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At the initiative of ATLAFCO, the main regional fishing organizations operating along the African Atlantic coast met in Tangier on March 7, 2026, within the framework of a coordination meeting dedicated to evaluating the cooperation partnership established in 2015 and revitalizing it in favor of the sustainable use of living marine resources.

Held under the theme "Promoting synergies for the sustainable use of living marine resources," this meeting is part of the continuation of the initiative launched by ATLAFCO, which led to the signing, on February 22, 2015, in Agadir, Morocco, of a memorandum of understanding bringing together several regional fishing organizations, including FCWC, COREP, SRFC, INFOPECHE, and REPAO, as well as WADAF, within a partnership dedicated to artisanal fishing.

Representatives from the African Union (AU-IBAR), the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), and MOSFA, ATLAFCO’s media partner, also participated in this coordination and consultation meeting.

Since the establishment of this intra-institutional regional cooperation framework, ATLAFCO has played a central role in regional coordination of the fisheries sector through organizing consultation meetings, providing technical and financial support to partner organizations for project implementation, notably in areas such as combating illegal fishing, developing fishing fleet registries, strengthening the role of women, governance of shared stocks, and improving market access for fishery products.

During this coordination meeting, a review of activities carried out under this cooperation was presented by the Executive Secretariat of ATLAFCO. While highlighting the financial efforts made and the technical support provided to partner organizations, it was acknowledged that the joint work program, the cornerstone of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2015, has not yet been fully implemented. It therefore called for a revision of this program to adjust and adapt it to the new challenges related to ocean sustainability and the development of the blue economy, while remaining faithful to the founding principle of the sustainable use of living marine resources.

The discussions also focused on the need to strengthen coordination among partner organizations. In this context, participants emphasized the importance of greater involvement of the various regional fishing organizations in implementing the new joint actions to be adopted for the 2026–2030 period and the designation of its monitoring committee.

The continental dimension of fisheries cooperation was also highlighted to participants during the remote intervention of Mr. Delvis Fortes from AU-BIRA, who presented the APRIFAAS platform created in 2015 in Cotonou under the aegis of the African Union through its regional office in charge of animal resources. This initiative aims to support regional institutions in the fisheries sector while respecting their role in contributing to the preservation of fishery resources.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a roadmap to develop a new joint regional program, realistic and objective, opening a new phase in consolidating the partnership initiated by ATLAFCO in support of a more integrated and sustainable African fisheries governance.

At the initiative of ATLAFCO, the main regional fishing organizations operating along the African Atlantic coast met in Tangier on March 7, 2026, within the framework of a coordination meeting dedicated to evaluating the cooperation partnership established in 2015 and revitalizing it in favor of the sustainable use of living marine resources.

Held under the theme "Promoting synergies for the sustainable use of living marine resources", this meeting is part of the continuation of the initiative launched by ATLAFCO, which led to the signing, on February 22, 2015, in Agadir, Morocco, of a memorandum of understanding bringing together several regional fishing organizations, including FCWC, COREP, SRFC, INFOPECHE, and REPAO, as well as WADAF, within a partnership dedicated to artisanal fishing.

Representatives from the African Union (AU-IBAR), the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), and MOSFA, ATLAFCO’s media partner, also participated in this coordination and consultation meeting.

Since the establishment of this intra-institutional regional cooperation framework, ATLAFCO has played a central role in regional coordination of the fisheries sector through organizing consultation meetings, providing technical and financial support to partner organizations for project implementation, notably in areas such as combating illegal fishing, developing fishing fleet registries, strengthening the role of women, governance of shared stocks, and improving market access for fishery products.

During this coordination meeting, a review of activities carried out under this cooperation was presented by the Executive Secretariat of ATLAFCO. While highlighting the financial efforts made and the technical support provided to partner organizations, it was acknowledged that the joint work program, the cornerstone of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2015, has not yet been fully implemented. It therefore called for a revision of this program to adjust and adapt it to the new challenges related to ocean sustainability and the development of the blue economy, while remaining faithful to the founding principle of the sustainable use of living marine resources.

The discussions also focused on the need to strengthen coordination among partner organizations. In this context, participants emphasized the importance of greater involvement of the various regional fishing organizations in implementing the new joint actions to be adopted for the 2026–2030 period and the designation of its monitoring committee.

The continental dimension of fisheries cooperation was also highlighted to participants during the remote intervention of Mr. Delvis Fortes from AU-IBAR, who presented the APRIFAAS platform created in 2015 in Cotonou under the aegis of the African Union through its regional office in charge of animal resources. This initiative aims to support regional institutions in the fisheries sector while respecting their role in contributing to the preservation of fishery resources.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a roadmap to develop a new joint regional program, realistic and objective, opening a new phase in consolidating the partnership initiated by ATLAFCO in support of a more integrated and sustainable African fisheries governance.

ATLAFCO Launches the Sustainable Modernization of African Fishing Ports

Under the Guinean presidency, the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO) organized a regional workshop in Tangier from March 4 to 6, 2026, dedicated to the FAO’s “Blue Ports” concept for senior officials responsible for fisheries governance within its member states.

This activity, which forms part of the implementation of the 2025–2027 Strategic Action Plan, aims to modernize fisheries port infrastructures and strengthen their contribution to the sustainable development of the fisheries system across the African Atlantic region.

Over the course of three days, representatives of member states and experts reviewed the port infrastructures dedicated to the fisheries sector in each member country, examined national port strategies in the short and medium term, and shared their respective experiences regarding the role played by African ports in maritime and environmental governance.

