The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency has the honour of announcing that President Conde has been designated “Political Champion” for Fisheries and Aquaculture in its Natural Resources Governance and Food Security programme.

President Conde stated that, “We will join forces in order to improve the governance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in order for this sector to contribute more efficiently to the socioeconomic development of the African population, in the fight against poverty, malnutrition, whilst making a direct contribution to improve the lives of vulnerable populations in creating employment.  This is what we have embarked upon in Guinea and this is the message that I willstrive to promote among my peers.”

Global mismanagement, illegal fishing and poor subsidies amount to over $1 billion of loss of wealth every year in the Africa fisheries industry. Fishery and aquaculture resources are of great social and economic value to Africa, but are not utilised to their full potential. About 200 million people – 30 per cent of the continent’s population - eat fish as their main source of animal protein and micro-nutrition. The NEPAD’s Agency’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme works to improve the sustainability of Africa's fisheries and improve the returnsprovided by this sector. The work in the programmes supports implementation of African fisheries instruments targeting reform and sustainable growth in the sector, thereby improving policies and governance structures which enhance the wealth of this valuable and renewable natural asset.

Source: NEPAD