27-30 August, Kampala, Uganda. A key pillar in the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa is the promotion of sustainable aquaculture development. The policy objective of this policy arena is to jumpstart market-led sustainable aquaculture through a variety of strategies and where appropriate support interventionist development approaches in aquaculture supported by strong strategic implementation plans.
For sustainable aquaculture development, there is need to develop and implement strategic sectoral environment management approaches that do not just focus at the farm level but to also factor in the wider environment. Sustainable environmental management for aquaculture would enable African Union Member States make more realistic and appropriate aquaculture development plans, approve appropriate projects and institute environmental management practices more effectively. Taking into consideration regional specificities, formulation of regional environmental management frameworks for sustainable aquaculture development should ideally be developed at regional levels. Thus the ultimate objective of these actvities is the formulation of regional environmental management frameworks in the five regions of the continent (West, Central, East, Southern and North) to support sustainable aquaculture development.
With regard to the above, a regional workshop for environmental management for sustainable aquaculture production was organized by AU-IBAR. Working Group Sessions on Environmental Management Issues in Aquaculture Systems in Eastern Africa and The Great Lakes Region.With regard to the above, a regional workshop for environmental management for sustainable aquaculture production was organized by AU-IBAR, in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency on the 27-30 September 2015 in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting was attended by AU Member States from Eastern African and the Great Lakes region, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Fisheries Bodies and the FAO. The Director of AU-IBAR was represnted by Dr. Mohamed Seisay, the Senior Fisheries Officer, who expressed appreciation to the People and Government of Uganda for the opportunity accorded to AU-IBAR to host two related events within four months in the country.
The meeting was officially opened by the Commissioner of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Uganda, Mr. Lovelock Wadanya, on behalf of the Hon. Minister of State for Fisheries in Uganda, Professor Nyiira Zerubabel Mijumbi who welcomed the participants and expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the organizers who have for the second time in a row selected Uganda as the AU-IBAR destination of choice for yet a high profile meeting.
The main outcomes of the meetings were :
- Reinforcement of capacity of participants on evironmental impact assessment in aquaculture systems.
- Reinforcement of capacity of participants on the principles of ecosystems approach to aquaculture at the sectoral level.
- Identification of main ecosystem and biosecurity issues in aquaculture environmental management systems in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
- Identification of socio-economic issues (including policy and governance) in aquaculture environmental management systems in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
- Development of draft guidelines for environmental management framework for sustainable aquaculture development in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.