African Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture yesterday gathered at the African Union Commission offices for the second edition of the Conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) themed “Transforming Africa’s Fisheries & Aquaculture for Food & Nutritional Security, Improved Livelihoods & Wealth”.

The conference’s main objective is to present and adopt the first ever continental Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa.

The Framework provides structured guidance to Africa’s fisheries management agencies and other stakeholders to facilitate reforms towards coherent national and regional policies.

This will ensure wealth-generating potential, sustainable social, environmental and profitable outcomes for Africa and its people.

“Over the past five years we have succeeded in prioritizing fisheries and aquaculture on development agenda at national, regional, continental and global levels.” This was said by the NEPAD Director of Programmes, Mrs Etherine Lisinge-Fotabong,  speaking on behalf of the NEPAD Agency CEO.

She emphasised NEPAD’s appreciation of donor support .“The last four years has seen unprecedented support to the NEPAD’s PAF Programme. We would like to thank all our partners, particularly, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) who provided us with fund for the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF)” she said

In his presentation during the Ministerial Dialogue on Fisheries and Aquaculture, NEPAD Head of Fisheries, Dr Sloans Chimatiro said that the key message conveyed in the framework is that opportunities exist for fisheries to generate more wealth for the continent, if only, Africa increases awareness amongst policy makers on the value of the fish resources.

“We also need to create an enabling environment that provides countries (and fishers) with incentives and confidence to invest in and manage the fish resources. Africa needs to realise the socio-economic potential of fish resources” he said