Statement by Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace,
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union Commission on the occasion of the First Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Fisheries Governance Project of the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
25th February, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya

The Honourable Ruth Ssentamu Nankabirwa, Minister of State for Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of the Republic of Uganda
Representatives of Member States of African Union
Representatives of Regional Economic Communities
Mr. Dominique Davo, Rural Development Advisor, the European Union Delegation
Representative of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, Mr.
Development Partners
Representatives of Regional Fisheries Bodies and of Fishing Communities
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen

I have the pleasure to be here and welcome you all to the first Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Project: "Strengthening institutional capacity to improve the governance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa", commonly referred to as the ‘Fisheries Governance Project’. Your presence here this morning is a demonstration of your continuing commitment to doing everything possible to meet the aspirations of the millions of African citizens in their desire to improve their livelihoods through better management of their fisheries and aquaculture resources. Your abiding commitment is highly commended.

Your presence here, Honourable Minister, shows your commitment and I also salute your leadership of the fiseres sector in Uganda. I also thank you for the words of wisdom that you have just shared for consideration at this meeting.
Thank you Dominique and through you to the European Union for the commitment and collaboration especially with the African Union.
You may recall that in May 2014 during the Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture was adopted by the Honourable Ministers and later endorsed by the AU Assembly of Heads of State of and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, June 2014. This policy framework was formulated against the background of the numerous challenges that continue to impede the prospects of harnessing the full potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector for the socio-economic emancipation of our continent, including the attainment of food and nutritional security, wealth generation and enhancing livelihoods. Some of these key challenges include:
• Weak Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) resulting in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;
• Low returns, in terms of benefits to member states, from the exploitation of fish resources;
• Weak and uncoordinated institutions governing the sector;
• Lack of knowledge and evidence to foster reforms in the sector;
• Untapped potential of small scale fisheries;
• Undeveloped aquaculture sector.
Examples abound both outside and inside the African continent that illustrate the potential of the sector to contribute immensely beyond its traditional role as a source for food and income to supporting economic growth and impacting on other development agendas or initiatives in countries where the sector is well managed and regulated.

The project “Strengthening institutional capacity to enhance governance of the fisheries sector in Africa” was, therefore, formulated to jumpstart the implementation of the Policy Framework and Reform strategy at continental level and to address priority strategic actions identified under the key pillars of the policy framework document, that is:conservation and sustainable use of the fisheries resources; sustainable small-scale fisheries development; aquaculture development; responsible trade and marketing; regional cooperation; awareness creation and capacity development and high seas fisheries.

It is encouraging from the side of the African Union to note that this is one of the unique situations where resources have been available for the implementation of a policy document immediately after its adoption by the AU policy organs. Let me, therefore, take this opportunity to thank the EU for its continuous support to the AU and more specifically to AU-IBAR in the development of Animal Resources development. This support is the first of its kind to the fisheries sector and we look forward to a long and continuous support as has been the case with livestock.

The successful implementation of the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy will require that Member States, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Fisheries Bodies and development partners align their strategies to the policy framework and that support is provided at all levels (national, regional and continental).

Lessons drawn from past experiences indicate that isolated or unilateral approach to solving the complex issues in the fisheries sector cannot successfully be achieved. Thus the present trend in natural resources, including fisheries, is building mutually-reinforcing synergies and complementarities between developing partners. This is of critical importance in ensuring efficient programming and synergistic implementation approach where there are overlaps in interventions by agencies. Of more crucial importance is to ensure that our Member States reap the full benefits from rational interventions by partners. In this regard, I implore our esteemed partners, donors and regional projects to coordinate their interventions for the full benefits of our citizens.

In the above regard, the AU Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture welcomes and highly values the partnerships that have developed over the years throughout my tenure as Commissioner. I must state that the support and collaboration from the European Union and other development and technical partners including AfDB, FAO, the World Bank, UNDP and WWF in fisheries development on the African continent has been impressive and making a truly positive difference in the lives of our citizens. My doors are certainly open for new initiatives in fisheries and aquaculture and thus my Department, would continue to seek renewal and strengthening existing partnerships and building new linkages for the development of this valuable sector, whose vast potential is sure to be unleashed once we deal with the multitude of problems identified. I sincerely look forward to your continued support in this endeavour.

Considering that the Fisheries Governance Project is being implemented in the 54 AU Member States and in the five regions of the African Union, the collaboration of regional institutions, including the Regional Economic Communities and the Regional Fisheries Bodies, is critical to the successful implementation of the project activities. Your anticipated roles in supporting the project in establishing regional apex institutions, such as Regional Centres for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, regional cooperation for negotiating Fisheries Access Agreements, regional networks in the sector, facilitating linkage with relevant institutions at Member States’ level, Civil Society Organizations and promoting ownership of project activities and outcomes would remain crucial. As always, the African Union counts on your valued cooperation during the implementation of the project in your respective regions.

This is the first Steering Committee of this project and I must express my delight at the composition of the participants, which suggests an all-inclusive approach as we go forward with the project. This is of tremendous significance for the ownership of the eventual outcomes of the project activities. We are very pleased with this renewed vigour to take forward the Fisheries Governance Project at the time we are embarking on the implementation of the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation also aimed at attaiing the goal of a food and nutrition secure and poverty free Africa.
Thank you for your kind attention and I wish you all a happy new and productive year and a fruitful meeting.