Isatou Jawara
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters recently hosted a two-day National Marine Ecosystem Consultancy (CCLME) meeting. The overall objective of which was to identify activities and to put in some synergy within the framework of setting up a consortium.
The discussion focused on re-examining the governance frameworks and partnership models for cross-sectoral collaboration and or coordination, in the effective implementation of the CCLME SAP at the national and regional levels.
The consultancy as indicated by the FAO in a presser, brought together stakeholders from national institutions that are active in the fields of fisheries, environment, marine habitat protection and water quality.
According to the Organisation, it is a combined effort to reverse the degradation of the marine ecosystem caused by over-fishing, habitat modification and changes in water quality, through the adoption of an ecosystem-based management app.
“The unique element of the CCLME project is its strategic combination of fisheries and ecosystem governance frameworks. It envisions that through governance reforms, investments and management programs, participating countries will be able to address priority trans-boundary concerns on declining fisheries, associated biodiversity and water quality,” said FAO.
“The medium size project aims to work towards the sustainable management of marine ecoisystem and the initial support towards the implementation of the Strategic Action Program (SAP),” the release added.
The FAO also stated that the initiative will help clarify the responsibilities of partners and the agreements on the corresponding terms of reference. The Organization highlighted that the specific objectives are to propose reasoned and realistic recommendations in areas including the establishment of the multi-sectoral consortium, the identification of its members as well as the development of a partnership agreement among all CCLME stakeholders.
The Organization further indicated that the Global Environment Facility (GEF) together with co-financing from participating countries and other partners, fund the project, and is operational in seven participating countries including Cape Verde, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and the Gambia.
The CCLME is a project executed by the FAO and the United Nations
UNEP, FAO Hold Consultative Forum for Marine Ecosystem Mapping
