The CAOPA emphasizes significant synergies with the FiTI

At the occasion of the 1^st International Advisory Group meeting of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) – which took place on July 24^th 2015 – the FiTI Secretariat had the chance to welcome Mr. Gaoussou Gueye, General Secretary of the Confédération Africaine des Organisations Professionnelles de la Pêche Artisanale (CAOPA).

During the meeting, Mr. Gueye highlighted the need for transparency in the fisheries, an issue that CAOPA is advocating for in the West African Region.

Already in 2011, CAOPA organized a West African seminar on transparency in marine fisheries in order to analyze the issues caused by the lack of transparency in the sector and to elaborate strategies to improve access to information.

As Mr. Gueye emphasized, the outcomes of the seminar show significant synergies with FiTI.

In fact, the information which the participants to the seminar called to be made public – such as fishing licenses, access agreements, data on trade, catches and resources – are also considered for the FiTI.

The importance to include all relevant stakeholders in fisheries-related decisions – a principle which is central to the FiTI — was then also at the heart of the discussions.

We are looking forward to continuing the collaboration with CAOPA and all other interested stakeholders at the 2^nd International Advisory Group meeting, which will take place in Rome on October 21^st, 2015.