Fisheries and Aquaculture competitiveness in ACP countries will receive a strong boost from an Intra-ACP allocation of the European Development Fund (EDF) aimed at enhancing the key role that Fisheries and Aquaculture could play in social and economic development across African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It is well recognized that Fisheries and Aquaculture make a significant positive contribution to employment creation, revenue generation, and food security- all of which are crucial for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG14 on Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources.

Aligned to the United Nations’ SDG 14, ACP’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Blue Growth Programme aims to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of ACP fisheries and aquaculture value chains in order to contribute to poverty reduction, food security and inclusive economic growth. The programme was endorsed by the ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture during their 5th plenary meeting held in Bahamas in September 2017.

The ACP-EU funded programme will concretely contribute in simulating the development of the ‘Blue Economy’ – which engages a large range of marine-related activities, in environmentally sustainable ways.

The fisheries and Aquaculture sector is crucial to reducing poverty and eliminating hunger. This is particularly true for least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the vast majority of which are members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Exports as much as $US 5.3billion annually are from ACP countries with fisheries products making up half the total value of traded commodities in some countries.
Yet despite its undeniable importance, the sector faces severe challenges.
In such a context, the upcoming joint event organised by the government of Seychelles and the ACP Secretariat on ACP Blue Economy and Oceans Governance will be an opportunity to share experiences of Small Island Developing States in harnessing the blue economy, addressing ocean governance challenges and to identify areas of further development.
The Event will take place in New York at the margins of the UN General Assembly on the 25th September 2018.
ACP Press