São Tomé and Príncipe enters new area of fisheries management with Fisheries Information System
São Tomé and Príncipe is now the first FiTI country to publish its fisheries information online through the Fisheries Information System (FIS) – a digital reporting tool provided by the FiTI to its implementing countries. This marks a giant leap in fisheries transparency for the Small Island Developing State, demonstrating its commitment to access to information, accountability and stakeholder collaboration.
In December 2022, the FiTI published a TAKING STOCK assessment of online transparency of marine fisheries for São Tomé and Príncipe, which showed clearly the need for national authorities to significantly improve public access to fisheries management information. According to the assessment, 74% of the fisheries information that is requested under the FiTI Standard was not published by the national authorities, even though such information was available to them.
Since then, and in just over three years, this situation has improved significantly, and all available fisheries information under the FiTI Standard is now publicly accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere. This includes São Tomé and Príncipe’s registry for industrial fishing vessels, detailed information on seafood imports and exports, information on subsidies and development aid, information about the health of fish populations, and a succinct summary of the regulations for the country’s various fishing sectors. This improvement was made possible through a new offering from the FiTI to its implementing countries: a Fisheries Information System.
The Fisheries Information System (FIS) is an online reporting tool that enables national authorities of FiTI countries to organise, visualise and share fisheries information with the public. Each FiTI country that is interested in using the system obtains its own FIS through which the designated national authorities can upload, manage and curate their fisheries data in a secure web-based environment, while retaining full ownership and control over its information. Furthermore, the FIS is seamless integrated into the websites of national authorities, demonstrating local ownership.
The FIS was deployed to São Tomé and Príncipe during a recent country mission by the FiTI International Secretariat from 19 to 23 January 2026. During the week, the FiTI conducted several capacity-building activities for the designated team of the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DPA), as well as technicians from other public institutions responsible for fisheries data production and validation, namely the Harbour Authority, the Maritime and Port Institute, the National Institute of Statistics, and the non-governmental organisation MARAPA. During these workshops, the system was tailored to the local needs and integrated into the recently launched website of the DPA. Furthermore, data from the fisheries sector covering the periods 2022 to 2024 were uploaded, reviewed, and visualised, ensuring that the system became operational and ready to be managed autonomously by the national team. The training also enabled participants to independently upload data into the system, and identify and correct data entry errors. Participants emphasised the simple and intuitive use of the FIS when uploading information as well as navigating through the various thematic areas of fisheries information in the country.
The system was officially handed over to the DPA during a brief ceremony on 23 January 2026, which was attended by Mr João Pessoa Lima, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the National Secretariat for the FiTI, members of the FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) in São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the training participants and DPA technical staff. During his remarks, Mr Lima emphasised that this system represents a major step forward in how fisheries information is collected, managed, and shared in São Tomé and Príncipe. He thanked the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) for this outstanding offering.
From this point onward, the FIS will serve as the official platform for publishing information on fisheries management in the country. The various designated focal points from different government sectors and departments are now responsible for continuously updating information in the system. The FiTI International Secretariat will continue to support the national stakeholders, ensuring an effective and consistent use of the FIS, strengthening the national team’s autonomy, and guaranteeing the quality, reliability and continuous updating of published information.
The implementation of the FIS also replaces the previous practice of publishing fisheries data in a complementary Fisheries Information Report, making it now possible to ensure broader and more timely access to fisheries data. This new digital approach will benefit all stakeholders—including the Government—by supporting informed decision-making, policy development and other needs related to the sustainable management of the fisheries sector.
Nevertheless, São Tomé and Príncipe’s National Multi-Stakeholder Group, in collaboration with the FiTI International Secretariat, will continue to assess the status of fisheries transparency on an annual basis.
São Tomé and Príncipe’s Fisheries Information System (FIS) is now available on the DPA website: https://www.pescas.st/fis.html
The FIS was developed by the FiTI in collaboration with its technology partner Shellcatch, and with the financial support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
