The specific objective is "to support the implementation of the ESA-IO
fisheries strategic priorities for sustainable management and development of the inland and
marine fisheries and aquaculture sector". Implementation started as from March 2014 and
shall last for 42 months. The final beneficiaries of the programme will be the fishermen,
coastal communities and wider population of the ACP States of the ESA-IO region covered
by the 10th EDF Regional Indicative Programme (RIP). It is furthermore expected that
diverse stakeholder groups will draw specific direct and indirect benefits from the SmartFish
Programme.
The programme will endeavour to achieve five results:
Result 1: Fisheries management. Activities aim at establishing recovery pathways for
selected overfished fisheries and decisions about protocols for management of
transboundary fisheries and aquaculture;
Result 2: Governance. Activities aim at improved national and regional fisheries
governance;
Result 3: Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS). Activities aim at establishing cost
effective MCS in support of governance/management measures in target
transboundary and representative national fisheries through business/financing
plans and operational procedures, including transboundary patrols;
Result 4: Trade. Activities aim at increasing national and international fisheries value
chains to generate benefits to national and regional economies
Result 5: Food Security. Activities aim at reducing wastage in product quantity and quality
and developing policies and programmes to assist vulnerable groups.