A. MATTERS FOR DECISION

Proposals elaborated in response to the requests referred to in paragraphs 12 (CITES listing

criteria) and 13 (eco-labelling) will be put before the Committee at its Twenty-third Session.

B. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

Information on activities related to international fish trade by organizations other than FAO was of interest and reporting should continue. (para. 6)

Further assistance was needed in order to build capacity of developing countries in quality assurance and delegates urges those countries implementing stringent health regulations to give technical assistance. (para. 9)

Fish in food aid was mentioned as a means of promoting food security in the spirit of the results of the World Food Sumit and delegates from Latin America were interested in promoting joint projects in this field in cooperation with FAO and INFOPESCA. (para. 10)

The Sub-Committee noted that the issue of subsidies is discussed in various fora and that FAO has a role to play in compiling and disseminating information on subsidies at a global level.

(para. 17)

The Sub-Committee stressed the need for FAO to monitor closely developments in the field of eco-labelling initiatives, so that they are based on objective scientific facts. (para. 19)

The Sub-Committee noted that FAO should monitor developments in biotechnology relevant to fish production and fish trade and in doing so, consult the relevant outputs of other organizations such as UNEP and OECD. It was suggested that FAO should also monitor research being undertaken regarding risk assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). (para. 20)

The Sub-Committee noted the usefulness and quality of the report on trade in fisheries services and urged FAO to carry out further studies. (para. 21)

The Sub-Committee asked FAO to investigate further both property and access rights in fisheries, as well as the rationale for the charging of resource rents. Several members proposed that the work should include studies on benefits of processing the catch in plants located in the coastal country. (para. 22)

The Sub-Committee endorsed the elements for a draft strategy for the development of fishery commodities and requested the Secretariat to finalize the document and submit it to the Common Fund for Commodities. (para. 23)

The Sub-Committee received with great appreciation the invitation to consider holding the Seventh Session of the Sub-Committee in conjunction with the seafood fair to be held in the year 2000 expressed by the Senator for Economic Affairs, Technology and European Affairs of the Federal State of Bremen during the Opening Ceremony of FISCH ’98. (para. 27)

1. The Sixth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries was held in Bremen, Germany, from 3 to 6 June 1998. It was attended by 52 members of FAO, by observers from three non-member nations, by representatives from the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) and from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and by observers from 13 intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations.

2. The agenda shown in Appendix A was adopted by the Sub-Committee.

3. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix B to this report. The documents which were before the Sub-Committee are listed in Appendix C.

4. Mr Denis Fadda, Legal Officer, Legal Office, FAO, provided information on the EC Declaration of Competence (COFI:FT/VI/98/Inf.8) before the session was opened. The meeting was called to order by Mr Grimur Valdimarsson, Director, Fishery Industries Division, FAO, who delivered the opening address on behalf of the Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf. The text of this statement is reproduced in Appendix D. Mr Peter Greim, Chairman of the Federal Association of the German Fishing Industry, delivered a keynote address highlighting the importance of trade for the German fishing industry and the need for a sustainable use of fishery resources. The keynote address is reproduced in Appendix E. The welcoming address by Senator Josef Hattig, the Senator of Economic Affairs, Technology and European Affairs of the Federal State of Bremen, was delivered by Ms Barbara Riechers-Kuhlmann, Chief, Fisheries Branch, Department of Economic Affairs, Technology and European Affairs.

5. Since the Sixth Session was the first meeting of the Sub-Committee in this biennium, it was necessary to elect a Chairperson, a First Vice-Chairperson and four other Vice-Chairpersons in compliance with Rule I, paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee on Fisheries, which also apply to its Sub-Committees. Mr Osman Mohamed Saeed, Sudan, was elected Chairperson of the Sub-Committee. Ms Jane Willing, New Zealand, was elected First Vice-Chairperson and representatives from Japan, Namibia, Peru and the United Kingdom were elected as the other Vice Chairpersons. The Sub-Committee appointed a Rapporteur, Ms Magdalena Mladenova, Bulgaria.

6. Agenda item 4 was discussed on the basis of a report on recent events concerning international trade in fishery products (COFI:FT/VI/98/2) covering several important events which had occurred since the Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee. The delegates expressed appreciation of the quality of this document. The delegates highlighted the importance of the Sub-Committee as a technical forum to discuss trade issues, and the importance of fish trade, especially for developing countries. Information on activities related to international fish trade by organizations other than FAO was of interest and reporting should continue.

7. It was reported that the International Dolphin Conservation Program Agreement was signed by eight countries on 21 May 1998, which requires ratification by four countries to come into force. USA trade restrictions on yellowfin tuna can be lifted for those countries having ratified. The Agreement will ensure the effective management and conservation of the marine resources well into the future. The USA reported that it intends to continue to prohibit the importation of shrimp harvested in ways harmful to sea turtles unless Congress changes relevant USA law. It is also encouraging the development of regional, multilateral sea turtle protection agreements like the Interamerican Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles.

