Both countries have recently published their first FiTI Reports, covering calendar year 2022, taking another significant step towards fisheries transparency and reaffirming their commitment to the FiTI.
By providing these reports and a range of previously unpublished data, interested national and international stakeholders now have another important means to understand the current state of the countries’ marine fisheries sector.
Madagascar’s FiTI Report includes, among others, a comprehensive overview of fisheries laws and regulations, a list of large-scale fishing vessels, total payments for industrial fishing activities, and basic information on artisanal fishing in Madagascar (e.g. numbers of boats, payments).
In Cabo Verde, the country’s first FiTI Report provides a listing of foreign fishing agreements, information on industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels (such as type of vessels and their flag State), payment information for granting industrial vessels fishing rights in Cabo Verde’s waters, semi-industrial catch data, and basic information on artisanal fishing in Cabo Verde (based on its most recent, Five Year Census 2021).
At the same time, both reports also clearly acknowledge where data gaps exist, where information is currently non-accessible and state clear recommendations for the national authorities on how to gradually improve transparency in their marine fisheries sectors.
Both reports have been reviewed and approved by each country’s FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG), which consists of equal numbers of representatives from government, commercial fisheries and civil society.
Madagascar’s and Cabo Verde’s commitment to fostering stakeholder engagement and improving publicly available fisheries information highlights how fisheries transparency can support a sustainable and resilient future for marine fisheries.
