National Oceans and Fisheries Policy, 2008.

Abstract

This policy is presented in seven Chapters. Chapter one deals with the background to the Sector starting from the colonial times and through to the past forty three years of independence. It also reviews fisheries resources in the Oceans, Coastal Waters, Lakes and Riverine. In the Second Chapter, challenges and opportunities are explored ranging from the unsustainable utilization of fisheries resource, the inadequacy of fisheries management, conflict on resource use, gender rights issues and equity, stagnated aquaculture development, inadequate capacity to do quality assurance and inadequate infrastructure. Chapter three explores policy guidelines and objectives. It enumerates guiding principles for the policy, gives the overall goal and objectives while going into detailed specific objectives. Chapter 4 details out specific policy statements covering the areas of Research and Development for the sector, proposal on Resource Management, prioritization of Aquaculture Development, enhanced Monitoring Control and Surveillance, Institutional and Legal Framework while detailing out opportunities for trade and commerce, infrastructure investments and infrastructure development as well as the human resource development. Details of the strategies and implementation measures are detailed out in chapter five along the lines of coordinated and linked research meaning that the research arm of the sector will be closely linked to the development arm of the sector to enable effective and up to date information sharing for improved extension and development services in the sector. Other strategies include the enactment of a new legal framework, the development of new institutions especially an advisory council at the Ministry level and various boards to guide the development and research components of the sector. The policy also proposes strategies for improved monitoring, control and surveillance, development of infrastructure and optimization of trade and commerce in fisheries products. The Roles of Government and private sector are detailed out in the addendum and detailed implementation matrix attached showing priorities and clear benchmarks for implementation. The policy also has a monitoring and evaluation framework that proposed annual monitoring and that after five years an evaluation of the implementation of the policy will be undertaken to measure progress to enable informed decision making.