Fisheries and the millennium development goals : solutions for Africa

Abstract

Africa, and in particular sub-Saharan Africa, stands out as facing tremendous difficulties in achieving even modest progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Today, over 46% of Africans live in absolute poverty—a figure that is steadily rising. Life expectancy has fallen further to 46 years; in some countries to below 35 years. Child mortality and malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and other diseases continue to paralyse social and economic development. In this dire situation, innovative and diversified interventions are needed, including support to growth sectors in local economies. Fisheries, clearly, do not hold all the answers to the vexed questions about achieving the MDGs in Africa, but they do offer a key entry point to reach millions of poor people on the continent and to assist them to increase their income, improve the nutrition and health of their families, and become active agents of economic development and social change.