The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) participated in a two-day symposium on the theme Fisheries in the Global Framework of Biodiversity Post-2020 organized by the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation Among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO) from 09-10 May 2023 in Rabat, Morocco.

The meeting was organized to explore how to involve the fisheries sector in the international fora dealing with environmental conservation, the adoption of protection measures, and how to pay greater attention to the socio-economic consequences of these on the fisheries sector.

It has been observed that the fisheries sector is not adequately represented in international environmental negotiations concerning the protection of the marine environment. Consequently, recently adopted protection measures have been largely based on environmental considerations, without fully considering socio-economic and cultural factors.

The representatives of fisheries Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) and ATLAFCO Member States attended to consider how to strengthen the voice of the fisheries sector in future negotiations on biodiversity.