Benin celebrates World Fishing Day under the theme of ” Vulgarizing the call to action for artisanal fishing “
Today, Tuesday November 21, 2023, Benin hosts the celebration of World Fishing Day. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr. Gaston Cossi DOSSOUHOUI, officially launched on Sunday November 19, 2023 at the Novotel hotel, the activities related to this celebration placed under the theme of the “Popularization of the call to action of artisanal fisheries”.
Mr. Isais Angue OBAMA OYANA, Resident Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Benin, emphasized that in choosing this theme, the Confédération africaine des organisations professionnelles de la pêche artisanale, co-organizer of the Day with the FAO, was pursuing the objective of defending the rights of artisanal fishing communities within the framework of sustainable fishing.
This day,” continued Mr OBAMA OYANA, “recognizes the essential role of fisheries in the food security and livelihoods of millions of people.
“In our region of West Africa, the production of artisanal fisheries far exceeds that of industrial marine fisheries. This fishery plays a crucial role in job creation and ensures food security,” explained Gaston Antoine DJIHINTO, Secretary General of the Fisheries Committee of the Central West Gulf of Guinea, while calling for the abandonment of techniques and methods that destroy fish habitats.
Beyond the celebration, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Cossi DOSSOUHOUI, issued directives to capitalize on the celebration. “It’s easy to organize a celebration. We would have fought hard to get international institutions to set aside a day. But how can we celebrate without looking at ourselves, without measuring ourselves, without knowing where we’ve come from, what we’ve been able to do, where we are now, and where we’re going? Let’s take stock of what brings us together.
Retrospective analysis is important to understand our successes, our failures and their causes, if we want to go far. But far from being content with our successes, we need to dream big to become big tomorrow. And reflection must precede action (…). What regulations guide our actions? And if we have regional regulations, how do countries align with them so that we can compare ourselves from one country to another? What mechanisms do we have in place to ensure that data is comparable from one country to another? These are essential questions that we need to address through regional instruments if we are to stand up for what we are. But why are we doing all this? To build resilient fishing communities, small-scale fishing (…). We need to be together, in solidarity, to speak with one voice”.
Following the activities linked to this celebration, which took place on November 19 and 20, 2023, a visit to the fish smoking units at Sô-Zounko and Sô-Tchanhoué is scheduled for today.
