Page 23 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Comoros

MAJOR CONSTRAINTS IN THE WAY OF COMOROS

FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Comoros was one of three African entrenchment of the co-management
countries picked to benefit from the concept that entails involving fishing
ongoing first phase of the southwest communities in decision-making on
Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and the management of their fisheries so as
Shared Growth (SWIOFish 1) program, but to minimize overfishing and boost the
the country is still grappling with serious economic benefits of the fishing industry
economic and social constraints that will to those communities.
require drastic governance reforms if The government’s strategy in ensuring
the project is to achieve its objectives by Comoros fishers reap economic benefits
2021. includes investing in value addition, which
Comoros, also known as the Comoro includes modern infrastructure to support
Islands, is an archipelago of volcanic of the country’s fisheries sector. The artisanal fisheries. That infrastructure
islands off the southeast coast of Africa. success of that project revived Comoros’ includes new landing sites, cold storage,
It was picked, along with Tanzania and government’s desire to revamp its marine and ice machines, all of which require a
Mozambique, for the “southwest Indian and inland commercial fishing operations. reliable supply of electricity.
Ocean Fisheries Governance and The SWIOfish1 project is to be Comoros, which has an exclusive
Shared Growth Project,” an initiative led implemented over a six-year period, economic zone of about 160,000 square
by the World Bank that aims to create a and targets the reduction of fish stock kilometers, is located in a tuna-rich area
sustainable seafood industry through degradation, increasing the contribution at the mouth of the Mozambique Channel.
improved management of the fisheries of fisheries to respective national The country produces an estimated 16,000
sector. economies, and enhancing value-addition tons of fish annually, of the country’s
Optimism surrounding the project to marine and inland catches. existing potential of 33,000 tons per year,
stems from the achievements of a previous But Comoros faces huge obstacles to according to the World Bank.
World Bank-supported undertaking – a achieving its aim with SWIOFish, such “State support to the sector remains
project called “Co-Managing of Coastal as acute energy shortages, inadequate limited despite the existence of various
Resources for Sustainable Livelihoods and in some cases obsolete fishing sector institutions for management,
(CoReCSUD)” – that addressed equipment, very limited financial backing monitoring and safety at sea, sanitary
challenges hampering the performance
from the national budget, and a lack control, research and training,” the bank’s
of coordination of the country’s fishing report said.
Production (tonnes) of some agricultural industry. All of this is in spite of various The government has also recently
commodities in Comoros (2017-2018) state agencies engaged in fisheries had another major setback when the
management, monitoring and safety at European Union listed Comoros as one
Item 2017 Flag 2018 Flag
sea, and research and training. of the countries that have either failed
Bananas 46876 Im 46777 Im
Cassava 66281 Im 66834 Im Comoros’ state electricity companies or are abetting illegal, unreported,
are operating at near-bankruptcy, and and unregulated fishing, leading to the
Cinnamon (cannella) M M
are unable to sustain a regular supply termination of an earlier trade agreement
Cloves 2385 Im 2379 Im
of power critical for the growth and for the island nation’s tuna and tuna-like
Cocoa, beans 48 Im 46 Im
expansion of cold-storage activities that species.
Coconuts 104410 Im 106137 Im
currently have an installed capacity of 30.6 The E.U. reaffirmed in early 2019 a
Coffee, green 136 Im 137 Im
MW – although only 14.5 MW is available decision taken the previous year by the
Fruit, fresh nes 3938 Im 3951 Im
according to the African Development European Commission to denounce its
Groundnuts, with shell 971 Im 979 Im Bank. partnership agreement with Comoros
Maize 6787 Im 7014 Im after the country was identified “as a non-
In addition, the World Bank has
Onions, shallots, green 289 Im 299 Im cooperating third country in fighting IUU
identified dilapidated landing sites, a
Pigeon peas 395 Im 400 Im lack of commitment from government fishing.”
Potatoes 609 Im 600 Im agencies, and haphazard allocation of Before the denunciation of the
Pulses nes 15835 Im 16279 Im national resources as major hindrances to agreement, Comoros was earning USD
Rice, paddy 31051 Im 31340 Im the success of initiatives to grow the island 1.3 million (EUR 1.17 million) every year
Sisal M M nation’s fisheries sector, which currently from foreign vessels that paid to access
Spices nes 62 Im 62 Im contributes 24 percent to the nation’s the country’s fishing grounds. This was
agricultural GDP and 7.5 percent to the 0.7 percent of the country’s total national
Sweet potatoes 7707 Im 7862 Im
national economy overall. revenues by 2017. At least 50 percent of
Taro (cocoyam) 10803 Im 10915 Im
Tomatoes 643 Im 644 Im “Specialized services remain limited these earnings have proceeded from the
Vanilla 31 Im 30 Im for shipbuilding and ship repair, and agreement with the E.U., which is now
for small-scale fishing equipment obsolete.
Vegetables, fresh nes 4280 Im 4289 Im
bunkering,” the bank said in its report. Nevertheless, some success has been
Yams 4629 Im 4664 Im
Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology Comoros’ ambitions for its fisheries – reported with the World Bank’s CoReCSUD
Source: FAO Statistical Division 2019 which are largely artisanal – include the project, which involved training fishing
M: Data not available communities on sustainable fishing.
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