8. The Sub-Committee noted the success of the FAO Regional Fish Market Information Network (INFOFISH, INFOPECHE, INFOPESCA, INFOSAMAK). Member countries of the various INFO services expressed their appreciation of the achievements made so far and called for the further contribution of donor countries to the network. INFOPECHE and the FAO project EASTFISH were complimented by numerous of its participant countries for the work carried out so far. The establishment of the INFOYU project was noted with satisfaction and interest. Some delegations urged FAO to find the best solution for INFOSAMAK to re-assume its activities. The Sub-Committee urged FAO to give higher priority to the INFO network and its coordination.

9. The Sub-Committee highlighted the importance of the new regulations with regard to quality control measures. Several delegations from developing countries mentioned the importance of training in the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) programme, and thanked FAO, DANIDA (Project GCP/INT/609/DEN) and the INFO network for the excellent support already received in this respect. However, further assistance was needed in order to build capacity of developing countries in this regard, and delegates urged those countries implementing stringent health regulations to give technical assistance. Some delegations raised concern on the transparency and the discriminatory treatment of such implementation and asked importing countries to postpone the deadline for implementing the HACCP regulations. Importing countries highlighted that new sanitary regulations should not be considered barriers to trade, but actions aimed at consumer protection. The EC delegation gave an explanation of its most recent sanitary regulations and distributed the list of third countries from which the import of fish products is authorized for human consumption (Dec. 98/148/EC). Some delegations urged the EC to exercise caution in order to ensure that traditional trade between neighbouring countries is not disrupted through discriminatory measures.

10. Fish in food aid was mentioned as a means of promoting food security in the spirit of the results of the World Food Summit, and delegates from Latin America were interested in promoting joint projects in this field in cooperation with FAO and INFOPESCA.

11. Some delegations noted that trade liberalization does not necessarily create additional price fluctuation, as stated in the report, but to the contrary leads to other benefits, such as increased consumer choice and lower retail prices.

12. The discussion of agenda item 5 was preceded by a proposal by South Africa that FAO should initiate a scientific review of the CITES listing criteria as they might apply to large-scale commercially harvested fish species. South Africa proposed that FAO should be asked to appoint an ad hoc group to make suggestions on how such a process of scientific review might best be pursued, leading perhaps to proposals for amendment to and/or appropriate interpretation of the CITES criteria in the context of marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest. The text of the proposal and the suggested terms of reference for the ad hoc working group are reproduced in Appendix F. The proposal was strongly supported and subsequently adopted. It was agreed that use should be made of the expertise available from regional organizations; there were several offers to contribute scientific knowledge.

13. Norway, on behalf of the Nordic countries, requested FAO to investigate the feasibility and practicability of developing non-discriminatory, globally applicable Technical Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fish Products which should take into account inter alia the specific characteristics of the fisheries of each state and region. The Nordic Council of Ministers (Fisheries) had offered to consider the hosting of a meeting to discuss these issues and the provision of extrabudgetary funds to FAO to cover expenses with regard to this initiative. It was agreed that FAO should organize a technical consultation on the subject with the participation of national experts appointed by the Member countries. It was stated that the authority to formulate the final recommendations rests with member governments only, while all groups concerned with eco-labelling matters (productive sector, scientific community, consumer groups and NGOs) should also be invited to contribute relevant experience. The text of the proposal is reproduced in Appendix G.

14. In the discussion of agenda item 5 on the basis of document COFI:FT/VI/98/3, the Sub-Committee highlighted the importance of sound fisheries management policies for future fish supply. World fish resources should be managed in a sustainable and responsible manner, respecting the fisheries management plans of each member country, in order to provide food for present and future generations. The importance of regional fishery organizations or arrangements as a means for sustainable management of relevant fishery resources was highlighted by the Sub-Committee. Several delegations stressed the risk to their resources through the movement of foreign fleets to their waters and expressed the need for additional technical assistance and cooperation in scientific research and the management of their resources.

15. The Sub-Committee took note of the following update of information contained in the discussion document: in November 1997 in Vancouver, Canada, the APEC Ministers responsible for trade agreed to pursue initiatives for Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization (EVSL) including fish and fish products (amongst a total 15 sectors selected), on the basis of the APEC principle of voluntarism, whereby each economy remains free to determine the sectoral initiatives in which it will participate. The Fisheries sector initiative includes elimination of all tariffs and non-tariff barriers, bringing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures into conformance with the WTO SPS agreement, elimination of subsidies inconsistent with the WTO Agreement on subsidies, economic and technical cooperation and cooperative fisheries conservation and management. Details of the initiative (scope of coverage, flexible phasing, measures covered and implementation schedule, including choice of measures and instruments for implementation based on the existing proposals) are still under discussion. The coordinator for the Fisheries Sector Initiative will make the status report of the June meeting of APEC Trade Ministers available to the Sub-Committee.

