Sustainable fishing and processing in Djibouti As urban populations and incomes grow in developing countries, the worlds appetite for fish continues to increase, and prices of fish are rising. At present East African governments barely enforce even rudimentary environmental good practices, allowing devastation of marine ecosystems to continue. However, as a result of large international fishing fleet leaving the Djibouti/ Somalia area in the nineties fish stocks have increased and probably fully recovered in the coastal waters. The waters of Djibouti have an estimated sustainable catch of 4,000 to 5,000 tons per year. The fish processing plant will be set up in the city of Djibouti. The fish will be supplied by local fishermen (through their cooperatives) who are landing their fish in Djibouti harbour. The applicant was founded in 2004 and is a fish trader and processor in Somalia. He has set up more than ten landing sites where local fishermen supply the factory with fresh fish. The local partner is founded in 1979 and is involved in construction, transport and local trading (fish from the applicant). The partners intend to set up a joint venture. The project will develop sustainable fishing and a processing plant in the city of Djibouti. The new factory will be the first HACCP certified fish processing plant in Djibouti. High quality sea food products will be locally produced for the domestic market and for export, mainly to Ethiopia.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The CSR policy will be anchored in the project through HACCP and, later, MSC certification. The partners will develop a CSR strategy for the joint venture, addressing issues like worker safety, gender, prevention of corruption, non-discrimination, good working conditions and chain responsibility.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsTraining is an important element of the project. In addition, medical insurance scheme, one daily free meal, transport and medical support (nurse) will be provided to the employees.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeAt present, there is one industrial fish processing plant in Djibouti, but this is not very active due to lack of fresh fish and it is not HACCP certified. The project potentially will have a huge impact on the fishery sector, and actually also teach fishermen how to fish (in a sustainable manner as well). The processing facility will be HACCP certified. In addition, the project will try to take the first steps towards MSC and EU certification, which itself may not be realised within the project period.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersThe project will have a huge impact on the fishery sector. They will train and support fifty fisherman who will each earn USD 350 per month. In addition, providers of transport and maintenance will provide services worth 50,000 euro annually.Impact on local customers or consumersClients in Djibouti, in particular the higher segment of hotels and restaurants, will be able to buy quality fish locally, which will be cheaper than imports.•	Impact on the sectorThe project will support the development of the association of fishermen, which may impact the whole sector. Also other fishermen will benefit if the sector as a whole will grow and professionalise.•	EnvironmentThe project intends to start MSC certification for Djibouti. If this can be realised, it will have impact on sustainability of the fisheries. Also, the application of HACCP in the processing plant will ensure good environmental practices.•	Position of womenAlmost 50% of basic- respectively medium-/high-level jobs will be done by women, this is 57 of basic-level jobs and 3 medium-/high-level jobs.•	Impact on food safetyThe project will make available more and better quality of fish for the local market, in particular the higher market segments of hotels and restaurants.•	Impact on waterThe processing will require water, but most of it will be recycled and reused. Therefore, water use will be very efficient. To process 320 tonnes of boneless (e.g. octopus, lobster, crab) and peligical (grouper and snapper) fish in the last year of the project that is HACCP certified.