The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), in collaboration with the FAO EAF-Nansen Programme, convened a high-level restitution and validation workshop in Tema, Ghana aimed at strengthening the sustainable management of small pelagic fisheries across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
The one-day workshop, held on May 12, 2026, brought together fisheries directors, marine fisheries management officers, international experts, and representatives from FCWC member countries to review and validate a draft regional fisheries management framework targeting shared small pelagic fish stocks in the subregion.
The initiative forms part of the Regional Partnership for Small Pelagic Management and aligns with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), which promotes science-based and collaborative fisheries governance. Organizers underscored the critical role small pelagic fisheries play in supporting food security, nutrition, employment, and livelihoods for millions of people across West Africa.
According to the Coordinator of the EAF Nansen programme, the document was developed through a comprehensive ecosystem-based process involving regional diagnostics, national reports, and consultations across participating countries.
The framework outlines five strategic objectives aimed at restoring and sustaining small pelagic fish stocks across the region. These include restoring depleted stocks, adapting fishing effort to sustainable levels, protecting critical marine habitats, improving the livelihoods and incomes of fisheries actors, and strengthening regional governance and cooperation mechanisms.
A key area of discussion focused on proposed fisheries management scenarios, including recommendations for a 30–50 percent reduction in fishing effort over a two- to three-year period, with long-term stock restoration targets projected over five to ten years.
Participants emphasized the importance of integrating social protection measures, alternative livelihood support, compensation mechanisms and professional retraining into implementation strategies.
Stakeholders also highlighted the need for synchronized regional closed seasons to prevent fleet displacement between neighboring countries and maximize the effectiveness of stock recovery measures. Climate change adaptation strategies and the need for deeper economic and sociological studies were equally emphasized as essential components for effective implementation.
Organizers noted that the validation of the framework marks an important step toward a more coordinated regional response to declining fish stocks in the Gulf of Guinea and reinforces ongoing efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine resources in West Africa.
The workshop also produced a number of key recommendations aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and improving the implementation of the fisheries management framework.
As part of the validation process, timelines and implementation roadmaps were also developed to guide the execution of the project and support coordinated action among FCWC member countries.
The validation workshop marks another significant milestone in FCWC’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable fisheries governance and strengthen regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea. By advancing a coordinated management framework for small pelagic fisheries, member states are positioning themselves to better address overfishing, climate-related pressures and the long-term sustainability of marine resources that are vital to the region’s economy and food systems.
Tina Nkansah Akuamoah - Communication Officer, FCWC
