The Fisheries Committee of the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is participating in the 6^th General Assembly and Bi-Annual Meeting of the Africa Platform for Regional Institutions in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Systems (APRIFAAS) under the theme “Enhancing regional cooperation for best integration of environmental issues in fisheries and aquaculture.”

The meeting is jointly hosted by the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation between African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO), the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the Africa Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) from 10-12 October 2023 in Tangier, Morocco.

APRIFAAS was established in 2015 to provide a systematic exchange of information between regional institutions; improve dialogue between stakeholders and facilitate the development of a harmonized work program; and to strengthen the African voice in international fora.

This general assembly has focused on the progress of implementation of recommendations from the Fifth General Assembly; an update on the APRIFAAS media communications and visibility (formal presentation and launching of APRIFAAS logo, members profiles directory, MOSFA support, and the e-newsletter update); improving dialogue between stakeholders to facilitate the development of a harmonized work program; and the integration of environmental issues in fisheries and aquaculture.

The meeting recommended that the continent’s regional organisations share best practices, expertise, and information and leverage on them to pursue sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development agenda on the continent. The meeting called on  ATLAFCO and other RECs and or RFBs to financially and technically support member countries to actively participate in international fora with One African Voice in order to promote the continent’s interests in the sharing of fisheries resources