An Introduction to Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries Management in Puntland

Secure Fisheries facilitated a three day workshop on co-management and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAFM) for the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource (MFMR)  staff in Bosaso on November 14-16, 2021.

Secure Fisheries facilitated a three day workshop on co-management and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAFM) for the Puntland Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource (MFMR)  staff in Bosaso on November 14-16, 2021. The training was attended by 17 MFMR staff representing different fisheries management departments including planning, training and extension services, marine conservation, research, surveillance and monitoring, and fisheries management.

The training began with welcome remarks from Mohamed Abdullahi, Secure Fisheries Project Manager. After the recitation of Quranic verses, there was a discussion about the success of the Bander Beyla Co-management association pilot project, which the MFMR facilitated, collaborated, and contributed to, and the plans to expand the project to new locations in 2022.

Three days of workshops improved participants’ understanding of fisheries co-management system concepts, phases, and processes for implementation. Training facilitators also introduced the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), an integrated management system that promotes the conservation and sustainability of the entire ecosystem. Puntland’s Director of the Department of Planning, Mr. Mohamed Said, stated, “Co-management and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management are key management systems that [Puntland] wants to apply and their application will depend on [participant] understanding.