16. The Sub-Committee received clarification with regard to the results of the Third Conference of Fisheries Ministers at La Toja (A Toxa), Spain. The La Toja (A Toxa) Declaration invites international organizations and the international community to search for effective solutions to a number of problems identified during the Third Conference of Fisheries Ministers at La Toja, to establish responsible trade in a manner which complements and promotes international trade. The text of the declaration which identified various problems and issues may be found in Appendix H.

17. In the discussion of agenda item 5 on the basis of document COFI:FT/VI/98/4, the Sub-Committee noted that the issue of subsidies are discussed in various fora, and that FAO has a role to play in compiling and disseminating information on subsidies at a global level. Many delegations stressed that the use of subsidies could aggravate over-exploitation of resources and distort trade, while other delegations underlined that in some cases subsidies may be necessary, for example, to secure employment and food security. One delegation stressed that there was no direct link between the question of overcapacity and distortion of trade in the fisheries sector.

18. In the discussion of agenda item 5 on the basis of document COFI:FT/VI/98/5, the Sub-Committee stressed that FAO should play a role in identifying criteria for sustainable shrimp culture, based on technical and scientific grounds. It was emphasized that the core of the problem was in production, not trade and that the responsibility for sustainability reached further than the industry alone.

19. The Sub-Committee stressed the need for FAO to monitor closely developments in the field of eco-labelling initiatives, so that they are based on objective scientific facts; otherwise, eco-labels could be potential barriers to trade because their criteria could be discriminatory and protectionist in nature.

20. In the discussion of agenda item 5 on the basis of document COFI:FT/VI/98/6, the Sub-Committee noted that FAO should monitor developments in biotechnology relevant to fish production and fish trade and in doing so, consult the relevant outputs of other organizations such as UNEP and OECD. It was suggested that FAO should also monitor research being undertaken regarding risk assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). It was underlined that the appropriate mechanism for solving trade disputes is the WTO. Any analysis on the impact of biotechnology developments in aquaculture linked to international trade agreements and any formal recommendations arising from such analysis must be consistent with existing intellectual property obligation under the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) as well as the Biosafety Protocol.

21. In the discussion of agenda item 5 on the basis of document COFI:FT/VI/98/7, the Sub-Committee noted the usefulness and quality of the report, and urged FAO to carry out further studies. It was stressed, however, that the analysis of implications for national fisheries management policies should be descriptive rather than prescriptive, and that it is the faculty of the States to grant access to their waters.

22. Individual transferable quotas (ITQ) were identified as a helpful means of fisheries management in many instances, but other basis for allocation of resources should not be precluded. The Sub-Committee asked FAO to investigate further both property and access rights in fisheries, as well as the rationale for the charging of resource rents. Several members proposed that the work should include studies on benefits of processing the catch in plants located in the coastal country.

23. Item 6 was discussed based on document COFI:FT/VI/98/8. The Sub-Committee endorsed the elements for a draft strategy for the development of fishery commodities as in Appendix 2 of the paper and requested the Secretariat to finalize the document and submit it to the Common Fund for Commodities.

24. Item 7 was discussed based on document COFI:FT/VI/98/9, which presented a list of projects approved by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). The Sub-Committee noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in its cooperation with the CFC. The Gambia project was noted as a success, and appreciation was expressed to CFC, DANIDA, INFOPECHE and FAO. Several other West African countries urged the CFC to replicate the experience in other countries of the region.

25. The Sub-Committee proposed some new project ideas for the CFC funding, such as anchovy (Engraulis spp.) and sardine (Sardinops spp.) products for human consumption (Brazil and Peru), value-added fishery products (Tanzania), aquaculture development (Republic of Congo and Kenya) and INFOFISH export industry profiles for selected Asian countries (Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran and Thailand). Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Kenya and Tanzania requested the Secretariat to assist in the urgent identification of projects with a view to obtaining funding from the CFC.

26. The Sub-Committee expressed its gratitude and great appreciation to the City of Bremen for hosting the Sixth Session of the Sub-Committee and for the excellent arrangements and hospitality. Mr A.G. Naruseb, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Namibia, addressed the Sub-Committee on 6 June 1998 on behalf of African countries. His speech is reproduced in Appendix I.

27. The Sub-Committee received with great appreciation the invitation to consider holding the Seventh Session of the Sub-Committee in conjunction with the seafood fair to be held in the year 2000 (24 to 27 March) expressed by the Senator for Economic Affairs, Technology and European Affairs of the Federal State of Bremen, Mr J. Hattig during the Opening Ceremony of FISCH `98.

