In collaboration with regional organizations and 32 countries across Africa and the Bay of Bengal, the EAF-Nansen Programme is improving fisheries management in line with the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), strengthening the capacities of fisheries institutions and generating scientific knowledge on marine resources and ecosystems.
Building on lessons learned from previous phases, the current Programme contributes to improved food and nutrition security. From 2024-2028, it will focus on bridging science and fisheries management for strengthened ocean governance, while addressing challenges like pollution and climate change.
It contributes to FAO's vision for FAO's vision for the Blue Transformation of aquatic food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
EAF-Nansen Programme and the UN Decade of Ocean Science
In 2021, the Programme became part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) – a UN-wide initiative that provides a common framework for international dialogue and global action to ensure that ocean science can fully support nations to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Being a UN Decade Action Programme, it actively contributes to six of the ten Ocean Decade Challenges, and is fully aligned with the mission to generate transformative ocean science solutions for the ocean, while fostering connections between people and the ocean [more].
Fish for tomorrow. Strategic objectives and new rules for sustainable fishing in São Tomé and Príncipe (available in Portuguese)
18/11/2025
Fishing is central to the economy, food security, and coastal livelihoods of São Tomé and Príncipe, with artisanal fishers providing essential income and nutrition. Growing pressure on marine ecosystems requires coordinated, science-based action to ensure long-term sustainability. This leaflet outlines the new policy guidance, recent legal updates, sustainable fishing practices, and what these changes mean for artisanal fishers and coastal communities.
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in South Asia
24/09/2025
Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries is complex, as it spans social, economic, environmental, and institutional factors. FAO and the Bay of Bengal Programme prepared the first subregional legal report for South Asia, reviewing Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. The report highlights common practices and gaps, offering guidance to strengthen policy and legal frameworks for better implementation.
The impact of marine litter on the beach seine fishery of four countries in the Gulf of Guinea: Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo
13/08/2025
Artisanal sea-based fisheries are vital for nutrition and income in West Africa. This report presents a preliminary study by the EAF-Nansen Programme on the social and economic impact of marine litter on beach seine fishing in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. Using common data protocols, the study aims to inform local, national, and regional measures to reduce marine waste and improve the sustainability of coastal fishing communities.
Establishment of national fisheries "gender desks" in the Gambia and the United Republic of Tanzania
07/08/2025
A "gender desk" is an effective tool for integrating gender into fisheries ministries. This report summarizes lessons from establishing one in The Gambia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources, supported by the EAF-Nansen Programme. It also draws on the experience of strengthening an existing desk in the United Republic of Tanzania. Both cases offer observations and lessons to inform future "gender desks" in the fisheries sector.
Supporting sustainable fisheries in São Tomé and Príncipe (available only in Portuguese)
02/07/2025
Fisheries are a cornerstone of São Tomé and Príncipe’s economy, food security, and coastal livelihoods. Artisanal fishing operators provide vital income and nutrition for thousands of households. However, increasing pressure on marine ecosystems requires coordinated, science-based efforts to ensure long-term sustainability. This fact sheet provides a concise overview of the work carried out to address these challenges.
EAF-Nansen Programme. A partnership for sustainable fisheries and improved food and nutrition security (2024-2028)
11/04/2025
The EAF-Nansen Programme, a partnership between FAO and Norway with IMR, supports 32 countries in Africa and the Bay of Bengal to apply the EAF for sustainable fisheries. From 2024–2028, it bridges science and management to improve ocean governance, tackle pollution and climate change, and advance FAO’s Blue Transformation and the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
Coral habitat fauna of northwest Africa: A photographic guide to taxa identification
01/04/2025
This photographic guide presents 167 taxa observed in coral habitats shallower and deeper than 200 m off Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal during the 2020–2021 R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen surveys. It includes hard corals, sea anemones, hydrozoans, bryozoans, sponges, polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, ascidians, and fishes. It serves as a basic tool for taxonomic identification in the region.
