Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) holds its first Regional Workshop

The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), in collaboration with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), successfully concluded a landmark 3-day regional workshop focused on accelerating the implementation of fisheries transparency and robust governance standards across Africa. The five African nations that participated in the workshop were Cabo Verde, Madagascar, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. These countries were selected due to their advanced status in FiTI implementation and shared geographical challenges, making their experiences highly relevant and mutually beneficial for tackling complex regional issues like Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The workshop was held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from Tuesday, October 14th, to Thursday, October 16th. It convened approximately 40 high-level delegates, consisting primarily of dedicated members of National Multi-Stakeholder Groups (MSGs) and Secretariats from the aforementioned countries. Additionally, it featured representatives from FiTI International Secretariat, the AU-IBAR, and other regional and international partners.

The primary objective of the gathering was to leverage the shared experiences and advanced operational status of these five pioneer countries. By fostering a strategic dialogue and deepening regional coordination, the event significantly contributed to improving fisheries management efficiency and advancing the ambitious, continent-wide goals set out in the African Agenda 2063.

Seychelles Delegation Highlights Multi-Sectoral Commitment and Best Practice

As one of the most advanced implementing countries in the region, Seychelles played a pivotal role in driving the discussions and sharing their national model for success. The island nation’s commitment to comprehensive, multi-sectoral governance was powerfully evident through its diverse delegation, which provided valuable, practical insights across the entire Blue Economy value chain.

The six members of the Seychelles delegation included:

• Philippe Michaud, FiTI National Lead.
• Selwyn Edmond, representing Industrial Fisheries.
• Rodney Nicole, representing Artisanal Fisheries.
• Betty Victor, from the Seychelles Fisheries Authority.
• Marie-Therese Purvis, representing Civil Society (S4S).
• Ralph Legaie, from the Department of Blue Economy.

Key Progress and Outcomes Achieved

The highly focused agenda successfully generated practical and forward-looking results, ensuring participants were equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary for enhanced governance:

• Strengthened Governance: Participants shared in-depth national progress reports and piloted a new, interactive participatory toolkit. This toolkit is specifically designed to transition MSGs beyond simple compliance, providing concrete methodologies for sustained, inclusive dialogue and proactive adaptive fisheries management, thus strengthening their operational effectiveness and national impact.
• Reviewed Future Standards: Delegates were fully briefed on critical upcoming global updates. Discussions centered on the revised FiTI Standard, which is set to expand the scope of transparency requirements. Furthermore, the new Fisheries Information System (FIS) was introduced, which will digitize and harmonize data collection, significantly improving data credibility for evidence-based policy-making while reducing the administrative burden on national secretariats. The role of FiTI’s new Compliance Channel in upholding accountability was also a key point of review.
• Ensured Continental Alignment: The workshop successfully discussed and aligned national transparency efforts with crucial continental strategies for fisheries governance. Notably, delegates explored the utility of the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database (AFAData), a centralized platform developed by AU-IBAR, which is vital for evidence-based policy across the region. Aligning national efforts with AFAData, the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS), and the broader African Blue Economy Strategy ensures that national-level transparency directly supports high-level economic development and sustainability goals across the continent.

The workshop which was made possible through the financial support of the German Coorperation, successfully served as a vital platform for regional engagement, cementing commitments to cross-country knowledge exchange and capacity building among key African fisheries stakeholders dedicated to a sustainable future for their blue economies.