Fundación CETMAR collaborates with FAO in the professionalization of the fisheries sector in São Tomé e Príncipe
- The Centro Tecnológico del Mar will work to recognize the fishermen’s skills and to design two vessels adapted to the needs of small-scale fishing. It will be developed within the framework of the FISH4ACP program ‘Unlocking the potential of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific’.
- Two experts from CETMAR are participating in a mission to the African country to carry out fieldwork and learn first-hand the fishermen’s work and the environmental conditions of the fishing activity.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations implements this action, funded by the European Union and the German Federal Department for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The Centro Tecnológico del Mar – Fundación CETMAR will collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in a program to improve the fishing sector of São Tomé e Príncipe by professionalizing fisheries and optimizing vessels.
Two experts from the institution, dependent on the Galicia regional government, travel to the African country as part of the work for the FISH4ACP program. This program, ‘Unlocking the potential of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific’, seeks to make the fisheries and aquaculture value chains more sustainable.
Regarding São Tomé e Príncipe the strategy includes, among others, developing and strengthening the skills and organization of stakeholders and increasing the infrastructure and equipment of the fishing sector. The task will be carried out by the officers of the International Cooperation Area of CETMAR, which renders this service to the FAO.
After a bibliographic review and meetings with managers from FAO and relevant institutions in fisheries, such as the Direção das Pescas e Aquicultura, two experts from CETMAR are travelling to São Tomé e Príncipe for fieldwork.
They aim at getting to know the working conditions of fishermen and palaiês (fish traders), their activity and the professional profiles required, as well as to analyze the conditions of fishing activity and to visit some shipyards. During the fieldwork, they will be constantly supported by workers from the local NGO Mar, Ambiente e Pesca Artesanal (Marapa), with considerable experience in the area.
The mission runs from today, 30th September, until 4th October. It will include working meetings with representatives of the institutions and administrations responsible for fisheries in São Tomé and Príncipe.
The objective of CETMAR is to promote the recognition of the skills acquired by fishing professionals in their work and to lay the foundations of qualification programs towards an acceptable labour insertion, extending the basic competences of coastal fishermen.
CETMAR will also work on the identification of needs, design and definition of constructive solutions to build two prototypes of boats for small-scale fisheries. They must fulfil standards of ergonomics and safety, and be adapted to the fishing gears, preserving the cultural identity of the fishing communities of São Tomé e Príncipe.
The FISH4ACP program, which includes the work assigned by FAO to CETMAR, is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Department for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