28. The report was adopted on 6 June 1998.

1. Opening of the Session

2. Election of Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons and Rapporteur

3. Adoption of the agenda and arrangements for the session

4. Important recent events concerning international trade in fishery products

5. Issues of international trade, environment and sustainable fisheries development

6. Fisheries Commodities Development Strategy

7. The Sub-Committee on Fish Trade as International Commodity Body for fishery products and its relationship with the Common Fund for Commodities

8. Any other matters

9. Date and place of the Seventh Session of the Sub-Committee

10. Adoption of the report

A. FLLOKO
General Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Skenderbeg Place
Bulevardi Deshmoret ekombit
Tirana

Daven JOSEPH
Technical Coordinator
Ministry of Planning, Implementation and Environment
Cross Street
St. John’s

BRAZIL/BRÉSIL/BRASIL

José Ubirajara TIMM
Assessor
Ministry of Agriculture
Esplanada dos Ministerios
Ed.8, Sala 950
Brasilia

Sandra COELHO DE SOUZA (Ms)
Assessor
Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento
Ministry of Agriculture
SQS-QI 27, Conj.12 – C.20
Brasilia

Maria Elisa BERENDT
CONSULPESC
Fish Management Sector-Private
S-316, Bloco E – Apt. 307
Brasilia

BULGARIA/BULGARIE

Nikolay KISSIOV
Chief of the State Fisheries Inspectorate and Fishery and Aquaculture Department
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Agrarian Reform
Hristo Botel blvd, 55
1040 Sofia

Magdalena MLADENOVA (Ms.)
Director of Agribusiness Centre
Ministry of Trade and Tourism
Institute of Trade
165 Stz. No. 3-A
Sofia 1787

CANADA/CANADÁ

Martin FOUBERT
Senior Trade Policy Analyst
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
200 Kent Street
STN 14064
Ottawa K1A OE6

G. Daniel CARON
First Secretary
(Fisheries and Environment)
Mission of Canada to the European Union
Avenue de Tervuren, 2
Brussels 1040

Ronald BULMER
President
Fisheries Council of Canada
38 Antares Drive
Nepean K2E 7V2
Ontario

CONGO (Republic of/République du/ República del)

Pierre PASSI
Ministre de la Pêche et des Ressources Halieutiques
B.P. 1650
Brazzaville

Hubert MOYEN
Conseiller du Ministre de la Pêche
B.P. 1650
Brazzaville

Gabriel N’GOMA
Conseiller Technique à la Pêche et aux Ressources Halieutiques
B.P. 1650
Brazzaville

Maurice N’KAYA
Directeur de l’Inspection Sanitaire et de la Valorisation des Produits
Direction Générale de la Pêche et des Ressources Halieutiques
B.P. 1650
Brazzaville

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Luc KOFFI
Directeur Général des Resources Animales
Ministère de l’Agriculture et des ressources animales
BP V19, Abidjan

CROATIA/CROATIE/CROACIA

Ante DUJMUSIC
Senior Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Ul. Grada Vukovara 78
10000 Zagreb

CZECH REPUBLIC/RÉPUBLIQUE TCHÈQUE/REPÚBLICA CHECA

Oplt JAROSLAV
Ministry of Agriculture
Tesnov 17
11705 Prague 1

Frantisek VACHA
Dlouha 19
370 11 C’Budejovice

DENMARK/DANEMARK/DINAMARCA

Odma JOHANNESEN
Head of Section
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Holbergsgade 2
DK-1057
Copenhagen K

Hanne JACOBSEN (Ms)
Head of Division
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Holbergsgade 2
DK-1057
Copenhagen K

DOMINICA/DOMINIQUE

Nigel LAWRENCE
Fisheries Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Government Headquarters
Roseau

Moises ESONO MBA
Secretario General
Ministerio Agricultura, Pesca y Ganaderia
C/Africa No. 4
Malabo

Jose-Bikoro EKO ADA
Ing. Tecnico de Pesca
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Ganaderia
C/Africa No. 4
Malabo

Lauri VAARJA
Director General
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Environment
Kopli 76
EE 0004 Tallinn

Robert APS
Deputy Director General
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Environment
Kopli 76
EE 0004 Tallinn

Aare TUVI
Director
Fisheries Economics Unit
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Environment
Kapli 76
EE 0004 Tallinn

Rein RATAS
Chancellor
Ministry of Environment
Toompuiestee 24
EE 0100 Tallinn

Per HELLER
Principal Administrator
DG I – External Relations
European Community
200 rue de la Loi
1049 Brussels
Belgium

Antonio FERNANDEZ AGUIRRE
Administrator, DG XIV – Fisheries
European Community
99 rue Joseph II
Brussels
Belgium

Dominique MOUELE
Conseiller du Directeur Général des Pêches
Ministère de la marine marchande et de la pêche
BP 9498
Libreville

Romain MBOKOU
Directeur des Pêches Industrielles
Ministère de la marine marchande et de la pêche
BP 9498
Libreville

Dampha NFAMARA
Assistant Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries and Natural Resources
6, Marina Parade
Banjul

