Presenting insights from the inaugural meeting of the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM) Think Tanks Executive Committee, this brief is a collaborative effort with the AFRM Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Working Group and regional experts.
Summary:
• African SSF contribute over 60% to fisheries production, supporting livelihoods and food security.
• Challenges include weak governance, inadequate data, and high post-harvest losses.
• The policy brief emphasizes the critical role of accurate and timely data for sustainable SSF development.
Key Issues:
• Weak institutional capacities for data collection and interpretation.
• Inadequate funding and low investment in data collection.
• Limited adoption of modern technologies for data collection.
Main Actions for Success:
• Disseminate Pan African Fisheries Data Collection Strategy.
• Conduct targeted training for AU Member States.
• Source adequate funding for data collection systems.
• Incorporate fisheries data in the Animal Resource Information System (ARIS) at AU-IBAR.
Policy Recommendations:
• Fast-track the incorporation of fisheries data into the Animal Resources Information System at AU-IBAR.
• Build capacity at community and institutional levels for data collection.
• Standardize and harmonize data collection protocols.
• Enhance application of modern technologies for data collection.
Conclusion:
Improving data collection, sharing, and dissemination is crucial for the sustainable management and development of Small-Scale Fisheries in Africa. Robust mechanisms are needed for informed policy decisions and the empowerment of fishing communities.
