European purse seine operators have committed to supporting initiatives for artisanal fisheries in West Africa.
The Europêche Tuna Group and COMHAFAT, which represents articanal and other fisheries in 22 African states with Atlantic coastlines, met in Rabat to discuss issues relating to both artisanal and large-scale fisheries, focusing on environmental, economic and social sustainability matters. These included management of tropical tuna species in Atlantic waters, resource sharing, technical measures relating to FADs, African crew working on purse seiners, local investment and inshore facilities.
‘There are a lot of local projects in West Africa. They just need a small push to get started,’ said COMHAFAT Executive Secretary Abdelouahed Benabbou, commenting that this meeting in Rabat is expected to be the first of many.
The EU purse seine operators have committed to launch a partnership with COMHAFAT to support local initiatives for artisanal fisheries.
‘EU purse seiners’ activity depends heavily on trained seafarers and on-shore facilities in West African countries,’ explained Anne-France Mattlet, director of the Europêche Tuna Group.
‘We look forward to this cooperation with COMHAFAT on various projects that will benefit both coastal states and purse seine fisheries.’
