An overview of a strategy for promoting fisheries and aquaculture data collection and handling

1. OVERVIEW OF THE PAN-AFRICAN
STRATEGY ON FISHERIES AND
AQUACULTURE DATA COLLECTION,
ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION:
IMPORTANCE AND WAY FORWARD
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

2. Background
• Reliable data key for informed decision making in fisheries
• In 2012, 39% out of 54 African countries could not provide
national fisheries statistics, 22% of data submitted were
inadequate relative to importance of the countries’ fisheries
• African Union thus prioritised the development of a Pan-
African Strategy to improve fisheries and aquaculture data
collection, analysis and dissemination.
• NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency led the
development of the strategy and the FAO, through the
NEPAD-FAO Fish Programme, and the support of the African
Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

3. Objective and Outcome
Objective
• To provide a framework and guidelines that should lead to
improvements in the availability and quality of national and
regional data to support fisheries management,
aquaculture development and policy development in
Africa.
Outcome
• To ensure that fisheries and aquaculture data collection
systems designed and implemented are accurate,
relevant, timely, comparable, available and accessible
• Time frame of the strategy: 2014 – 2019
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

4. Thematic areas
1. A conceptual framework (biology & ecology, economic,
social human well being and governance) and guiding
principles (e.g. CCRF)
2. A list of core indicators/variables to be collected at the
national level e.g. fleet, fish catch, effort etc.
3. The institutional setting for the exchange of information
• MS should collect, analyse, disseminate and store
fisheries data
• MS should provide data to the regional bodies for
the management of shared stocks and also regional
policy development.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

5. Thematic areas
• MS are to provide data to global fisheries body (FAO)
on production, trade of fishery products,
employment and fleets
• FAO should collate the national data into the global
fishery databases that are made available to the
public and are largely used for trend studies and
analysis
• FAO is to manage data from FIRMS and RFBs.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

6. Thematic areas continued
• At national level, MS should ensure that fisheries data
collection is integrated with the National Statistical System
(NSS) and included in the National Statistical Development
Strategy, and receives adequate financial and human
resources for its effective implementation
• At regional level, regional organisations should ensure that
sufficient means are provided for a reliable and viable
statistical system (human and financial resources as well
as equipment) put in place and that it is operational and
delivering fisheries and aquaculture information to users.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

7. Thematic areas
4. Fisheries and aquaculture statistics and its incorporation
into National Statistical Systems and the National Strategy
for the Development of Statistics (NSDS): Fisheries data
should be incorporated into national statistics. The NSDS
is to enables developing countries to build a reliable
statistical system to produce data for national
development policy
5. Capacity building at national, regional and global levels
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

8. Thematic areas
6. An action plan for implementation including
considerations for funding:
• MS should ensure that fisheries data collection,
analysis and dissemination is fully integrated into the
National Strategy for the Development of Statistics
(NSDS).
• Member States should ensure that sufficient funds
are allocated for fisheries and aquaculture data
collection, analysis and dissemination.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

9. Thematic areas
• Regional bodies should ensure that a detailed and
costed vision for statistics is developed and that
sufficient funds are allocated for storage, processing,
analysis and retrieval of fisheries and aquaculture
information.
• The AU should endeavour to collaborate with other
institutions, including the AfDB, in the implementation
of the Pan- African Strategy including the establishment
of reliable data centres for fisheries and aquaculture
statistics on the Continent.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

10. Way Forward
Post TCP 3512?
Other initiatives?
How do we get our states to
fund data collection
• Equipment
• Enumerators
remuneration
• Training
• Etc.
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019

11. Conclusion
• The Strategy aimed at improving and making available
fisheries and aquaculture data from the Member States
for a better assessment of the status and trends of
fisheries and management of the fisheries resources.
• Key areas of action are :
 Capacity building, including storage and exchange of
information systems
 Coherence and coordination
 Ownership and funding and
 Monitoring and reporting
Tema, 27th and 28th March, 2019