Objective

The overall objective of the SciCOFish project is the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and oceanic fisheries resources in the P-ACP region. It addresses a key aspect of the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP), namely, the development of cost-effective solutions for the sustainable management of marine and land-based resources. It directly responds to the P-ACP leaders’ Vava’u Declaration and the recent 2008 Forum meeting in Niue, which called for comprehensive fisheries conservation measures, both in EEZs and on the high seas; and the sustainable and effective management of national coastal fisheries.

Purpose

The SciCOFish purpose is to provide a reliable and improved scientific basis for management and decision making in oceanic and coastal fisheries. The project provides the P-ACP countries with the means to develop efficient management measures, the skills to monitor their effectiveness, and some important tools to combat IUU fishing on the high seas. A ‘demand-driven’ approach to implementation ensures that assistance is provided to those countries which are most likely to take up management advice.