Incatema contributes to increase formal high education on fisheries in Africa to make it a lever for a more sustainable future

21 November, 2022

Every 21st November, World Fisheries Day is celebrated to pay tribute to fishing communities around the world, remind the importance of fisheries as livelihoods support and promote sustainable fishing to protect marine ecosystems.

This way, and with an aim to strengthen blue economy in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, EU-funded ECOFISH programme, that Incatema supports technically, focuses on the importance of fisheries-related training at all levels in these developing regions. Fisheries related training, and particularly higher education, is an undeveloped subject in African regions, since there are barely no tools to improve professional’s capacities or centres to receive onsite high-level education. Such a situation is particularly critical when fisheries sector in Africa employs 12.3 million people, 2% of population between 15 and 64 years old.

Formal education on fisheries will improve food security and consolidate fisheries as an economic driver in the region

In order to mitigate the training gaps, Mauritius Open University has launched a bachelors’ course in blue economy, supported by ECOFISH programme, that will allow to train new professionals from the countries benefited by the programme in blue economy from a cross-cutting approach. This way, a regional centre to deliver necessary tools and knowledge is made available, so macro and microeconomic dimensions of fisheries can be better understood along with other activities connected to the blue economy, trained professionals can face the challenges of achieving sustainable fishing practice, both protecting marine resources and contributing to food security among local communities, fisheries being one of the main drivers of blue economy in the region.

According to Ana Romero, head of Consultancy Department at Incatema, “the bachelors’ course will prepare students to become the turning wheel connecting scientists, politicians and other concerned parties in fisheries value chain, training them to approach solidly complex issues related to fisheries economy and marine ecosystems protection".

This degree students will receive multidisciplinary training in ecology, economy, management, law and social science. This way, they will be able to assess and valorise fisheries resources and propose management measures through mathematical modelling, statistics, surveys, evaluations or negotiations.

Training on fisheries in developing countries is therefore a key tool for a more sustainable future, as we explained here.

About ECOFISH programme

ECOFISH programme, financed by the European Union and technically supported by Incatema Consulting & Engineering, is managed from the EU Delegation in Mauritius. It intends to foster sustainable fisheries contribution to blue economy in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean to improve food security, marine biodiversity and poverty reduction in coastal communities.