On behalf of the Maritime Economy, Maritime Transports, Fisheries and Pisciculture Ministry and with the assistance of the Maritime Fisheries Department, the Senegalese Federation of Sport Fishing has undertaken in the last few years a wide program of immersion of artificial reefs.

An extensive reflection organized since 2006 within the Direction of the Maritime Fisheries Department along with all the actors concerned led to the elaboration of a « National Strategic Plan for the Immersion of the Artificial Reefs along the Senegalese coasts » (aka PSNIRA).

Within this framework and with the objective of a better apprehension and evaluation of this plan, an International Conference on the use of artificial reefs for Fisheries Management and Conservation of the Sea Resources is planned to take place in Dakar, Senegal.

The main objectives of this event which will be held in the framework of the Commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Senegalese Federation of Sport Fishing will consists in strengthening the defined immersion strategy, boosting the exchanges between the different national and international actors and trying to define a regulatory framework and scientific procedures adapted to each national context of artificial reefs’ management..

The seminar will address the main following issues :

 The presentation of the Senegalese experience (PSNIRA) ;

 The analysis of different international case studies of artificial reef management in relation to the different types of usages (commercial fisheries, sport fishing and other recreational activities such as scuba diving, conservation, use of reefs as anti-trawling barriers, etc...) ;

 The state of the art of the scientific knowledge on the impact of artificial reefs and the mechanisms of follow-up/evaluation of such devices ;

 The organization of round tables for examining in more detail any issue stated during the plenary sessions as well as the issues related to the usage regulations, to the legal and institutional framework of reef immersions, and to the mechanisms of follow-up/evaluation of the reefs ;

 The organization of a poster session for allowing an expansion and extension of the stated issues.

This seminar will gather national and international participants identified among scientists, fisheries professionals, fishermen communities and the inter-profession unions, decision makers, officials from the Maritime Fishery Departments, Sports Departments, Environment Departments, and civil society representatives (NGOs, local collectivities, elected representatives, etc...).

Along with the Conference event, an open house will be organized, at the Senegalese Federation of Sport Fishing (FSPS) retracing its history. A gala evening during which deserving persons will be rewarded will close the event.