AGRITAD: As a coastal conservation programme, how does the PRCM translate in a region where people highly depend on coastal fishery resources?
The PRCM is a conservation programme for the coastal zone.

How does this translate in a region where the population depends heavily on the exploitation of coastal fisheries resources?
If we want to preserve marine and coastal areas, it is primarily for the benefit of local populations and with their involvement. For example, we built up a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the countries covered by the PRCM, which are managed through collaboration with all stakeholders, including MPA managers and fishing professionals.

It was under the theme « Standing Together for the Conservation of the West African Littoral » that the 6th Regional Coastal and Marine Forum officially opened on this 21st February 2012 in Banjul, The Gambia in the presence of the Officials of the Host Country, Regional Directors of PRCM founding members, co-operation partners and PRCM member countries’ delegations comprised of Parliamentarians, technicians, scientists, NGO and civil society representatives, as well as co-operation agencies.

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Saly, Senegal, 22-23 November 2011. In partnership with a number of NGOs, including the PRCM, the African Confederation of Traditional Fishing Professional Organisations (CAOPA) organised a workshop on transparency in fisheries. By way of illustration, a Chinese company has been granted a 25-year fisheries concession in Mauritania without any tangible benefits for the country.
Similarly in Senegal, authorisations have been issued to Russian trawlers in total lack of clarity, and obtaining information on joint enterprises is virtually impossible. It is also reported that Guinea Bissau has reached an agreement with an Emirati company for an amount of € 200 million per annum.

On 20 November 2011, following concerted action involving the PRCM, the Network of West African Local Representatives and Parliamentarians for the Environment (APPEL), the RECARGAO Project and a number of European and African partners, the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) agreed to table the impact of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and its external policy aspects on ACP countries as an urgent motion for resolution at its next meeting due to take place in May 2012 in Denmark.