EC-funded project launched to strengthen Africa’s fish trade

A new pan-African project funded by the European Commission (EC) has been launched to enhance Africa’s fish trade.

Funded by EC, the project ‘FishTrade for a Better Future’ is being implemented by international nonprofit research organisation WorldFish, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources.

The aim of the project is to strengthen value chains and to provide Africa with better access to intra-regional markets, improving food and nutritional security, and income in sub-Saharan regions.

Close to 12.3 million people in the country are directly employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, which produce about 9.9 million tonnes of fish annually. However, despite having enough fish resources, its produce accounts for only 4.9% in the global market.

Inadequate market and trade infrastructure, as well as poor policy implementation are said to be the primary reasons for the country’s poor performance in the fish market globally.

The project will work on gathering information on the structure, products and value of intra-regional fish trade and its contribution to food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

WorldFish director general Stephen J Hall said: "Africa has the potential to develop its fisheries and aquaculture to play a much greater role in promoting food security, providing livelihoods and supporting economic growth. FishTrade will create the foundations for a more solid, productive and sustainable building-up of this great, continent-wide, resource."

The information gathered will be used to prepare recommendations for forming policies, fish certification guidelines, quality and safety standards and regulations.

The second phase of the project would involve strengthening the trade capacities of private sector associations including women fish processors, women traders and all aquaculture producers.

EC programme manager agriculture and rural development delegation of the European Union to Kenya Steve Wathome said: "The EU is convinced that the Fish Trade programme will significantly contribute towards the fisheries sector in Africa. Trade has been identified as one of the major challenges affecting growth of the fish sector in Africa, with challenges being notable with regard to intra-Africa trade and accessing global markets."

---

Image: Felix Kosgey Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, officially addresses participants at the launch of the FishTrade for a Better Future programme. Photo: courtesy of WorldFish.