Joint Ventures

MEPs discuss international challenges to be addressed by EU fisheries and aquaculture policies

MEPs discuss international challenges to be addressed by EU fisheries and aquaculture policies

A new study presented to the European Parliament Fisheries Committee outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the CFP and other EU policies in addressing current and future challenges in fisheries and aquaculture.

African and European stakeholders call for the development of a regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries joint ventures

African and European stakeholders call for the development of a regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries joint ventures

The EU Long-Distance Advisory Council and CFFA co-hosted a seminar end of May in Berlin with key African fisheries stakeholders to discuss issues related to EU fishing companies with investments and operations in Africa.

Liberian artisanal fishers oppose further unravelling of their fishing zone to let trawlers in

Liberian artisanal fishers oppose further unravelling of their fishing zone to let trawlers in

In April 2024, the Liberian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) invited several fisheries stakeholders to validate a draft fisheries management plan for a multi-species deep-water shrimp fishery, which are very vulnerable and already over-exploited. LAFA deplores the absence of an appropriate stakeholder engagement during the development of the plan.

Publication of the list of vessels authorised to fish in Senegal: "The fight for transparency in fisheries is only beginning"

Publication of the list of vessels authorised to fish in Senegal: "The fight for transparency in fisheries is only beginning"

In an effort to promote transparency and fight overfishing, the new Minister of Fisheries, Dr Fatou Diouf, has announced the publication of a list of the vessels authorised to fish in Senegal. The African Confederation of Artisanal Fishing Organisations (CAOPA) comments on this.

Senegalese civil society outlines the challenges of the new president's programme for small-scale fisheries

Senegalese civil society outlines the challenges of the new president's programme for small-scale fisheries

In a position paper, APRAPAM questions the government's proposal to support the production of fish feed and insists instead on the importance of a management plan for small pelagics and the prioritisation of human consumption.

African countries to develop guidelines for the negotiation of fair and transparent fisheries agreements

African countries to develop guidelines for the negotiation of fair and transparent fisheries agreements

At a COMHAFAT workshop held in Abidjan end of October, several regional and pan-African institutions and stakeholders discussed issues of transparency and economic spin-offs of current agreements.

"The European Union must be credible and demonstrate that EU taxpayer’s money is well spent in support of sustainable fishing”

"The European Union must be credible and demonstrate that EU taxpayer’s money is well spent in support of sustainable fishing”

From 8 different African countries, representatives of coastal fishing communities participated to a seminar on the external dimension of the CFP hosted by the EU Long Distance Fisheries Advisory Council (LDAC) in Sweden and then travelled to Brussels where they exchanged with decision-makers from the Commission and the European Parliament.

Cacophony over Cameroon - EU sanctions the country for IUU whilst supporting a value chain involved in IUU

Cacophony over Cameroon - EU sanctions the country for IUU whilst supporting a value chain involved in IUU

Industrial fishing operations in Cameroon’s waters are dominated by trawlers of foreign origin in joint ventures with local entrepreneurs where 83% of these vessels have been found to be connected to entities in China. These trawlers are allowed to exploit fish stocks beyond 3 nautical miles of the coastline, including the highly prized shrimps.

FPAOI calls on countries and actors in the region to engage in the FiTI

FPAOI calls on countries and actors in the region to engage in the FiTI

The Federation of Artisanal Fishers of the Indian Ocean, which includes 36 artisanal fisheries organisations from the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Reunion, highlighted the importance of transparency for the sustainable management of fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean region.

Guinean Artisanal fishermen complain that Asians are fishing in the area reserved for them

Guinean Artisanal fishermen complain that Asians are fishing in the area reserved for them

According to a decree from December 2021, the so-called "advanced artisanal" fishery that local stakeholders complain about is now officially called "semi-industrial" and is reserved exclusively for Guinean fishermen.

Senegal: "If fish is not there, we will not be able to fish, even if they gave us gold canoes"

Senegal: "If fish is not there, we will not be able to fish, even if they gave us gold canoes"

In an interview with Gaoussou Gueye, president of the Association for the Promotion and Empowerment of Maritime Fisheries (APRAPAM), he stresses the key issues that are missing from the agenda for the Presidential Council on Fisheries at the end of May.

CAOPA calls for a more sustainable and transparent framework for fishing joint ventures in Africa

CAOPA calls for a more sustainable and transparent framework for fishing joint ventures in Africa

Following the publication of a common position with CFFA in July 2020, African artisanal fishers are reviving the process of reflection started more than ten years ago on opaque foreign investment in African fisheries through fishing joint ventures.

Senegal: The fisheries ministry will not issue any of the licences to the 54 vessels of Chinese and Turkish origin

Senegal: The fisheries ministry will not issue any of the licences to the 54 vessels of Chinese and Turkish origin

The Senegalese branch of Transparency International underscored the corruption and lack of transparency in fisheries governance and provided recommendations to improve it.

Senegalese fisheries stakeholders protest against its government intention to issue 54 fishing licenses to Chinese and Turkish vessels

Senegalese fisheries stakeholders protest against its government intention to issue 54 fishing licenses to Chinese and Turkish vessels

In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, the Senegalese consultative committee for the attribution of fishing licences was consulted via email for this allocation. Several fisheries organisations have raised sustainability concerns and warned it could endanger artisanal fishing communities’ livelihoods.