The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is participating in a workshop organized by African Union from 25-27 September 2023 in Mombasa, Kenya on the theme “harnessing earth observation for a sustainable blue economy through GMES & Africa.”

The activity intersects with intervention Area 6 of the FCWC’s Strategic Action Plan 2021-2030: the development of partnerships to support subregional cooperation and policies of the Member States. The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES & Africa) program was established to promote the use of Earth Observation (EO) data in implementing sustainable development policies. EO technology, the systematic collection and analysis of data about the Earth’s surface from space, offers unparalleled insights into the marine environment which are vital for sustainable development and effective management of marine and coastal areas. As the FCWC increases its activities on aquatic biodiversity and environmental protection efforts, EO is being considered as yet another tool in the suite of tools utilized to support fisheries management in Member States.

The objectives of the workshop are to increase the awareness of the role EO can play in supporting the Blue Economy; to identify opportunities for collaboration and the uptake of EO services by a variety of stakeholders.

The expected outcomes of the meeting are that the Blue Economy policy, strategy, and priority areas are explained to African earth observation community; that the priority actions and contributions to the Blue Economy policy and strategy are defined; and the synergies between marine and coastal areas and EO projects and initiatives are identified and explained.

Participants in the meeting include representatives from African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities, marine and coastal area stakeholders, GMES & Africa partners and implementing institutions.