In coastal communities across West Africa, fishing the ocean
is a way of life and vital to providing incomes and nutrition, especially for
the poor. West Africa waters are rich in fish of all varieties.
Despite this fact,
from Nigeria to Ghana, to Senegal, the fishing industry in these
countries still grapple with challenges that limit production capacity and by
extension, ability to meet the daily nutrition needs of West African families.
Over a billion people, most of whom are poor, depend on fish
as a source of animal protein. Fish is the cheapest source of animal protein in
the world and supports families by providing income, employment, and food
security to West African communities.
West Africa is gifted with abundant fish
resources, supplying over 50 percent of the world’s fishing resources. However,
most West African countries import fish instead of relying on the countries
rich fishing waters for food and employment.
Although fishing in much of rural Africa tends to be
overshadowed by agriculture and stock raising, it is not a marginal sector.
Fishing provides direct incomes for about 10 million people, half of whom are
women and contributes to the food supply of 200 million more.
According to the WorldFish Centre, an independent research
institute headquartered in Malaysia, Africans rely on fish for an average of 22
percent of their consumption of animal protein. In some countries, the rate is
as high as 70 percent. Fish also provides essential vitamins, minerals, fatty
acids and other nutrients crucial to a healthy diet. The poor rely on fish more
than others do, because it is often the most affordable source of protein.
Fishing also makes a significant economic contribution. In
Uganda, for example, lake fisheries yield catches worth more than $200 million
a year, contributing 2.2 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. They
employ 135,000 fishers and 700,000 more in fish processing and trading, and
generate $87.5 million in export earnings.