Opening of the 5th ACP Meeting of Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Nassau, The Bahamas, 20 September 2017/ ACP: The 5th meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture was formally opened today by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Dr. The Hon. Hubert A. Minnis at the Melia Hotel Convention Centre, in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas.
The opening ceremony included words of welcome by the ACP Secretary General H.E. Dr. Patrick I. Gomes, a video message from the European Commissioner for Maritime affairs and Fisheries Mr. Karmenu Vella, introductory remarks by the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources of The Bahamas, Hon. Renward Wells, and finally, a statement by the Prime Minister.
Following the opening ceremony, ministers held a roundtable exchange on oceans governance and financing fisheries development with representatives of international institutions, including the World Bank, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Later in the day, the ACP Blue Growth Initiative for Fisheries and Aquaculture Productivity and Competitiveness was launched in the presence of the ministers. The Initiative takes a holistic value chain approach to blue growth, recognising the need to take proactive measures to maximise economic benefits from fisheries while also enhancing sustainable management of fisheries resources.
Ministers considered the report by Senior Officials for Fisheries and Aquaculture, based on their discussions the two previous days (18-19 September). The final report and a declaration will be adopted tomorrow on the final day of the meetings.
(Photos from top: Opening ceremony of the 5th ACP Meeting on Fisheries and Aquaculture; the Prime Minister of The Bahamas delivers his opening statement; [from left] Chairman of the ACP Subcommittee on Sustainable Development H.E. Dr. Kaire Mbuende, Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and Marine Resources of The Bahamas Ms. Phedra Rahming, ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Gomes, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, Bahamas Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Hon. Renward Wells, and ACP Assistant Secretary General Mr. Viwanou Gnassounou; ACP Secretary General offers words of welcome to the ministerial participants; Group photo]
Read more:
Opening statement by the ACP Secretary General H.E. Dr. Patrick I. Gomes
Video statement by the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Karmenu Vella
Photo gallery of the 5th meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries & Aquaculture