Indian Ocean: The European Union Finances the Expertise of the FAO Program Smartfish

The European Union signed an agreement with FAO, this Tuesday, Jan. 24, for financial support of Rs 230 million which will fund the organization's support of the UN program Smartfish.

This additional support is bail out the program Smartfish which is also fully funded by the European Union and is the responsibility of the IOC. The commission is responsible for the implementation of the program in collaboration with in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) .

Other regional institutions are involved, such as the Community Development Southern African Development Community (SADC) and regional fisheries management such as the Tuna Commission (IOTC), the Fisheries Commission Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIOFC), the Organization of the Lake Victoria Fisheries (LVFO), and the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA).

The EU has already budgeted Rs 820 million (21 million) for the first phase of the project. It is precisely this amount will be drawn funding to FAO.

The program aims to Smartfish raise the level of social, economic and environmental and increasing regional integration in Eastern and Southern Africa region, Indian Ocean (ESA-IO). Thanks to improved capacity for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. It will directly affect 18 states that member countries of the IOC and the states of the East African coast.

The program covers the following areas: fisheries management, governance, efficiency of the Monitoring and Control Surveillance, Trade and Food Security

The Rs 180 million (6 million) will be used to adopt an action plan for the management and development of fisheries and the development of strategies and action plan to improve food security based on the fishery products for the region Southern and Eastern Africa - Indian Ocean.

The objective of the FAO is to contribute to improving the responsible management of fisheries in the Indian Ocean and the development of aquaculture in the region. The UN organization has its value and immense experience in the field of fisheries in Africa and the code of conduct adopted in 1995. This is primarily to promote the sustainable development of fisheries.