Africa Small-Scale Fisheries Summit 2024: Charting a Course for Sustainable Blue Economy

The inaugural Africa Regional Small-Scale Fisheries and Blue Economy Summit, held from June 5-7, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, marked a watershed moment for the continent's fisheries sector. This was one of the major highlights for the second quarter of the year 2024. This groundbreaking event brought together over 470 delegates from 33 African Union member states and three additional countries, creating a vibrant forum for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic planning.

Hosted by the Tanzanian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, in partnership with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the summit served as a precursor to the global SSF Summit scheduled for July in Rome. The event drew a diverse array of participants, including government officials, small-scale fishers, investors, experts, and representatives from regional institutions.

Addressing Critical Challenges

The summit focused on several key objectives aimed at transforming Africa's small-scale fisheries sector:

1. Unlocking Blue Economy Potential: Discussions centered on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the blue economy, with a particular emphasis on benefiting artisanal fishers.
2. Promoting Sustainability: Participants explored strategies to enhance the sustainability of the fishery sector, addressing issues such as illegal fishing and resource management.
3. Empowering Marginalized Groups: Special attention was given to initiatives that could help youth and women in the sector generate income and improve their livelihoods.
4. Formalizing the Sector: The summit aimed to develop frameworks for formalizing small-scale fisheries, attracting investments, and introducing advanced technologies.
5. Economic Impact: A key goal was to elevate the sector's contribution to national GDPs, with Tanzania aiming to increase its fisheries' GDP contribution from 1.9% to 2.5% or higher.

Regional Collaboration and Global Representation

The event served as a platform for synchronizing regional efforts and shaping a unified "African voice" for international policy dialogues. Outcomes from this summit were expected to significantly influence discussions at the upcoming global SSF Summit in Rome.

Spotlight on Innovation

WorldFish's Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) initiative hosted a panel discussion, highlighting technological innovations and cross-continental collaborations in sustainable fisheries management.

Tanzania's Leadership

Tanzania's role as host underscored its commitment to small-scale fisheries, having already implemented national guidelines for supervising this crucial sector. With 95% of its registered fishermen operating at a small scale, Tanzania's experiences and initiatives provided valuable insights for other African nations.

Where are we headed?

The summit set up a clear roadmap for the future of Africa's small-scale fisheries. The event not only highlighted the challenges facing the sector but also showcased the immense potential for growth, sustainability, and improved livelihoods across the continent.

As the outcomes of this gathering feed into global discussions, Africa's small-scale fisheries sector is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable aquatic food systems worldwide.

Authored by: Jarvis Bashabula (Communications Officer)