On the occasion of the World Fisheries Day, held on the 21st of November 2012 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the African Confederation of Small Scale Fisheries Professional organizations (CAOPA) and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives in Ivory Coast (FENACOPECI) organized a meeting with experts and women representatives of the small scale fishery sector of 16 African countries on the following topic: “Improving the contribution of artisanal fisheries to food security: The role of women”.

This workshop was organized from the 18th until the 21st of November 2012 in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, with the support and collaboration of CFFA, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Pain pour le Monde, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ISCF) and Journalists network for sustainable fisheries in West Africa (REJOPRAO)

During these three days, participants made some field visits (aquaculture site and landing/processing site) and proceeded to debates and exchanges which allowed to elaborate recommendations to include in the Voluntary guidelines for sustainable small scale fisheries, in the framework of the consultation process, directed by FAO. The Abidjan Declaration, which was read on the World Fisheries Day was also written on the basis on the work from the working groups.

On November the 22nd, a meeting was organized by ICSF in order to improve the work on FAO voluntary guidelines.

See the full report and the Abidjan Declaration.