SADC and FAO Launch Pioneering Report on Small-Scale Fisheries
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration Ms. Angele Makombo N’tumba, has launched the much-anticipated SADC/FAO report titled “The Contribution of Small-Scale Fisheries to Healthy Food Systems and Sustainable Livelihoods in SADC”.
The launch took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during the Africa Small-Scale Fisheries Summit, marking a decade since the adoption of the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines by the FAO Committee on Fisheries in Rome.
Ms. N’tumba hailed the report as a significant milestone, emphasizing the essential role that small-scale fisheries (SSF) play in promoting healthy food systems and sustainable livelihoods across the SADC region.
The report highlights the economic impact, environmental significance, and challenges facing the SSF sector while offering key recommendations for policymakers, including improved governance strategies.
“The report arrives at an opportune time as we celebrate ten years of Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines,” Ms. N’tumba remarked, applauding the SADC Secretariat and FAO for their commitment to the project. “It underscores the dedication and hard work of numerous actors within the SSF value chain.”
Honourable Dr Bizwick Usi, Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources and Climate, underscored the importance of the report as a dynamic tool for policymakers and stakeholders.
He urged the development of Action Plans to implement the report’s recommendations, aiming to enhance the regional fisheries sector.
GIZ Representative Mr Pierre Guillibert, Coordinator for the Global Project for Sustainable Aquatic Foods, stressed the importance of participation, gender inclusivity, and an ecosystem approach in fisheries.
He noted that the new Global Project for Sustainable Aquatic Foods, in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat, would address gaps identified in the report and bolster food security and sustainable food systems.
Prof Riziki Shemdoe, Permanent Secretary of Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, expressed gratitude for the SADC Secretariat’s efforts in crafting and launching the report in Tanzania.
The report, part of FAO’s Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) series, was officially handed over to the SADC Secretariat by Dr Ndiaga Gueye, Senior Fisheries Officer for the FAO Regional Office for Africa. Ms. N’tumba then officially launched the document, which is available for download at FAO’s website.
