Challenges and difficulties of cooperation between fisheries information systems—Experiences in six West African developing countries

Using as example the area covered in West Africa by the countries of the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission and their EEZ, the authors describe the main characteristics of existing fisheries Information Systems (IS) and the difficulties encountered with these. The two objectives of the conservation of marine ecosystems and of good management of activities related to fishing seems to be driving the development of IS in opposite directions, respectively, toward large scales, and toward national and local scales. It appears that this divergence can be dangerous for both sides and cooperation between the two movements of developing IS must be the subject of increased attention. Solutions of a technical nature and possibilities of good institutional practices do exist and could allow this cooperation between IS to finally see the light of day.