CHAPTER 4 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS Chapter 4 Development Strategies and Programs 4.1 Development Framework 4.1.1 Target Year The economic diversification strategy of the Gabonese Government mainly involves the forestry, water and fishery sectors. The Forest, Fishery and Environment Sector Programme (PSFE), with the objective of sustainable management of the forests, fishery and environmental resources, was formulated in the year 2000 to 2004 as a framework for the assistance of various donors. Within the structure of this Programme, the DGPA has a five-year programme (2006-2010): the Programme for Support to the Fishery and Aquaculture Sector (PSPA) based on financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB). Moreover, the present Master Plan of Integrated Small-Scale Fishery and Inland Aquaculture in the Gabonese Republic (PDDI) should be finalized in March of 2009. Consequently, taking the state of progress of the PSPA and its contents into consideration, the Master Plan designs the development for a period of ten years after the execution of the PSPA (target year: 2020). 4.1.2 Development Objectives The resolving of the development issues mentioned in the Chapter 2.2 is strongly tied to the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper (GPRSP) and the PSFE. The table here below indicates the relation in development objectives between this Master Plan and GPRSP and PSFP. Table 4.1 Correlation between the Development Objectives of the PDDI and the Similar Development Projects Development Measures Development Issues in Small-scale Fishery and Inland Aquaculture Poverty of Delay in the No preparation of the Lack of Delay in Insufficient the fishers fishers’s management system of support preparation of supply of fish organization fishery resources services infrastructure products 1. DSCRP Promotion of growth for the ◎ ◎ poor Arranging of infrastructure ◎ ○ Improvement of access to ◎ ◎ ○ public services Improvement in the ○ ○ ○ ○ management of public affairs 2. PSFE Sustainable development of ○ ○ the forests Sustainable development of ◎ ○ fishery resources Protection of biodiversity ○ and the broadening of the reserves Development of products ○ and environmental services Reinforcement of the ○ ○ ◎ ○ ○ organization Development Objectives of i) Increase in the income level of the small-scale fishers and fish farms. the PDDI ii) Stable supply of fishing products in the country and to neighbouring countries. iii) Sustainable management of fishing activities and fishing resources. Notes: ◎: Strong correlation with Governmental policy: ○ Correlation The objective of the PDDI is to establish a system for the increase in overall sustainable production in the 4-1 area of small-scale fishery and inland aquaculture within ten years by the year 2020, thereby allowing for the long term to: i) increase in the income level of the small-scale fishers and fish farms, ii) stable supply of fish products not only in Gabon but also in the neighbouring countries in order to assure food security. However, in order not to fall into an excessive increase in the production in the future, iii) sustainable management of fishery activities and fishery resources is also an indispensable objective. Concrete indicators of each objective are shown here below: i) Increase in the income level of small-scale fishers and fish farms Reduce the percentage fish farmers living below the poverty line (29,000 Cfa francs per person per month) before the year 2020. Considering one of the Millennium Objectives for Development “reduce by half the poverty rate before the year 2015”, the actual reduction targets are set as follows: • Coastal fishery: 50.1% to > less than 25% • Lagoon fishery: 49.4% to > less than 25% • Inland fishery (throughout the territory): 63% to > less than 30% ii) Stable supply of fishery products in the country and to the neighbouring countries in order to guarantee food security Increase fish production by around 5,000 tons in order to meet the demand of domestic fish products by the year 2020. Moreover, increase production by about 10,000 tons in order to meet export demand for neighbouring countries. (Target values are set at the lower limits of anticipated demand of fish products (volume of fish consumed per year per person = 20 kg, total replacement of fish product imports)). iii) Sustainable management of fishery activities and fishery resources The objectives to be reached by the year 2020 shall be as follows: • Establish a shared system of surveillance of the three nautical miles off the coast (joint surveillance system of the government and the inhabitants); • Establish an autonomous management system by each fishers’ association for local fishery activities (at least two sites); • Establish regulations for fishing methods and fishing equipment in the inland fishing zones. 4.2 Development Strategies As shown in the Chapter 2.2, the development objectives of this Master Plan have three pillars, namely, i) sustainable utilization of fishery activities and resources, ii) Improvement of income levels of small-scale fishers and aquaculture farmers, and iii) stable supply of fishery products not only to Gabon but also to neighboring countries based on the Food Security. Gabon has rich fishery resources, but those are under-developed, because of its small population and insufficient government support services. Furthermore, Gabon is a natural and mining resources-based country, but the majority of farmers/fishers are spending the life under poverty line resulting in the large difference of income levels by regions. In consideration of these characteristics of Gabon, the following three main strategies to meet and attain each development objectives mentioned above were set forth: [Strategy-1] Sustainable management of fishery resources and strengthening of conservation system for resources and habitats (Strategy for the sustainable utilization of fishery activities and resources) A sustainable management system for fishery activities and fishery resources shall be built, so as to ensure the sustainable use of the resources. Although there remain abundant fishery resources in Gabon, the human resources for their development and use are limited (small population with low technical training level). Until the present, the use of the resources has been done based on a free access principle, but since the population is very small in the present situation, there has been no visible damage to resources. However, in addition to the frequent illegal fishing of industrial fishing boats in the coastal zone, illegal fishing 4-2 equipment is also used in small-scale fishery, and the influence upon the resources should be feared in the future. Through the installation and management of artificial reefs in the coastal waters, the coastal fishing grounds for artisanal fishery will be protected and conserved. Moreover, in order to fulfil the role as fishery product provider not only for the domestic market in Gabon for achieving self-sufficiency in fishery food production but also for Central Africa, through the training of Gabonese fishers (inland fishery), in case of need, it is possible to increase the production by a joint development with the foreign fishers or with neighbouring countries (ocean fishery). Whereas the pressure for such development is being reinforced, we must without further delay establish and set up a management system (framework) adapted to the sustainable use of the resources. [Strategy-2] Strengthening of organizational and legal flames and capacities of fishery-related personnel (Strategy for improvement of income levels of small-scale fishers and aquaculture farmers) 2-1 Establish small-scale fishery and aquaculture in all zones by supplying support services centred upon the fishery community centres and aquaculture stations Gabon has a small population, 70% of which is concentrated in the surroundings of the capital Libreville. Consequently, in the rural zones, small-sized villages are scattered here and there and the inhabitants who can cover their food self-sufficiency by hunting and collection activities have a tendency to lose their interest in development. For this reason, there are hardly any development activities being carried out in the villages or local organizations, and when the organizations try to develop activities, we can observe the lack of experience and appropriate adaptation. Within this context, the development of fishery shall first of all be developed under the guidance of the Government and centred on the community fishery centres and fish farm stations, and the collective activities shall be encouraged little by little through various actions. 2-2 Upgrade the production capacities and administrative capacities of those engaging in fishery-aquaculture related field, through the strengthening of education, training and extension services. The leaders and technical staff within the fishery administration will be trained, so as to establish the appropriate staffing and budgetary systems and to provide the producers (fishers, aquaculture farmers) with support services (technical guidance, financial assistance, etc.). In addition, the logistic and communication system among regional fisheries offices and fishery surveillance stations will be improved, so as to fulfill the extension service to agricultural and fishing villages. [Strategy-3] Increase and diversification of national production and improvement of valorization of fishery products (Strategy for stable supply of fishery products) 3-1 Promote the