June 12, 2022 (BOR, South Sudan): As part of the Ecofish Project, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a two-day field mission and workshop in the town of Bor in South Sudan.
The local fishing community attended the workshop. Amb. Nickson Peng Peter-Director of Regional Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Aleu Garang-the Head of IGAD Mission in South Dr Wassie Anteneh-Sudan, Dr Eshete Dejen-Programme ManagerSustainable Environment Unit-Fisheries Expert attended the workshop and went for the field mission to visit the fishing community and the fish market in Bor.
In his opening remarks, Amb. Nickson Peng Peter, Director of Regional Organisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan said: “The Nile’s Bahr El Jebel corridor with its vast Sudd wetland & Sobar-Akobo-Baro Basin which are naturally joined together are endowed with enormous swarms of fishes of various species. The exploitation of this vast natural wealth requires from us well planned programmes and projects to utilize these resources so to raise the socio-economic wellbeing of the livelihoods”.
The objectives of the workshop are threefold:
- to establish pilot fisheries co-management units;
- to introduce the principles of fisheries co-management for local fishers; and
- to build capacity of local fishing communities to involve in fisheries management.
At the end of the workshop, the fishing communities agreed to follow the Boma (the lowest administrative unit in South Sudan) Fisheries Co-Management approach after reviewing several management options presented to them. They will enforce the co-management in their respective communities.
Also, the participants identified and prioritised the challenges they face. And as a way forward, a comprehensive project proposal will be developed with the technical assistance from IGAD experts.
