Since 1999, artisanal fishermen from Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea Conakry have forged links during various meetings organized by CAPE and ICSF. The creation of the African Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA) is an initiative of the professional actors of artisanal fisheries who are members of the federations of artisanal fisheries organizations of three countries, represented respectively by the National Fisheries Federation (FNP) for Mauritania, the National Interprofessional Council for Artisanal Fisheries of Senegal (CONIPAS), the National Union of Guinean Fishermen (UNPAG), which are the founding members. This idea was born during the meeting held in 2006 in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, whose main theme was “the necessary dialogue between artisanal fishing communities and the media”.
This meeting led to the creation of a Network of Journalists for Responsible and Sustainable Fisheries in West Africa (REJOPRAO), which in 2018 became; Network of Journalists for Responsible and Sustainable Fisheries in Africa (REJOPRA), which later became a privileged partner of CAOPA.
The entire process that led to the creation of CAOPA benefited from the technical support and support of the National Agricultural and Rural Advisory Agency (ANCAR), the West African Rural Foundation (WARF) and a fisheries expert with more than 40 years of experience in fisheries administration, fisheries project management and artisanal fisheries financing. Ongoing technical and financial support has also been given by the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CAPE), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Pain pour le Monde/Brot fur Die Welt (PPM/BFW), International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM).
Read more:
https://ecosystemes.info/2022/01/21/la-confederation-africaine-des-organisationnelles-professionnelles-de-peche-artisanale-une-initiative-des-professionnels/