For ECOWAS, the disruption of the traditional fish supply chain from coastal countries to the Sahel region, due to the coronavirus pandemic, is likely to have an impact on the role of fish in the food and nutritional security of the populations, and especially on the livelihoods of fishermen and other people living from this activity. The impact of Covid-19 will further increase the vulnerability of women and young people employed in the sector.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector plays an important social, economic and political role in the region, in particular as : (i) a source of employment, income and foreign exchange earnings, (ii) a major contributor to regional food security and the main supplier of animal protein for the diet of many populations, (iii) a key element in the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Fish production in the region increased from 2,500,000 tons to 2,798,000 tons in 2013 and 2017, respectively. During the same period, imports, although still high, ranged from 1,759,000 tons to 1,686,000 tons and per capita consumption, which is below the world average (20 kg), went from 14.1 kg to 11.3 kg.

Given this situation and in order to modernize the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the region and enable member countries to make the most of its halieutic resources, ECOWAS, with the support of the European Union, has been implementing since 2018 the Pescao Program aimed to improve the regional governance of the sector.

To date, the program has enabled the preparation of the Detailed Strategic Framework for the Development of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. This Framework is broken down into 7 strategic objectives, including, among others, the development of sustainable aquaculture without danger to the environment.