notice of creation of a platform

Posted by Naoufel Haddad on 22 May 2021 10:55 PM CAT

 constitution of a Platform of South Mediterranean non-state actors in the fisheries and aquaculture sector

• Considering the importance of the fisheries sector in the southern Mediterranean countries and its economic and social role,

• Considering the efforts of international and regional structures supporting the participation of non-state actors in the formulation of decisions of particular interest for the development of uniform policies and regulations for the sustainable management of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in developing countries; Member States of the African Union and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean;

• Considering the accession of Mauritanian non-state actors to the West African Platform during the workshop held in Lomé (Togo) from 19 to 21 September 2016,

• Considering the common features of the southern Mediterranean, in particular the marine environment,

• Considering the non-participation of non-state actors in Egypt and Libya in any regional platform despite their importance in the fisheries sector of the African continent,

• Considering that the status of small-scale fishing remains marginalized and complains of numerous shortcomings and that the artisanal fisherman is still operating under difficult conditions,

• Considering the importance of dialogue, coordination and exchange of experiences between non-state actors,

Following the subregional workshop to support professional fishing organizations in North Africa organized in Bizerte, Tunisia, from 24 to 26 September 2013, during which the participants decided to create a fishing platform including associations and professional organizations, we announce the launch of the creation of a platform for non-state actors in fisheries and aquaculture in the southern Mediterranean. This platform generally aims to help their members contribute to the fight against poverty and food security through the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the region. In particular, it aims to:

•     Support fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders in Southern Mediterranean countries to ensure the effective implementation of the fisheries and aquaculture reform policy framework and strategy at local, national level and regional;

•     Ensure the principles of participatory governance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector and coherence and sustainability of policies and interventions to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods for different actors;

•     Provide space for coordination and pooling of non-state actors' efforts to build solidarity, share knowledge and experiences, and develop regional initiatives;

•     Contribute to the dissemination of good practices and innovations, as well as the evaluation and dissemination of research results;

•     Promote initiatives for transparency, the ecosystem approach and precautionary principles in the fisheries and aquaculture sector;

•     Improving the governance and technical capacity building of non-state actors in areas related to the development of fisheries and aquaculture in their countries

•     Exchange of information on experiences and challenges arising from the exploitation of sovereign fisheries;

•     seek financial and technical resources for the proper functioning and sustainability of this platform and establish and activate action plans;

•     Work and cooperate with international and regional organizations supporting the organization of the profession and those facilitating their participation in the formulation of decisions at the international level with a view to rationalizing the exploitation of fishery resources;

The founders of the platform agreed to facilitate and encourage the integration of various professional and non-state organizations active in the fisheries sector in the southern Mediterranean countries with the creation of two offices (an office for non-state actors in North Africa and a second for southern Mediterranean countries located on other continents).

A provisional executive office has been created to prepare the draft statutes, the internal regulations and the action plan for the next period.