FiTI engages with Guinea-Bissau to continue improving fisheries transparency in West Africa

The FiTI International Secretariat recently embarked on a country mission to Guinea-Bissau to discuss enhancing the nation’s fisheries transparency by implementing the FiTI Standard. The meeting was coordinated through the FiTI Regional Coordinator for Lusophone Africa, after several months of discussion with the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Mário Musante, and his technical team in Bissau.

During the meeting, the Secretariat delivered a proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the FiTI and the Ministry of Fisheries. The MOU would establish a referential framework and create an enabling environment to support Guinea-Bissau joining the FiTI, with technical support from the FiTI International Secretariat and its partners.

This mission also provided an opportunity to engage with the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Viriato Luis Cássamá, who expressed his full willingness to work with the Ministry of Fisheries and support the Government of Guinea-Bissau in the process of joining the FiTI, given its importance for the sustainable management of marine resources.

In order to mobilise partnerships that could support the Government during this process, the FiTI held meetings with representatives of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Bank, the European Union, the Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM), the Maritime and Port Institute, the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP) and other non-governmental organisations.

Discussions included ongoing dialogue on the advantages of improving sustainable fisheries governance in the country, as well requests for these institutions and organisations to support the government and the Ministry of Fisheries throughout this process. These efforts will contribute to substantially improving fisheries governance in the country.

Each of these meetings were met with openness and interest in continuing to work towards the signing of the MOU in the coming months. It should be noted that Guinea-Bissau’s Strategic Plan for Fisheries and the Blue Economy already envisages the implementation of the FiTI Standard in fisheries management.

In the coming months, the FiTI hopes to complete this process and welcome Guinea-Bissau to the Initiative, embracing the commitment to create the conditions for continuous improvement of governance and transparency in fisheries in the country.

This mission was funded by the PRCM, an important partner in the FiTI’s efforts to engage Guinea-Bissau.