1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background:

Whereas fisheries resources have been sensibly managed, developed and utilised by the local communities and other users, they have also been altered and destroyed in some cases, on the grounds that they are indefinitely renewable. It has, however, been realised that these renewable resources are limited, and thus there has been a need to seek ways and means to better conserve, manage and develop them on sustainable basis.

Existing planned national policies for conservation, management and development of natural resources face identical problems. These include conflicting sectoral policies, lack of general appreciation of the values of the natural resources and therefore their need for conservation and management, as well as lack of a central point for co-ordination of management actions.

Thus the present fisheries policy and strategy statement addresses these problems as well as setting the scene for all that the nation wants for her fisheries resources. The statement focuses on the promotion of sustainable exploitation, utilisation and marketing of fish resources to provide food, income, employment and foreign exchange, earnings and effective protection of the aquatic environment to sustain development. The main areas of concern to the sectors’ development efforts are: -

- Improved resource management and control.
- Integration of environmental protection and development.
- Improved training and education.
- Improved knowledge of the Fisheries resource base.
- Efficient resource utilisation and Marketing.
- Applied/strategic research.
- Aquaculture development.
- Community participation.
- Fisheries information management.
- Gender and development.
- Cross-sectoral collaboration.
- Integrated coastal area management and
- Regional and international co-operation.

This document forms the policy statement and strategy for the Fisheries Sector. The policy encompasses the need for a change in attitude towards fisheries resources use practices as well as the necessity to manage, conserve and develop them for good of all and for prosperity.