Fisheries policy, governance and institutional arrangements

Strategic Goal

Rebuild and maintain robust fisheries resources through policy reforms, cooperative regulatory planning, good governance and improvements in institutions

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Strengthened policies, regulatory frameworks and management, and demonstration actions to address priority issues related to fisheries resources
2. Create appropriate regional institutional arrangements, and reform, realign and strengthen national arrangements for the conservation and management of trans-boundary fishery resources
3. Promote the establishment of coordinated and harmonized policies on the regulation of access and allocation of fishing rights to third countries
4. Promote good governance and stewardship in the fisheries sector.

Elements of Success

1. Policy and practice affecting fisheries are reinforced by regional and international cooperation and debate
2. Improved access to, and sharing of knowledge for fisheries resources management
3. Increased number of Member-States incorporating ecosystem and sustainable development principles into fisheries planning and management.
4. Progress in the harmonization of access/partnership agreements
5. Improved fisheries governance at Committee level and in Member States in line with international standards.
6. Shared stocks are progressively managed under joint or cooperative management arrangements

Conservation and sustainable resource use

Strategic Goal

Develop and implement appropriate management frameworks that ensure fisheries resources are harvested sustainably, improved intra-regional and international trade of fish and fishery products, and maximum economic and social benefits are obtained from the fisheries.

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Provide industry with transparent and acceptable management frameworks
2. Put fisheries in a strong environmentally sustainable condition
3. Deliver cost-effective and efficient management
4. Diversification and increased intra-regional and international trade in fish and fishery products

Elements of Success

1. Fisheries developed to maximize social and economic benefits to Members
2. Fisheries progressively managed in line with the principles of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
3. Well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and marine ecosystems
4. Competitiveness of small producers is improved through better quality products and services.

Improved Livelihoods of Small-scale fishers and other operators

Strategic Goal

Develop the capacity of Members’ Small-scale fishers and other operators to create sustainable livelihoods for their people from the sustainable harvest, processing and marketing of their fisheries resources

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Advising members about relevant developments in international trade policy and economic co-operation frameworks
2. Provide social and economic advice on ways to maximize economic returns from the sustainable development of shared and domestic/national fisheries
3. Assistance to individual countries in developing or rehabilitating and promoting, socially inclusive and appropriate coastal fisheries development and governance policies and plans
4. Increase co-management through committed, informed and involved stakeholders
5. Promote alternative livelihoods for the diversification of incomes and resource conservation.

Elements of Success

1. Effective collaboration/partnership working to influence policy and practice
2. Enabling legislation and measures developed to recognize the rights of migrant fishers and fish traders within the region
3. Increased number of more secure and resilient fisheries communities with basic amenities for a decent way of life
4. Strategic partnerships established to support the dissemination of knowledge acquired in fisheries communities
5. Small-scale fishers diversify into other forms of livelihoods.

Monitoring, Control, Surveillance (MCS) and Compliance and illegal, unreported and unregulated ( IUU) fishing

Strategic Goal

Enhance national capabilities for efficient, cost effective and sustainable fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance, and establishing mechanisms for effective regional cooperation in MCS and enforcement to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the West Central Gulf of Guinea

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Strengthening of institutional framework for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of fishing operations and exploitation
2. Development of sustainable fisheries management systems
3. Capacity Building for MCS

Elements of Success

1. Progress towards a modernized vessel tracking system in West Central Gulf of Guinea waters
2. Safer and more efficient fishing operations within the region
3. Regional Plan of Action to deter, prevent and eliminate IUU fishing in the region is successfully implemented.
4. Increased emphasis by compliance officers on education and working in partnership with operators

Research in Fisheries and related disciplines

Strategic Goal

Strengthen cooperative research and ensure that resource-related decisions are based on sound knowledge, scientific methodology and information available. 

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Promote the development of sound science in fisheries research
2. Encourage and extend cooperative approaches to research by strengthening links within research institutions in the region and international organizations
3. Promote capacity building in fisheries research.

Elements of Success

1. Appropriate Databases are established and regularly updated and consulted
2. Funding for fisheries research increase
3. Policy and management decisions are based on research findings
4. Increase in collaborative research in the region.

Excellence in Management

Strategic Goal

Ensure the effective implementation of the Committee’s work through results-based management, improved communication, and better financial, human and knowledge management systems and tools

Strategies to achieve goal

1. Build and maintain a financial reserve
2. Develop and maintain a long-term investment policy and identify uses for funds derived from long-term investments
3. Establish and achieve annual operating budgets
4. Develop and implement a corporate Communication Strategy
5. Collaborate with other organizations to actively make reliable and factual information about the fisheries accessible and relevant to public policy-makers
6. 6. Capitalize on opportunities to expand the visibility and promote the accomplishments of FCWC through an aggressive media-relationship

Elements of Success

1. High impact results at country and regional level resulting from more cohesion and resource sharing and better alignment of work or activities
2. Improved performance and policies based on feedback from better monitoring, evaluation and reporting focusing on results and lessons learned from experience
3. Increased effectiveness through enhanced management skills and better alignment between staff skills and functions as a result of improved human resources management system
4. Higher visibility of FCWC’s work and its issues through greater commitment by all staff and Member States to a common vision and values
5. More predictable and sustainable funding from a wider donor base as a result of implementing a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy
6. Increased efficiency and effectiveness through improved knowledge management and information including systematic dissemination of policy and programme information.