Small scale fisheries

Final PES covers the period 2/81-2/83 and is based on document review, interviews with key project personnel and staff of the European Economic Community (EEC) follow-on project, and site visits. Despite delays - including delays in A.I.D."s provision of technical assistance (TA) - which had necessitated an 18-month extension of the project, progress was made in several areas. The provision of fishing equipment has led to large catch increases at Cacheu, where, in addition, a fishermen"s store with a revolving credit fund has been established as planned. Substantial benefits are already accruing to local participants and their families and there is a reasonable chance that the project"s purpose can be attained with the help of the EEC follow-on project. On the other hand, the very late assignment of counterparts strongly hindered work with the SSF; an Office of Statistical Management has now been established in the SSF, but it remains to be seen whether it can function effectively on its own and whether the Government of Guinea-Bissau (GOGB) will use it for planning purposes. Major constraints to long-term success of the project are the GOGB"s low fixed retail price for fish, which threatens the proposed fresh fish distribution system, and the worsening foreign exchange situation. Lack of hard currency will preclude importing necessary supplies when the project-furnished equipment wears out and has already prevented construction of an ice plant at Cacheu, a planned GOGB input essential to the project (as a temporary measure, USAID/GB is financing a small refrigeration unit). Also lacking is long-term GOGB support for the revolving credit fund and fishermen"s store. Project experience, which has led USAID/GB to drop plans to expand further into the fisheries sector, teaches the need, in Guinea-Bissau projects: to begin well in advance to insure timely provision of TA, due to the country"s difficult working conditions; to fund projects as fully as possible to avoid jeopardizing implementation; to set, and strictly adhere to, realistic conditions precedent; and to assign counterparts from the outset.