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Report of the First Meeting of the IDAF Working Group on Costs and Earnings in Artisanal Fisheries in West Africa

Year of publication 1996

Pages 81

Author Alhaji M. Jallow ;Fishery and Aquaculture Economics and Policy Division

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Governments in the region covered by the IDAF Programrne are increasingly giving priority to the development of artisanal fisheries because of the subsector's increasing role in providing much needed protein and employment opportunities. In their respective development policies there is emphasis on improving the socioeconomic condition of fisherfolk. In general the strategy has been interventions in improved fishing craft, fishing gear, outboard engines, and processing technologies documented in the mentioned region.In spite of the significant progress in production levels, development planners still lack information on the costs and earnings of the artisanal fisherfolk. This has deprived them of the means of adequately assessing the technologies to encourage and those to discourage. The situation has been exacerbated by the fishermen not keeping account of the cost and earning in their operations. An essential element for assessing private and social benefits has, therefore, been marg inalised in development planning and monitoring, in management policy formulation, in relevant sktor related studies, and in project evaluation. Hence the need for data collection on costs, earnings, and profitability of different fishing units with regard to the methods they apply in the subsector. To improve on the short and sporadic studies conducted in the region, the LDAF Programme invited national fisheries administrations and research institutions to collaborate with her to assess the c ost structure, the sharing system, and the profitability of artisanal fisheries operations for a year in ten of its twenty associated countries. The results of the study will be used as a comparative information working document in a workshop to be organised in November 1996. The invited institutions nominated economists or technologists with relevant experience to serve as Study Coordinators in their respective countries. To facilitate the exchange of information and experience these nominees now constitute a Working Group on Costs and Earnings on Artisanal Fisheries in West Africa. The first meeting of this Group was held in Dakar on the 12 and 13 June 1995.

Cite this content as:

Jallow A M., Report of the First Meeting of the IDAF Working Group on Costs and Earnings 1995 in Artisanal Fisheries in West Afi-ica , Cotonou , Benin,Programme for the Integrated Development of Artisanal Fisheries in West Africa, 81p,

Language English

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