EAF-Nansen Programme

Management of beach seine fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea

The beach seine fishery contributes to food security and provides a livelihood for many families within the coastal communities in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin. 

Today, this artisanal activity is threatened because many coastal and marine resources are overexploited, and the marine habitats are highly degraded by human activities and increasing pollution.

In addition, the beach seines catch a lot of juvenile fish, due to the use of seine nets with small mesh sizes. This type of fishing takes place in ecologically sensitive areas, where several species with a high market value for many fisheries reproduce and grow.

This subsistence artisanal activity, if not managed effectively, constitutes an additional threat to the sustainability of the coastal artisanal fisheries resources of the sub-region.

In the Gulf of Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin have all developed and adopted beach seine fisheries management plans consistent with the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). 

The project

The projects that support the Management of beach seine fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea are aimed at supporting the implementation of concerted management plans in order to harmonize fisheries management through regional collaboration.

The projects support the organisation of practical training on fisheries management according to EAF principles. The projects also promote integrating gender equality in the fisheries sector, in accordance with the EAF-Nansen Programme Gender Strategy.  

The activities will also cover awareness-raising activities and management measures at community level on the impacts of marine waste and microplastics.

Expected results

The projects Management of beach seine fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea contribute to the expected results of the EAF-Nansen Programme, particularly that fisheries management institutions manage fisheries according to the EAF principles and related indicators.

The projects contribute also towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1 (“no poverty”), SDG 2 (“zero hunger”), SDG 5 (“gender equality”), SDG 13 (“climate action”) and SDG 14 (“life below water”).