CECAF promotes the sustainable utilization of the living marine resources within its area of competence by the proper management and development of the fisheries and fishing operations.
Functions
The Committee has the following functions and responsibilities:
- Review the state of the resources within the CECAF area of competence;
- Promote, encourage and coordinate research on the living resources and draw up programmes required to organize such research;
- Promote the collection, interchange, dissemination and analysis or study of statistical, biological, environmental and socio-economic data and other marine fishery information;
- Establish the scientific basis for regulatory measures leading to the conservation and management of marine fishery resources, to formulate such measures through subsidiary bodies,
- make appropriate recommendations for the adoption and implementation of these measures
- provide advice for the adoption of regulatory measures by Member Governments, sub regional or regional organizations, as appropriate;
- provide advice on monitoring control and surveillance, especially as regards issues of a sub-regional and regional nature;
- encourage, recommend and coordinate training in the priority areas of the Committee;
- promote and encourage the utilization of the most appropriate fishing craft, gear and techniques;
- promote dialogs between institutions within the sea area served by CECAF and to review working arrangements with international organizations that share related objectives within the area.