Who We Are
The Eastern Africa Platform of Non-State Actors in Fisheries and Aquaculture โ uniting 15 countries for sustainable blue economies.
Our Story
EARFISH was established in 2017 within the framework of the African Union, arising directly from the Dar es Salaam small-scale fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders consultations. The major outcome of that meeting was the recognition of the need for self-determination and collective action while embracing consultation and engagement for a sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector.
We convene fifteen country representative organisations drawn from fisher and coastal communities, fish farmers, women fish traders and practitioners โ ensuring that the voices of those closest to the water shape the policies that govern their lives.
EARFISH is a formal decision-making mechanism established to strengthen institutional coordination and collaboration of non-state actors with respect to fisheries and aquaculture in the Eastern Africa region, working closely with its counterpart regional platforms including the Continental platform, AFRIFISH-NET.
Get InvolvedContext & Mandate
Non-state actors play crucial roles in fisheries and aquaculture across Africa through maintaining close relationships with fishing communities while defending their interests.
The desire for fisheries and aquaculture non-state actors in Africa to organise as "one voice" was mooted during the 1st Conference of the African Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) in Banjul, The Gambia.
The 2nd CAMFA in Ethiopia urged the African Union, RECs and Member States to "facilitate the participation of non-state actors in fisheries and aquaculture decision-making processes".
Following the Dar es Salaam consultations, EARFISH was formally established as the Eastern Africa regional platform, bringing together 15 country organisations within the AU framework.
EARFISH became a founding pillar of AFRIFISH-NET, the continental platform uniting all five regional non-state actor platforms across Africa.
EARFISH continues to advocate for small-scale fisherfolk at EAC, COMESA, SADC, LVFO, LTA, SWIOFC, IOC levels and in partnership with AU-IBAR, AUDA-NEPAD and FAO.
Strategic Priorities
Partnerships
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