Amadou CEESAY
Director
Fine Fish
Bwiam

Gabriel SAMBOU
Director Lye Fish Co.
Denton
Banjul

Edrissa SANYANG
Plant Manager
International Pelican Seafood
P.M.B. 37
Banjul

Malkhaz KHURTSILAVA
Chief Expert
Division of International Affairs
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
41 Kostava
Tbilisi

Katrin OHSE (Ms.)
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry
Rochusstrasse 1
53123 Bonn

Ulrich SOMMER
Federal Agricultural Research Center
Institute of Agricultural Market Research
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry
Bundesallee 50
D 38116 Braunschweig

Peter JARCHAU
GTZ
Dag-Hammarskjold-Weg 1-5
Postfach 5180
D-65726 Eschborn

Jorgen OHLZEN
Gewerkschaft
Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG)
Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 1
27570 Bremerhaven

Peter GREIM
President
German Federal Fisheries Association
Am Lunedeich 115
27572 Bremerhaven

Lutje-Wilhelm BAHRS
Quality Assurance Manager
Frozen Fish International
Am Lunedeich 115
27572 Bremerhaven

Folker MARR
Fish Processing Industry
Gr. Elbe Str. 144
Hamburg

Karl-Heinz KRAUS
Frosta A.G.
Am Lunedeich 116
27572 Bremerhaven

Gerhard ZURLUTTER
Manager
Frozen Fish International
Am Lunedeich 115
27572 Bremerhaven

Mathias KELLER
Geschaeftsfuerer
Grosse Elbstr. 133
22767 Hamburg

Karoly PINTER
Deputy Director General
Ministry of Agriculture
Kossuth.ter 11
H-1055, Budapest

Zoltan VAJNAI
Ungarn
1115. Budapest

Sumpeno PUTRO
Agriculture Counsellor
Indonesian Mission to EC
Bd de la Wolnwe 38
B-1200 Brussels
Belgium

Abolghhasem TOWFIGHNIA
Managing Director
R-TEC Gmbh
Berghaser 62
42859 Remscheid
Germany

Abdolzahra WATANDOOST
Managing Director
Industrial and Shilat
1-119 Dr. Beheshti Str.
15516 Tehran

Rosaria SABATELLA (Ms)
Economist
IREPA
Via S. Leonardo
84100, Salerno

Masamichi HASEBE
Director
Fisheries Trade Office
Fisheries Marketing Division
Fisheries Agency
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo, 100-8907

Kiyoshi KATSUYAMA
Deputy Director of International Affairs Division
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Fisheries Agency of Japan
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 100-8907

Fred Ole PERTET

Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Natural Resources
Fisheries Department
Museum Hill
P.O. Box 58187
Nairobi

Aina AFANASJEVA (Ms)
Deputy Director
National Board of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia
63, K. Valdemara Str.
Riga, LV-1142

Algirdas GEDRIMAS
Deputy Director
Ministry of Agriculture
Fisheries Department
Gedimino, 19
Vilnius 2600

Laima JAKSTIENE (Ms)
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Agriculture
Gedimino, 19
Vilnius 2600

Javier MORENO
Coordinador de Asesores
Del Subsecretario de Pesca
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente
Recursos Naturales y Pesca
Periférico sur 4209
Piso Jardines en la Montana
Mexico, D.F.

Victor BORTA
Director General
Piscicola Association
Ministry for Agriculture and Food
Str Cosmanautilor 6
2005 Chisinau

Alexander KACHOWSKI
Coordinator for investment of the Piscicola Association
Ministry for Agriculture and Food
Str. Cosmanautilor 6
2005 Chisinau

Abdesslam FAHFOUHI
Chef de Division
Ministère des Pêches Maritimes
Quartier Adminisratif
Haut Agdal
Rabat

Alpheus G. NARUSEB
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Private Bag 13355
Windhoek

Axel Zeppy ISHITILE
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Private Bag 13355
Windhoek

Reinhold WAWROWSKI
Lecturer in Fisheries Technology
Walvis Bay Maritime School
PO Box 433
Walvis Bay

Ruben HAMUNYELA
Economist
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Private Bag 13355
Windhoek

Jan ARNOLD
General Manager
Namsov Fishing Enterprises
Walvis Bay

Silvanus Thikameni KATHINDI
Managing Director
Ompagona Fishing Co.
PO Box 4087
Swakopmund

Jane WILLING (Ms)
Policy Manager
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 1020
Wellington

Lisa FUTSCHEK (Ms)
Negotiator
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Private Bag 18901
Wellington

Johan Henrik WILLIAMS
Director General
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 8142 Dep.
N-0032 Oslo

Saoud ALHABSI
Research Assistant
Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery Resources
PO Box 2671
PC 112 Ruwi

Juan Alberto ARRUS ROKOVICH
Vice-Ministro de Pesca
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

