Abstract:
The marine fisheries production from African coastal countries, combined with that of freshwater production of
the continent is estimated to be 6 millions metric tons, corresponding only 5 % of the total world production. Africa's
contribution to fisheries products (1,5 %) is insignificant compared to that of world commerce which is around 44 millions
tons. This deplorable situation is due to a certain number of problems which include s among others, the relative biogenic
poverty of African waters, the exploitation of African waters by foreign vessels, the total lack of catches effected by the
African vessels out of their regional boundaries, the lack of knowledge on the mastering of commercialisation and on
veritable commercial politics of fisheries products, including quality assurance. In addition to this, the almost inexistence of
the aquaculture in the sub-Saharan countries. This paper analyses the African fisheries in the whole continent and presents
the general characters, notably its evolution, fisheries resources, valorisation and consumption of fisheries products. The
global analysis made here accords a priority to markets as well as to the framework of contribution of these products and
tries, at the end of the 20th century, to present some trends. Facing the globalisation phenomena, how will African fisheries
producers be challenged in the new millennium? This continental level analysis brings out field application and some
different development perspectives for both small scale and industrial fisheries sub-sectors.
