Regional Fisheries Leaders Discuss Data, Infrastructure and Sustainability in Lomé
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 15:55 
(Togo First) - Lomé has been hosting a five-day regional meeting on artisanal fisheries since Monday, June 22, 2026.
Organized with support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the meeting has brought together government representatives from CECAF member states, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Discussions are focused in part on assessing progress in improving fishing landing sites and identifying priorities for fisheries data collection.
Participants are also expected to design a study on the fish-based animal feed industry and examine regional policy measures, drawing on contributions from member states and technical partners.
The meeting will also provide an opportunity to review and adopt the 2026-2028 work plan of the Working Group on Artisanal Fisheries (GTPA).
According to Konlani Dindiogue, representing the fisheries minister, the country's fishing sector is predominantly artisanal and plays a major role in the national economy.
As a result, "regional cooperation is essential to address the challenges facing the sector, particularly the growing pressure on fishery resources, illegal fishing, the effects of climate change, as well as competition for maritime space," he said.
The Lomé meeting is part of a broader regional cooperation effort aimed at addressing the long-standing challenges facing artisanal fisheries, including the sector's largely informal character, insufficient official statistics, and the overexploitation of fish stocks in the area covered by CECAF.
In Togo, the fisheries sector produces nearly 20,000 metric tons of fish annually. About 90% of this production is processed through frying, drying, or smoking, contributing to the incomes of thousands of people working throughout the value chain.
Esaïe Edoh
