In October 2001, ICSF, along with the International Ocean Institute (IOI), organized a conference titled Forging Unity: Coastal Communities and the Indian Ocean's Future . It was meant to recognize the long and shared heritage of coastal fishing, seafaring and maritime trading that exists even today between Asian and African countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

The conference brought together fishworker organizations, NGOs, research institutions, universities and policymakers from 13 countries bordering the Indian Ocean, including the east African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, as well as South Africa and Seychelles. Based on the opportunity it provided to exchange experiences and identify areas of common concern, the conference recommended that ICSF initiate a programme in east Africa along the same lines. This workshop is the outcome of that recommendation. It aims to identify key fisheries issues in eastern and southern Africa and also bring together various stakeholders to discuss policies for sustainable fisheries development.