Fisheries co-operation agreement signed between Tunisia and Japan

A co-operation agreement in the fisheries field was signed, on Wednesday in Tunis, between Tunisia and Japan. This agreement is the second phase of a joint management project of coastal halieutic preserves, in the Gulf of Gabes. The agreement aims to devise a management plan of the coastal fisheries in the Gabes Gulf region, according to a participatory approach that gathers the administration, the profession and scientific research. This four-year project will start on April 1, 2012. The main components of the project include conducting of studies on the present situation of the coastal preserves and the socio-economic situation of fishermen of the regions targeted by the project. These components also centre on boosting the capacities of the Tunisian technicians by means of organising training session in Japan and providing additional incomes for the benefit of fishermen. The signing ceremony of this agreement, chaired by Agriculture and Environment Minister Mokhtar Jallali, is part of the visit in Tunisia if a Japanese delegation fisheries specialists.