The 35th Extraordinary Session of the Coordinating Committee of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC)
The Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) held its 35th extraordinary session of the Coordinating Committee in Dakar from September 19 to 21, 2023
With the exception of the Republic of Cabo Verde, all member states of the SRFC: the Republic of Gambia, the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Sierra Leone, were in attendance.
Also in attendance were technical and financial partners such as Global Fishing Watch, CCLME/FAO and IRD.
The extraordinary session aimed to discuss several important points for the SRFC, namely (i) the state of implementation of the recommendations of the 20th ordinary session of the SRFC Coordinating Committee, held in March 2023, including the organizational reform of the SRFC, (ii) the Commission's Strategic Plan which expires at the end of 2023, (iii) the draft MCS convention, its implementation protocol and the status of the sub-regional Fisheries observer, (iv) the draft additional protocol to the CMA Convention on by catches of marine turtles (MT) and seabirds (SB).
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Elhadji Ibrahima NIASS, technical advisor N°1, representing Mr. Papa Sagna MBAYE, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy of the Republic of Senegal, followed by speeches by Dr. Khallahi BRAHIM, Permanent Secretary of the SRFC and Mrs. Anna MBENGA CHAM, Chair of the Coordinating Committee of the SRFC.
During the session, emphasis was placed on the following points:
Implementation of the Strategic Plan: the coordinating committee recommended the extension of the current 2019-2023 Plan until 2024, in order to allow the development of a new Strategic Plan.
Biennial Action Plan 2023-2024: According to the Permanent Secretary, the plan aims to correct certain shortcomings in the implementation of the orientations of the SRFC Strategic Plan, and highlights priority actions such as the fight against illegal fishing, concerted management of shared stocks, strengthening the coherence of national policies and the harmonization of fisheries legislation, the development of aquaculture and the improvement of conditions for artisanal fishing.
Draft MCS Convention, its application protocol and Draft Status of the sub regional fisheries observer: member states of the SRFC were quick to affirm their firm political will to combat IUU fishing. It is in this regard that the SRFC coordinating committee examined these different consensual texts article by article with a view to establishing a legal instrument to promote good management of fisheries resources. Following this detailed review, the said draft texts of the MCS convention, its application protocol and the Status of sub-regional fisheries observer were amended and technically validated unanimously by the coordinating committee.
Draft protocol implementing the CMA Convention on bycatch of marine turtles (MT) and seabirds (SB): The draft protocol was presented by a team of consultants in charge of its development. They recalled in their presentation that the draft protocol defines the rules for reducing by catches of marine turtles and seabirds in industrial and artisanal fisheries in the SRFC zone. It was recommended, among other measures, the development of a management plan, the implementation of authorized fishing techniques, the establishment of trophic or food migration corridors, etc.