The expected outcomes include, among others: modernizing port facilities dedicated to fisheries and aquaculture; digitizing operations throughout the value chain; improving the traceability of fisheries products; supporting the energy transition toward a regional “Blue Port” model; and contributing to the sustainability of the Ocean.

The workshop also addressed the financing mechanisms required to support these transformations toward an adapted “Blue Port” model, particularly for both artisanal and industrial fisheries.

In addition, an update on international legal instruments was presented to participants in order to address this crucial aspect of regulatory frameworks.

Representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the African Union’s Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Media Observatory for Sustainable Fisheries in Africa (MOSFA), the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), the INFOPECHE Center, and the FAO actively contributed to the success of the workshop, confirming the importance of such initiatives led by ATLAFCO.

The workshop concluded with a visit to the port and the new fish market in the city of Tangier (a new-generation facility featuring a digital auction system), as well as the artisanal fisheries landing site known as “Dalia.” This visit allowed participants to observe concrete progress in the modern management of flows, the digitalization of fish marketing, and product traceability—offering adaptable solutions for different national contexts in line with the principle of the sustainable use of living marine resources within the ATLAFCO region.

On the sidelines of the Seafood4Africa forum held in Dakhla (Kingdom of Morocco), the Executive Secretariat of ATLAFCO and the Executive Bureau of the Media Observatory for Sustainable Fisheries in Africa (MOSFA) held a strategic consultation meeting aimed at assessing their cooperation and strengthening their synergy in support of the promotion of sustainable fishing in member states.

This high-level meeting is part of the ongoing effort to consolidate a collaboration recognized for its significant contribution to promoting regional and continental initiatives in the management and sustainable use of fisheries resources and raising awareness among stakeholders about the challenges of developing the regional blue economy.

During this meeting, the President of the MOSFA, Mr. Léonce AISSOUN, reaffirmed the Observatory's ongoing commitment to supporting ATLAFCO and its member states in disseminating strategic information and promoting the actions and programs undertaken for the benefit of these member states. He emphasized the crucial role of the MOSFA as a platform specializing in the production and dissemination of media content that contributes to increasing the visibility of ATLAFCO's initiatives and fostering a better understanding of the challenges of the sustainable use of living marine resources among stakeholders in the sector.

The discussions also helped to identify certain challenges related in particular to the evolution of the African media landscape, the professional mobility of specialist journalists and the need to ensure generational renewal to adapt communication strategies to technological changes and new modes of information dissemination.

For his part, the Executive Secretary of ATLAFCO commended the quality and relevance of the work carried out by the MOSFA since the establishment of the partnership. He highlighted the strategic importance of the role of these specialized media in supporting fisheries policies, strengthening South-South cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, promoting ocean sustainability, sharing experiences, and raising awareness among the African fishing community and local fishing communities about the principles of sustainable use of living marine resources.

Both parties also stressed the need to further consolidate this cooperation and, in a forward-looking approach, ATLAFCO encouraged the MOSFA to continue its efforts to renew and strengthen its network, promoting its expansion through the integration of young media professionals specializing in fisheries, ocean sustainability, aquaculture and marine environmental preservation.

To this end, ATLAFCO reaffirmed its willingness to support this new dynamic through the organization of capacity-building programs, frameworks for the exchange of experiences and training initiatives for African journalists to raise awareness about the principle of the sustainable use of living marine resources at the continental level.

Through this ongoing dialogue, ATLAFCO and MOSFA have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening their strategic and institutional communication in the interest of their member states.

This partnership illustrates the importance of the role of specialized African fisheries media in supporting South-South cooperation actions through the promotion of ATLAFCO activities, raising awareness in the African community about the principle of sustainable use of living marine resources and its role in food security, job creation and the development of a resilient and inclusive regional blue economy that creates wealth.

At the invitation of the Federation of Industries for the Processing and Valorization of Fisheries Products (FENIP), ATLAFCO participated in the second edition of the international forum “SEAFOOD4AFRICA” organized in Dakhla (Morocco) from February 4 to 6, 2026.

Placed under the High Patronage of HIS MAJESTY KING MOHAMMED VI MAY GOD ASSIST HIM and supported by the Royal Vision for South-South cooperation, this forum provided an opportunity for dialogue between national and international experts within the framework of a series of conferences whose themes are aligned with the priorities of the continental fisheries community, including ocean sustainability, sustainable use of living marine resources, development of inclusive aquaculture, building a modern fisheries industry, innovation, digitalization, food security and resilience to climate change for the emergence of a continental blue economy.

It should be noted that ministers in charge of maritime fisheries and aquaculture from ATLAFCO member states also participated in the opening ceremony of this Forum at the invitation of FENIP.

As a reminder, FENIP is a Moroccan professional organization created on November 21, 1996. It brings together associations of professionals in the fishing industry which include more than 300 companies involved in the processing and valorization of seafood products operating in the six branches of activity of the Moroccan fishing and industrial sector.

ATLAFCO participated in the training and experience-sharing workshop on the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), held at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, from 8 to 11 December 2025. The workshop aimed to strengthen understanding and effective implementation of the Agreement, particularly through training on its provisions, the review of key fisheries management issues, and exchanges intended to improve the application of the Agreement at both regional and national levels.

A delegation from the ATLAFCO Executive Secretariat paid a courtesy and working visit, on 23 December 2025, to the headquarters of the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in Nairobi. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen institutional relations, enhance existing synergies, promote the sustainable use of living marine resources, coordinate African positions within international fisheries management bodies, and identify common priority actions, in line with continental and regional orientations on fisheries and aquaculture.

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