Jacques BARSIMANTOV
Asesor
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

Eduardo PASTOR
Asesor
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

Felipe NAVASCUES
Asesor
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

Ricardo SCHWARTZMANN
Asesor
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

José QUINONEZ
Consultor Sector Pesca
Prompex
Augusto Tamoyo 160
Lima 27

Enrique GARCÍA
Asesor
Ministerio de Pesquería
Lima

Victor NISHIO
Director Ejecutivo
Instituto Tecnológico Pesquero
Ministerio de Pesquería
KM. 5.2 Carretera
Ventanilla
Callao

Vicente Vivencio BANDILLO
Vice Consul
Department of Foreign Affairs
Philippine Consulate General
Jungfrauenthal 13
20149 Hamburg

Leonor ELIAS (Ms)
Subdirectora-Geral
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
Edif. Vascoda Gama
Cais de Alcantara
1350 Lisbon

Pedro DARGENT
Director
Departamento da Industria Transformadora e dos Mercados
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
1350 Lisbon

Niculae ANGELESCU
Director
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Directorate of Fishing, Fish Farming and Fishery Inspection
Blvd. Carol, 24
3 Bucharest

Constantin MAXIM
Fishery Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Blvd. Carol, 24
3 Bucharest

Lawrence KAMARA
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Marine House
11 Old Railway Line
Brookfields
Freetown

Abu Bakarr KAMARA
Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Marine House
11 Old Railway Line
Brookfields
Freetown

Umaru Bundu WURIE
Ambassador
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Rheinallee 20
53173 Bonn
Germany

Karol HENSEL
Comenius University
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Department of Zoology
Mlynská dolina B-1
842 15 Bratislava

SOUTH AFRICA/AFRIQUE DU SUD/SUDÁFRICA

Doug BUTTERWORTH
Professor
Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7701

SPAIN/ESPAGNE/ESPAÑA

Cármen RODRÍGUEZ MUNOZ (Ms)
Técnico de la Subdirección General de Comercialización Pesquera
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
Corazón de María 8
Madrid

Cesar SEOANEZ
Subdirector General de Comercialización Pesquera
Ministerio Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
Corazon de Maria 8
28002 Madrid

Osman Mohamed SAEED
Deputy Director General
Animal Resources Research Corporation
P.O. Box 610
Khartoum

Rolf AKESSON
Head of Section
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
10333 Stockholm

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC/RÉPUBLIQUE ARABE SYRIENNE/REPÚBLICA ÁRABE SIRIA

Mohamad KHAFIF
First Secretary
Embassy of Syria
Andreas-Hermes Str. 05
53175 Bonn
Germany

Geofrey Frank NANYARO
Head
Fish Quality Control and Standards
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
Fisheries Department
Dar-es-Salaam

Somying PIUMSOMBUN (Ms)
Senior Fisheries Economics Adviser
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives
Bangkok

Taoufik CHRIAA
Directeur de la promotion de la peche
Ministère de l’Agriculture
32 Rue Alain Savary
Tunis

Hasan KILIC
Agricultural Engineer
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Kizilay, Ankara

Michael SHORT
Head of Marketing Branch
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
17 Smith Square
London SW1

David CLEGHORN
Marketing Manager
Seafish G.B.
18 Login Mill
Edinburgh

Linda CHAVES (Ms)
Director
Industry and Trade Program
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 2091

Kenneth ELLINGTON
International Trade Specialist
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

David HOGAN
Foreign Affairs Officer
Office of Marine Conservation
U.S. Department of State
2201 C. St. NW, Rm 5806
Washington DC 20520

John SACKTON
President
Seafood Datasearch, Inc.
430 Marrett Road
Lexington
MA 02421

Elizabeth BOGOSIAN
Counsellor for Trade Matters
Head of Economic Department
Embassy of Uruguay
Bonn
Germany

Abdul Raoof Mohamed BINBREK
G.M. of Quality Control/Technical Department
Ministry of Fish Wealth
PO Box 18047
Sanaa

Viktor YAKOWLEV
Administration of President of the Republic of Belarus
Odincova str. 22-183
Minsk

Pyotr MOKRENKO
Chief
Division for fisheries development prognosis
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Department of Fisheries
Rogdestvinskiy bulvar 15, office 212
Moscow 103031

Vasyl CHERNIK
Head of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations of the State Committee for Fisheries
82A, Turgenevskaya
252001 Kiev

Volodymyr MALTSEV
Deputy Director of the Institute for Fisheries
Ukranian Academy of Agrarian Science
135 Obukhivska Str.
252164 Kiev

Rudy KORTBECH-OLESEN
Senior Market Development Adviser
Market Development Section
Commodities and Agro-based Products
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Christina SCHRÖDER (Ms)
Counsellor
Agriculture and Commodities Division
154 Rue de Lausanne
1211 Geneva
Switzerland

Roland WIEFELS
Director
INFOPESCA
Julio Herviera y Obes 1296
11200 Montevideo, Uruguay

