to (i) discus the improved science frameworks, improved science dissemination, improved stakeholder knowledge and collaboration for stakeholders involved in West Africa’s fisheries sector; (ii) showcase Component 3 activities, results and promote exchanges on fisheries research, fisheries management with stakeholders and policymakers in West Africa; (iii) establish a common approach of the status of fisheries knowledge in the West Africa region between implementers and partners and (iv) improve stakeholders' skills to better understand scientific advice and the dissemination of scientific advice for sustainable regional fisheries governance.
This review summarizes the data and methodological gaps identified through the reports of the FAO working groups in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) area. It highlights the need to improve data quality and assessment approaches appropriate to the existing data in the CECAF region. Improving data and access to existing data is a priority for the development and application of more advanced stock assessment models to strengthen the scientific advice provided and to support the CECAF Scientific Sub-Committee and the Committee.
This technical report, prepared by the Artisanal Fisheries Working Group (AFWG) of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), provides a comprehensive analysis of artisanal fisheries data collection systems in the CECAF region, with a specific focus on Senegal, Mauritania, and Ghana. Established under the FAO in 2000 the AFWG of CECAF aims to improve sustainable fisheries management through enhanced data collection and analysis. The report is structured around three core areas: a review of existing data collection systems, an update on priority variables/indicators, and future prospects for strengthening data collection. It offers a detailed analysis of data systems in three key countries: Mauritania, Senegal, and Ghana. The report reveals a variety of approaches for collecting data on fleet, effort, landings, and post-capture activities. It also acknowledges the existence of spontaneous data-gathering operations, such as studies and framework surveys, which have enriched the data pool on small-scale fishing. Despite these efforts, the report identifies weaknesses and threats in the focus countries’ data systems and proposes improvements. It also highlights the challenges of data heterogeneity across countries, which hampers regional data pooling and harmonization. An updated list of approximately 20 priority variables/indicators has been proposed, based on work from the CECAF and the EAF-Nansen Programme.