Beyond borders: Advancing food and nutrition security through sustainable fisheries. Key achievements of the EAF-Nansen Programme 2017–2023
28/02/2025
This publication presents the results achieved from 2017–2023, and the phase referred to as “The EAF‑Nansen Programme: supporting the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, considering climate and pollution impacts”.
Available in
EAF-Nansen Programme’s work on marine litter and microplastics. Summary of achievements 2019–2023
27/02/2025
This report provides a summary of the results achieved by the EAF-Nansen Programme as part of its Science Plan, through additional funding received under an addendum, on the occurrence and impacts of marine litter and microplastics in the Gulf of Guinea.
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Shared fish stock management in the Benguela Current region. Workshop report, Cape Town, 8–9 November 2023
27/02/2025
This report presents lessons and key challenges from the participants’ assessment of the history of shared stock management in the region and the network of fisheries actors influencing this management. It then synthesizes visions of shared stock management in 2035 proposed by the participants.
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Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Cameroon. An analysis of the ecosystem approach to fisheries in selected national policy and legal instruments of Cameroon
17/01/2025
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Cameroon with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in Cameroon's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs).
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Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Equatorial Guinea. An analysis of the ecosystem approach to fisheries in selected national policy and legal instruments of Equatorial Guinea
17/01/2025
This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in Equatorial Guinea's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs).
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Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Mauritius. An analysis of the ecosystem approach to fisheries in selected national policy and legal instruments of Mauritius
17/01/2025
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Mauritius with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in Mauritius' policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs).
Available in
First meeting of the Acoustic Working Group for northwest Africa, Agadir, Morocco 11–12 June 2019
09/12/2024
The report presents the content and outcome of this first AWG, including recommendations for acoustic methods to be used, studies to be conducted and operations of the group in the future.
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Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in India. An analysis of the ecosystem approach to fisheries in selected national policy and legal instruments of India
18/11/2024
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of India with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in India's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs).
Available in
Lessons learned on establishing a "Gender Desk" within a national fisheries institution
28/10/2024
The EAF-Nansen Programme helped establish dedicated "Gender Desk" within the Fisheries Ministries in Tanzania and The Gambia from 2022 to 2023, to mainstream gender in all activities of the institutions’ work within the national fisheries sector. The experience showed that there are different levels of awareness and consideration of gender issues to be taken into account, and that there is a need to build institutional capacity on gender mainstreaming.
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The EAF-Nansen Programme: science for decision-making
20/09/2024
Between 2017 and 2023, the EAF-Nansen Programme conducted 62 research surveys involving over 650 scientists, discovered 24 new species, and developed science-based fisheries management plans benefiting nine countries. The state-of-the-art Dr. Fridtjof Nansen research vessel not only gathers data but also serves as a training platform for researchers and early-career scientists.
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Rapport juridique sur l’approche écosystémique des pêches en République démocratique du Congo
02/09/2024
Légiférer en conformité avec l'approche écosystémique des pêches (AEP) est une tâche complexe, compte tenu de la nature holistique de l'AEP, qui implique une multitude de facteurs étayés par les aspects sociaux, économiques, environnementaux et insti...
Guidance for the sampling, identification and recording of marine litter – Marine Litter Protocol and Identification Guide
17/07/2024
These guidelines have been developed for use by researchers in EAF-Nansen Programme Partner Countries to assist them in sampling, identifying and recording marine litter, to a consistent standard.
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Marine biodiversity of the Saya de Malha Bank shallows: A photographic catalogue
01/07/2024
This photographic catalogue presents 113 taxa observed in shallow waters (<100 m) of the Saya de Malha Bank during the 2018 R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen survey. It includes taxa identified to family, genus, or species level across key groups such as seaweeds, seagrasses, sponges, corals, echinoderms, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish, serving as a basic tool for taxonomic identification in the region.
