Page 10 - Comoros Report

Food security

The fisheries sector plays a critical role in promoting food security. The sector also offers employment
as shown below:

Year 2000 2010 2012 2013 2014

People 7,700 10,400 10,400 11,400 11,400
Country Profile
employment
Source: (FAO, 2020)

The Republic of Comoros
Fish has been a source of food and income for community residing along the coastal zone. However,
due to its longest history of coups and political instability, Comoros has been exposed to intense
hunger (source). Scarcity and accessibility of resources has been a challenge to majority of the
Comorian population for some time now.

The constraints
Weak institutions

The sector is not well developed. Some of the results of the weak institutions are pollution and
degradation are continuing unabated. Sand and stone mining degrade the fishing ground, discharge
of waste into the marine ecosystem, deforestation, poaching of green turtles, increased coastal
development and lack of data for assessment purposes

Political upheaval
Comoros has undergone serious political crises, which have affected its political development until now.
The past period of political instability and turmoil resulted into jurisdictional conflicts and confusion
in institutional management. However, the concept of democracy, which is slowly overturning the era
of turmoil, has improved governance in Comoros.

The opportunity

Legal framework
The Constitution of Comoros May 2010: The revised constitution forms the basis of marine
governance since it provides some autonomy to the respective islands as regards their administration.
It states that the Republic of Comoros shall consist of autonomous islands of Moheli, Ndzuwani
(Anjouan), N’gazidja (Grande Comore), and Maore (Mayotte) (Article 1 of the Union of Comoros
Constitution). According to the Constitution non-industrial fishing falls within the jurisdiction of the
autonomous islands (Article 9). Any other type of fishing is under the jurisdiction of the Union. It
further provides for the ratification of treaties and trade agreements (subject to Parliaments approval)
which relate to international organization.

Institutional framework

The Fisheries sector: The fisheries sector is under the administration of the ministry of agriculture
and fisheries and further delegated to the General Directorate of Fishery Resources headed by the
General Director. Due to lack capacity and financial capability, the sector has not been able to

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