ENHANCING THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF FISHERIES TO WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICAN NATIONS

The fishery sector plays multiple roles in the national economies of West and Central African countries, including contributions to economic growth, employment, exports and tax revenues. A high proportion of these benefits are generated by the small-scale sector and contribute in various ways to food security and poverty reduction - essential elements of global development strategies as expressed in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The paper argues that because of this diversity of roles a _one-size-fits-all_ national policy will be inappropriate in most countries. There may be a need to set distinct policy goals and strategies for inland and marine fisheries, for example. In most cases, the current and potential role of small-scale fisheries in poverty reduction and food security is poorly recognized the sector consequently neglected in both fisheries and poverty reduction policies.