A regional workshop on “Strengthening Capacity and Promoting Regional Cooperation for Effective Combat against IUU fishing in West Africa” will be held from 15th to 20th February 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria. Organised by the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) together with the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the said workshop has also received support from the Commission of the European Union.
At the outset, the workshop will focus on the review and validation of the draft report of the study conducted by the AU-IBAR on the “Status of SCS in West Africa and the RCF” and the appropriate mechanism to establish the MCS regional cooperation in ECOWAS Region.
Secondly, coastal Member States of the West African region will be trained on the fishing vessel boarding, inspection procedures, arrest and prosecution to effectively deter from violations in the fisheries sector.
The regional workshop is equally welcoming Director of Fisheries, Director/Technical Responsible directly in charge of MCS Unit/Centre, Magistrate/Judge from the Justice Department/ Ministry, Naval/Military Officer from the Navy as well as Regional Specialised institutions, Partners and Experts.
It is also relevant to highlight the participation of an important delegation of the Fisheries Committee of the West Central Gulf of Guinea led by Mr. Seraphin Dedi, Secretary General of the Committee.
