By Laudia Sawer
Topic, October 02, GNA – The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), along with its national and international partners, has initiated the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP)-Pillar.
The event took place at Tema Canoe Beach and signified the official start of the program's first component, which focuses on enhancing sustainable ocean management and regional collaboration in fisheries across the FCWC area.
Madam Emelia Arthur, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, stated in her opening remarks that the initiative, focused on ocean management, represents a pivotal point in the shared effort to ensure the well-being of the oceans, enhance the durability of the region's fishing industry, and protect the economic stability of coastal areas.
Madam Arthur highlighted that the launch holds significant importance, not just for Ghana but for the entire West Central Gulf of Guinea area, which serves as both a center of opportunity and a region facing critical challenges, with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing being a major issue, causing substantial financial losses and threatening the lives of local fishers.
Common fish populations, like small pelagics, that support millions in our area, can only be maintained via collaborative, science-driven management. Enhancing marine governance is therefore crucial for securing food supplies, employment, stability, and lasting economic growth for our communities.
The minister stated that WASOP is based on three interconnected pillars: enhancing ocean governance, promoting a sustainable blue economy, and conserving and rehabilitating marine and coastal ecosystems, which collectively create an integrated approach to encourage the sustainable utilization and management of marine and coastal resources, while encouraging inclusive economic development throughout West Africa.
She pointed out that the initiative covers 13 coastal nations: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, highlighting the common commitment and collaborative effort in safeguarding the ocean.
Madam Arthur also mentioned that the first pillar of WASOP serves as the basis for this initiative and centers on four main objectives: minimizing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, advocating for science-driven management of shared small pelagic fish stocks, enhancing regional fisheries governance and collaboration, and supporting artisanal fisheries, which play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, ensuring food and nutritional security, and maintaining livelihoods within our coastal areas.
The execution of Pillar 1 will be managed by the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), FAO, the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC/CSRP), and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), working closely with ECOWAS and under the guidance of Expertise France. Their collective technical knowledge and regional authority will be essential for the program's success.
She thanked the European Union for financing the project and for designating Ghana as one of the recipient nations under WASOP, highlighting that the EU's dedication to sustainable oceans and fishery management has been crucial in making this vision a reality, with Ghana eager to pursue a successful collaboration that turns concepts into meaningful outcomes.
Mr. Rune Skinnebach, the European Union Representative in Ghana, stated that water acts as the vital link in the climate system and a route for global interaction, while the ocean offers essential resources and influences all areas of human life, despite facing ongoing challenges.
Mr. Skinnebach emphasized that IUU remains one of the most critical issues in the ocean domain, endangering marine life, coastal populations, and overall food stability, highlighting that these problems cannot be addressed individually; thus, through programs such as WASOP, they seek to strengthen their cooperative actions throughout the area.
"WASOP enhances our joint dedication with Ghana to safeguard and expand the marine economy and to fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. By implementing thorough Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), we seek to address the issue of IUU fishing and promote sustainable ocean management," he stated.
He highlighted that the EU is not present to enforce solutions, as the achievement of WASOP is completely reliant on the judgment of West African governments and their fisheries regulatory bodies, the creativity of the private sector, the commitment of the scientific community, and the enthusiasm of the youth, noting that "This is an African-driven initiative, and we are honored and modest in this process."
Mr. Gaston Djihnto, the Secretary General of the FCWC, and Prof. Berchie Asiedu, the Executive Director of the Fisheries Commission, emphasized the need to maintain fisheries in the area and urged all involved parties to work together to support and protect the industry.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
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