Background Information

Over the years, the European Commission (EC) has developed strong political and

Economic relationship with countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, collectively known as the ACP Group of States, notably through the signing of the Cotonou Agreement in 2000. Considering its socio-economic importance in many ACP countries, the fisheries and aquaculture sector has received continuous support from the EC through the European Development Fund (EDF), both at national and regional levels. EC-funded programmes and projects are designed and implemented in partnership with ACP countries concerned to develop their Fisheries Administrations’ planning and management capacities with a view to enhancing food security and creating employment.

Objectives of the ACP Fish II Programme

ACP Fish II is one of such programmes funded by the EC under the 9th EDF, with an overall amount of €30 million, aiming at strengthening fisheries management in ACP countries. Its overall objective is to contribute to the sustainable and equitable management of fisheries in ACP regions, thus leading to poverty alleviation and improving food security in ACP countries. Its specific objective is to strengthen fisheries sector policy development and implementation. The Programme operates through the provision of technical assistance to fisheries stakeholders. It is implemented through a Coordination Unit (CU) in Brussels and six Regional Facilitation Units (RFUs) across the ACP countries, and each RFU coordinates a number of countries within its area of jurisdiction. The RFU for Caribbean    covers 16 countries, namely Antigua y Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname Trinidad and Tobago. The Programme started in June 2009 and will be implemented throughout a period of 4.5 years, eventually terminating in November 2013.

Programme Regional Workshops in Caribbean to date:

i.          The Regional Needs Assessment Workshop in Belize City, Belize, 27-28 October 2009 was convened to identify broad areas for targeting ACP Fish II support;

ii.  The Regional Action Plan Workshop in St. Kitts and Nevis, on 20 – 21 October 2010 Basseterre, involved the formulation of project descriptions and validation on the overall Region Action Plan;

iii. The First Regional Monitoring Workshop in Belize City, Belize on 4-5 April 2011 were participants reviewed progress in project implementation thus far and planned for future tasks;

iv. The Second Regional Monitoring Workshop and Training in Monitoring and Evaluation in in Kingston, Jamaica, 15-18 November 2011 where participants not only reviewed progress and achievements on project implementation thus far but also attended a Network Meeting and were trained in preparation of Terms of Reference within the EDF project cycle; and

v.   The Third Regional Monitoring Workshop and Training in Monitoring and Evaluation in Suriname, on 31 October – 2 November 2012.

Programme Components

The Programme consists of 5 components:

i.          Component 1 – Improved fisheries policies, legislation and management plans

at regional and national level;

ii.         Component  2  – Strengthened monitoring,  control  and  surveillance  (MCS) capabilities;

iii.        Component 3 – Enhanced national and regional research strategies;

iv.        Component 4 – Improved business support and private sector investment;

and

v.         Component 5 – Increased knowledge sharing on management and trade.

Component, the cornerstone of the Programme as devising sound fisheries policies and management plans, is critical in ensuring the sustainable utilisation of fishery resources and the development of value-added activities in the fisheries sector. The other components result from the adoption of sound fisheries management instruments, primarily at national but also at regional level.  In particular, they support and facilitate fisheries policies drafting and implementation processes, through the development of adequate research strategies, the strengthening of MCS measures and enforcement capabilities.

Socio-economic Importance of Fisheries and its Developmental Constraints in Eastern Africa

Fisheries are important in most Eastern Africa countries due to their multiple roles, including:

. Contribution to the creation of national wealth through export earnings, mainly to the European market;

. Employment creation at both small-scale and industrial levels;

. Provision of incomes; and

. Contribution to food security and poverty reduction.

Despite its socio-economic importance as outlined above, the sector within the region is confronted with a range of developmental constraints and challenges such as:

. Weak or ineffective institutional and legal framework;

. Limited control and enforcement capabilities in terms of MCS of fishing activities, enforcement systems, human and financial resources;

. Weak scientific research strategies; and

. Lack of reliable, relevant and timely information for fisheries management.

It is in this context that the ACP Fish II Programme is implemented with a view to helping the target countries better manage their fishery resources so that the sector continues to play and enhance its role, in an international environment marked by the mobilisation to fight against poverty and improve food security.

Programme Implementation Strategy

Programme activities in the field are being implemented through two operational Programme Estimates (PE1 and PE2). In line with the implementation strategy jointly approved by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office (DEVCO) and the ACP Secretariat, PE1 covered the period between March 2010 and May 2011, and PE2 covers the period between June 2011 and November 2013.

Related story:

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service sends funds to North Carolina for habitat restoration

From The Republic

WASHINGTON — NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is awarding North Carolina, three other states and two Caribbean nations $8 million to restore threatened coral populations and marshes and to remove marine debris.

A statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says funding will also go to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The funding is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional contributions from project partners.

The money slated for these targeted restoration projects is intended to deal with long-term habitat decline and is separate, but complementary, to restoration projects funded through the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment court settlements.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is getting $35,000 to work with fishermen to create new oyster reefs from recycled derelict crab pots.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/df76e77aed54415a94b54fb90f2a1e9e/NC–Habitat-Restoration