Prabha K.P. NAMBIAR
Director
INFOFISH
1st Floor, Wisma Pkns
Jln Raja Laut
57035 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Amadou TALL
Directeur
INFOPECHE
01 BP 1747
Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire

Jassim Ahmed AL-QASEER
Director
Ministry of Agriculture
Directorate of Fisheries
INFOSAMAK
Bahrain

Paul WALLIS
Administrator, Fisheries Division
Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
2 rue Andre Pascal
75775 Cedex 16
Paris

Carlos MAZAL
Executive Director
OLDEPESCA
Lima 34

Despina SYMONS (Ms)
Director
EBCD
20 rue de la Science
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Ronald BULMER
Vice Chair
Arlington
Virginia
USA

Stuart BARLOW
Director General
IFOMA
2 College Yard
St Albans, AL3 4PA
Herts
UK

Eugene LAPOINTE

President
IWMC
3 Passage Montriond
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland

Christian VON DORRIEN
Fisheries Officer
WWF Germany
Marine and Coastal Division
Am Guthpol 11
Bremen 28757
Germany

FAO

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

Denis FADDA
Legal Officer/Juriste/Oficial jurídico
Legal Office/Bureau Juridique/Oficina jurídica

EASTFISH
Midtermolen 3
2100 Copenhagen
Denmark

Jochen NIERENTZ
Project Manager

Bent LARSEN
Finance and Investment Adviser

John RYDER
Technical Adviser

Martin GILL
Information Expert

Thomas GANSLMAYR
Associate Expert
Trade Adviser

INFOYU
Noll Nongzhanguan Nali
Ministry of Agriculture
Beijing 100026
China

David ELLIOT
International Project Manager

Chairperson/Président/Presidente
Mr Osman Mohamed Saeed (Sudan/Soudan/Sudán)

First Vice-Chairperson/Premier Vice-Président/Primer Vicepresidente
Ms Jane Willing (New Zealand/Nouvelle-Zélande/Nueva Zelandia)

Vice-Chairpersons/Vice-Présidents/Vicepresidentes
Representatives from/Représentants de/Representantes de:

Japan/Japon/Japón
Namibia/Namibie
Peru/Pérou/Perú
United Kingdom/Royaume-Uni/Reino Unido

Rapporteur/Relator
Magdalena Mladenova (Ms)
(Bulgaria/Bulgarie)

Director, Fishery Industries Division/
Directeur de la Division des industries de la pêche/
Director de la Dirección de Industrias Pesqueras
Grimur Valdimarsson

Chief, Fish Utilization and Marketing Service/
Service de la commercialisation et de l’ utilisation du poisson/
Jefe, Servicio de Utilización y Mercadeo del Pescado
Chef, Izzat Feidi

Senior Fishery Planning Officer/
Chargé de la planification des pêches/
Oficial superior de planificación pesquera
Fishery Policy and Planning Division/
Division des politiques et de la planification de la pêche/
Dirección de Políticas y Planificación Pesqueras
Rolf Willmann

Secretary/Secrétaire/Secretario
Erhard Ruckes

Assistant Secretary/Secrétaire Adjoint/
Secretaria Auxiliar
Helga Josupeit (Ms)

Assistant Secretary/Secrétaire Adjoint/
Secretario Auxiliar
Audun Lem

Meetings Officer/Chargée des réunions/
Oficial de reuniones
Janet Webb (Ms)

Secretary/Secrétaire/Secretaria
Tanya Alexander (Ms)

Distinguished Delegates and Observers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the pleasure of welcoming you, on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, to the Sixth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries. This is the second time that the Sub-Committee is meeting outside the FAO Headquarters in Rome and like two years ago it is thanks to the kind and very generous invitation of the Senate of Bremen which I believe is a reflection of the important tradition which trade and fisheries have in this Hanseatic City. FAO is grateful for this invitation and generosity which helps us in these times of financial constraints which coincide with increasing demands for FAO’s role as a forum for international consultations and sharing of experience in relation to technical issues of international trade in fish and fishery products.

