1st International Conference

1st International Conference of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)

Date: 3 February 2016
Date of the Event : 9.00 – 18.00
Venue : Centre International des Conférences, Nouakchott/Mauritania
Hosted by: Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
 

Conference Hashtag : #FiTI_MR2016

The one-day international conference gathered approx. 300 representatives of governments, businesses, civil society, international organizations, donors and media to highlight the importance of transparency in a sector that is an important source of livelihood for coastal countries all around the world.

Video Messages

Throughout the Conference, video messages of support made by important personalities of the sector were shown:

  • Mr. Kofi Annan, Chair of the Africa Progress Panel, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Laureate
  • Mr. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, President of the GoodPlanet Foundation, Photographer, Film-maker and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador
  • Mr. Pascal Lamy, Commisioner of the Global Ocean Commission, former Secretary General of the World Trade Organization

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-fBYlbv4Kg&width=300&height=300 [/embedyt] [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PadLM89BFps&width=300&height=300[/embedyt]

Several eminent personalities and high-level representatives were present at the conference:

Opening of the Conference

  • H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • H.E. Macky Sall, President, Republic of Senegal
  • H.E. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation, Sweden
  • Ms. Louise Cord, Country Director of the World Bank for Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania.
  • H.E. Abdlatif Y. Al-Hamad, Director General and Chairman, Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development
  • Mr. Peter Eigen, co-funder of the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform and Chair of the International Advisory Group of the FiTI

High-level Panel: Global Efforts for Responsible Fisheries

  • Ms. Vera Songwe, Regional Director West and Central Africa at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group
  • H.E. Sid’Ahmed Ould Raïss, Minister for Economic Affairs and Development, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • H.E. Nani Ould Chrougha, Minister for Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • Mr. Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative at the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Mr. Roberto Cesari, Head of Unit, European Commission (DG MARE)
  • Mr. Yunus Husein, Special Staff of National Task Force on Combating Illegal Fishing, Republic of Indonesia
  • Mr. Philippe Michaud, Special Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Republic of Seychelles

Multi-Stakeholder Panel: Responsible Fisheries through Transparency and Participation

  • Ms. Béatrice Gorez, Coordinator, Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements
  • Ms. Sheila Khama, Director, Africa Natural Resources Center, African Development Bank Group
  • Ms. Bowba Mint El Khaless, Technical Advisor, Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • Ms. Marième Diagne Talla, Acting Permanent Secretary, Sub-Regional Fisheries Committee (SRFC)
  • Mr. Alexander Biryukov, President, Association of Russian Ship-owners in Africa
  • Mr. Gaoussou Gueye, Secretary General, Confédération Africaine des Organisations Professionnelles de la Pêche Artisanale (CAOPA)
  • Mr. José Eduardo Rolón Sánchez, Executive Director, Causa Natura, Mexico