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].
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Mozambique. An analysis of the ecosystem approach to fisheries in selected national policy and legal instruments of Mozambique
28/10/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Mozambique 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 Mozambique '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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Benin
01/10/2022
Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others.
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Senegal
20/09/2022
Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others.
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Guinea-Bissau
20/09/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau'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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Gabon
19/09/2022
Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others.
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Angola
19/09/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Angola with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements are reflected in Angola' policies and legislation relevant to the country’s fisheries sector and other sectors that interact with fisheries (such as environment, wildlife and ecosystems, maritime).
Available in
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Madagascar
19/09/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Madagascar with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Madagascar'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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Kenya
14/09/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Kenya 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 Kenya'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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in the Gambia
12/09/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Gambia 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 Gambia'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
Nansen scientific expedition off Mauritania and Senegal 2021 - Findings and recommendations for the management of offshore oil and gas development
12/08/2022
The EAF-Nansen Programme has supported partner countries in their efforts to implement sustainable fisheries since 1975. More recently, work besides fisheries has also been dedicated to addressing human-related pressures on marine ecosystems such as oil and gas exploitation activities, recognizing that these may also represent a major threat to fisheries and ecosystem sustainability.
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Togo
02/08/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Togo with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Togo'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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Thailand
02/08/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Thailand 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 Thailand'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
Legal report on the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Ghana
01/08/2022
The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Ghana with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Ghana'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
Studies on the Mascarene Plateau - Special issue of the Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science
22/07/2022
A research survey was conducted on board the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in May/June 2018 with the aim of characterizing the marine ecosystems and morphology of the Saya de Malha Bank, part of the Mascarene Plateau in the Western Indian Ocean. Some of the major research findings from this Nansen cruise are featured in this special issue of the Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, entitled: “Studies on the Mascarene Plateau.” These contributions present new scientific knowledge for the Mascarene Plateau and can help inform policy and decision-making in the Mascarene region. These scientific data provide a basis for comparison with findings of potential future oceanic research cruises and marine spatial planning processes on the Mascarene Plateau.
Available in
Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) Implementation Monitoring Tool. Assessment Report on progress made on fisheries management between January 2020 and December 2021
05/06/2022
The second evaluation of the small and medium pelagic fishery in the United Republic of Tanzania was carried out in November 2021, by a group of multidisciplinary experts, including fisheries managers, scientists and fishers.
Socio-economic and biological impacts of the fish-based feed industry for sub-Saharan Africa
01/05/2022
The objective of this study was to understand the drivers, outcomes, and trade-offs of the fish-based feed industry for sub-Saharan Africa. The study, using various information sources and mixed methods for data collection and analysis, found that fish-based feeds are mainly exported, offering some economic benefits to governments and fish workers throughout the value chain.
Workshop on habitat mapping. Rome, Italy 4–6 December 2018
28/04/2022
This is the report of the workshop on habitat mapping held as part of the activities under the implementation of the Science Plan of the EAF-Nansen Programme “Supporting the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts”.
Available in
EAF-Nansen Programme expert workshop on ecosystem characterization. Rome, Italy 21–23 August 2018
28/04/2022
As part of the EAF-Nansen Programme activities, a workshop was organized on ecosystem characterization at the FAO Headquarters in Rome from 21 to 23 August 2018 aimed at identifying relevant ecosystem characterization approaches for data limited areas, defining best-practice methods for ecosystem characterization in data limited regions and how these should be applied, and more.
Available in
Identification guide to the mesopelagic fishes of the central and south east Atlantic Ocean
12/04/2022
This identification guide includes 552 species of mesopelagic fishes (i.e. those fishes residing primarily between 200-1000 m depth during daytime) that are known to occur in the central and south east Atlantic Ocean. Fully illustrated dichotomous keys to all taxa are provided. Species are treated in detail, with accounts including the scientific name, FAO common name in English (where available), other useful characters, size, a distribution map, and one or more illustrations. To facilitate even further the identification of the taxa, captions and arrows are added to help users quickly locate their key morphological features. The guide is intended for both specialists, and nonspecialists who have a working knowledge of ichthyology.
Available in
Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) Implementation Monitoring Tool. The United Republic of Tanzania – Assessment Report on progress made on fisheries management between January 2020 and December 2021
25/03/2022
The ecosystem approach to fisheries implementation monitoring tool (EAF IMT) was developed to allow the monitoring of the progress of the EAF implementation and sustainable fisheries management. It allows the implementation of the EAF to be evaluated at different levels: at the level of a particular issue, to the level of EAF component, up to the entire fishery level.
Available in
