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Strengthening data collection of marine small-scale fisheries in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic Region

Current situation and prospects

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Accra, Ghana ;

Pages 35 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

ISBN 978-92-5-139376-5

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8222en

Synopsis (short abstract) This technical report, prepared by the Artisanal Fisheries Working Group (AFWG) of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), provides a comprehensive analysis of artisanal fisheries data collection systems in the CECAF region, with a specific focus on Senegal, Mauritania, and Ghana. Established under the FAO in 2000 the AFWG of CECAF aims to improve sustainable fisheries management through enhanced data collection and analysis. The report is structured around three core areas: a review of existing data collection systems, an update on priority variables/indicators, and future prospects for strengthening data collection. It offers a detailed analysis of data systems in three key countries: Mauritania, Senegal, and Ghana. The report reveals a variety of approaches for collecting data on fleet, effort, landings, and post-capture activities. It also acknowledges the existence of spontaneous data-gathering operations, such as studies and framework surveys, which have enriched the data pool on small-scale fishing. Despite these efforts, the report identifies weaknesses and threats in the focus countries’ data systems and proposes improvements. It also highlights the challenges of data heterogeneity across countries, which hampers regional data pooling and harmonization. An updated list of approximately 20 priority variables/indicators has been proposed, based on work from the CECAF and the EAF-Nansen Programme.

Statutory body / Meeting title Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF)

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2025. Strengthening data collection of marine small-scale fisheries in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic Region – Current situation and prospects. Accra.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8222en

Language English

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