Presentation
Regional organization for cooperation dedicated to the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa
Founded in 1989 at the initiative of the late His Majesty King Hassan II – may God bless his soul – ATLAFCO (Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean) is a regional intergovernmental organization working for sustainable fisheries and cooperative solidarity among its 22 member states, stretching from Morocco to Namibia.
The main objective of COMHAFAT is to promote effective and active cooperation among member states for the preservation of fishery resources and the sustainable development of fisheries in the region.
To this end, the Conference encourages:
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The promotion of cooperation in fisheries planning and development;
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The development, coordination, and harmonization of the efforts and capacities of member states to preserve, exploit, enhance, and market fishery resources;
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The strengthening of solidarity towards landlocked African states and geographically disadvantaged states in the region.
Institutional Framework
The organization relies on a clear and effective institutional structure:
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The Conference of Ministers: the supreme decision-making body, which meets every two years;
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The Bureau: the coordinating body, which holds an annual session;
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The Executive Secretariat: based in Rabat, Morocco, in accordance with the provisions of the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and ATLAFCO in 2009, marking a new era for the institution, which now benefits from enhanced resources and all the attributes of a true intergovernmental cooperation organization.
The Executive Secretariat is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Conference of Ministers.
An African Vision, Concrete Actions
In 2024, ATLAFCO reached a strategic milestone through several major initiatives:
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Two ecosystem-based survey campaigns were conducted in the waters of Benin and Liberia, with the technical and logistical support of Morocco’s National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH).
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Regional workshops and seminars were organized on fisheries governance, the blue economy, aquaculture, seafood product development, and climate change resilience.
These actions reflect our commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and cooperative blue economy, in full alignment with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI – may God preserve Him.
A Forward-Looking Strategy
Within the framework of its 2025–2027 Strategic Action Plan, adopted at the 11th Ordinary Session of its Conference of Ministers held in Abidjan on 23–24 April 2025, ATLAFCO plans to implement innovative projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), following an approach based on:
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South-South cooperation;
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Regional solidarity;
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Technical innovation;
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Continuous scientific research.
The 11th Ordinary Session was also marked by the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration.