Sustainable management and exploitation of fisheries in the Chari/Logone sub-basin and the Inner Niger Delta

In the framework of the implementation of the PREE project in collaboration with IUCN/PACO and financed by Sida, two case studies on the sustainable management and exploitation of fisheries in the Chari/Logone sub-basin and the Inner Niger Delta were carried out.

Two different workshops were held to amend the studies documents. The first workshop of stakeholders from Cameroon and Chad on the results of the inventory and typology of fisheries management and exploitation initiatives in the Chari/Logone sub-basin started held on June 14 and 15, 2022, at the SHERABEL Hotel in N'Djamena, Chad.

The workshop aimed at submitting to the appreciation of the actors of Cameroon and Chad for further study and validation, the results of the inventory and typology of the initiatives of exploitation and management of fisheries in the sub-basin of Chari/Logone.

The official opening was made by the Head of the IUCN Project in Chad, Dr. Magloire Djeko DADOUM.

A second meeting took place on 16 and 17 June 2022, in Bamako, Mali. The meeting was opened by the deputy minister to the Minister of Rural Development, in charge of Livestock and Fisheries of Mali, Mr. Youba Ba. He highlighted the importance of the management and sustainable exploitation of fisheries for the socio-economic development of the populations living in the Inner Niger Delta in Mali with the major challenges linked to the effects of climate change, the demographic explosion, security crises, food and nutritional security. The Minister reminded participants that the objective of this workshop is to validate the study report on fisheries management and exploitation initiatives in the Inner Niger Delta and to deepen the knowledge of case studies that can be implemented in similar localities.

The participants made the following recommendations:

  • Elaborate the decree defining the modalities for the creation and operation of fishing concessions
  • To set up the fisheries councils of the different levels of the territorial collectivities;
  • Make an inventory of the habits and customs as a prelude to the elaboration of fishing and aquaculture conventions;
  • Draw up the implementation of development plans for certain major fisheries in DIN;
  • Facilitate the construction of fish hatcheries;
  • Support the creation of fish reserves and areas of fish interest;
  • Support the functionality of fisheries councils;
  • Support the strengthening of the technical capacities of the local authorities to raise awareness and fight against pollution and other forms of water degradation;
  • Strengthen the capacities of local authorities in the governance of fisheries and fisheries and aquaculture resources

The implementation of the project is interested in documenting important initiatives developed in Central and West Africa that have contributed to the improvement of the exploitation and management of these fragile ecosystems in the fisheries of the Inner Niger Delta (DIN) and the Lake Chad Basin. These initiatives constitute interesting cases whose understanding could guide the PREE project in its contribution to the sustainable management and exploitation of fisheries in the DIN and the Lake Chad basin.