Globalization of markets and further liberalization of international fish trade is a major theme on the international agenda. Participation in international trade is an important feature of many of the fishery and aquaculture economies of the world. Market forces, specifically the pull of demand for fishery products in the developed countries has been identified as a contributing factor to what many believe is a deplorable state of the exploitation of the world’s fishery resources. However, the tainted image of fisheries as over-exploiting and depleting resources is fortunately only justified in part. According to information on 200 stocks available at FAO, 70 showed declining yields; 50 had a stable level of exploitation at high levels or in other words contributed fully to the supplies for human consumption; the remaining 80 stocks showed still increasing yields. These were data for 1994 and it is not predictable at this stage for how much longer such increases could sustainably be maintained. For the time being, however, we can classify this level of exploitation of the stocks with increasing yields as positive. This is not to contradict that there are resources in a bad shape and that also for the fully exploited stocks management is needed to avoid deterioration. The figures FAO has presented have too often been taken out of context. The press has repeatedly stated that 60 -70 % of the fish stocks of the world are in an endangered state. Of course this is not true. FAO has estimated that 25% of all the major stocks are fully exploited and that 35% show declining yields and need intervention and 40% are developing. I hope that I have been able to clarify the situation. A reflection of the importance of international trade for world fisheries and aquaculture is the fact that many of the related questions have been raised in the ambit of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, well known under its acronym CITES. However, at the Twenty-first Session of COFI in 1995 the FAO membership decided that the Organization should play a stronger role in relation to these international concerns. In addition to the work initiated in FAO with regard to sharks in 1995, and following the suggestion at COFI in 1997, preparations are being made to draft a Draft Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks to be discussed and endorsed by a Consultation in October this year. The Consultation will also discuss similar documents with regard to the management of fishing capacity and the reduction of incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. In connection with issues related to CITES it may be recalled that at the Fourth Session of the Sub-Committee in 1993 in Rome the criteria for listing species in the Appendices of the Convention proposed at the time caused some concern to members which were subsequently resolved in the Conference of the Parties. The Sub-Committee will note that COFI at its Twenty-second Session in March 1997 reaffirmed that it was the mandate of FAO and of regional fishery bodies to take responsibility for collecting data, formulating research needs and recommending management options when it had been informed about a proposal to create a marine species working group in CITES; the proposal was, however not accepted by the Conference of the Parties in Harare in June 1997. Since fishery resources provide the raw material for the products traded it is not necessary to emphasize specifically to this Sub-Committee how important the situation of the exploitation of such stocks is. The efforts of the Organization for improving further the information base in this regard will be described in the course of this Session.

The global nature of the international market for fishery products has not come about just lately, i. e. following the most recent Multilateral Trade Negotiations, the Uruguay Round completed in 1995, but fishery products have been recognized to be the most international of all food products exported by developing countries as already noted by the Sub-Committee at its First Session in 1986. The participation of developing countries in this trade has therefore, always been a primordial concern for FAO including its membership. Despite an apparent reduction from 1995 to 1996, the surplus of exports over imports which developing countries have been able to achieve, shows a significant positive trend over time approaching the level of US$ 20 000 million per year. This compares to US$ 14 000 million per year which developing countries achieve as a combined surplus from exporting coffee, bananas, tea and meat. Nevertheless, the growing demands put by importing countries on product quality assurance can create sometimes very difficult situations for the developing exporting country. The Industry Workshop on Thursday afternoon will deal with this matter in more detail. In spite of the problems, it is also fair to say that international cooperation in trying to solve them is increasing and FAO is glad to be helpful in this regard. In this context it would seem to be appropriate to refer to the pertinent provisions contained in Article 11.3 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries which deals with laws and regulations relating to fish trade.

Globalization is not a new historical phenomenon. It is now 150 years that a famous document starting with "A spectre is haunting Europe" analyzed the changing times of breaking down national barriers and the appearance of international structures. It refers to ever growing markets and ever rising demand and it says "Modern industry has established the world market...which has given an immense development to commerce, to navigation, to communication.." Although the development and impact of communications are mentioned it was not possible at the time to foresee the revolution in communications which we are experiencing now. The analysis of the Communist Manifesto -that is the document I quoted- is probably one of the first texts describing globalization, albeit largely centred on Europe and America. But by now we know the tremendous errors deducted from it in its conclusions and in the application of its recommendations. No doubt, the liberal trading system established 50 years ago under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade has demonstrated to be the better solution.

The FAO Advisory Committee on Fishery Research, which met in November 1997, has identified the implications of globalization on trade and distribution of benefits from fisheries as a priority theme to be investigated by FAO and suggested the establishment of a Working Party on the subject. As a first step an E-Mail Conference on Global Issues Affecting Fisheries Industries will be organized by the Fisheries Department in October/November this year. The keynote papers proposed for discussion are

• Barriers to international trade in fishery products
• Distribution of benefits from international trade in fishery products
• Contribution of international trade in fishery products to food security.

Keeping in mind the implications of the alternative of using fish for food of the local population or as source of income for the economy through exports and the respective choices to be made FAO will need to keep up and develop strong and relevant trade support activities and commodity analysis capability. FAO will have to maintain its comparative advantage in these fields, because there are no other organizations with the range of technical skills, in-house access to expertise in related disciplines, regional network connections and the global mandate for carrying out impartial analysis of the complex issues involved. Currently we are undertaking an analysis of the specific needs for and the possible configuration of the FAO Fish Trade Support System by 2010. The results will be presented at a future Session of the Sub-Committee together with an account of the expansion and changes of FAO fish trade support activities since 1970.

It will be your task during this Session to analyse the status and development outlook of the participation of developing countries in international trade in fishery products and to consider means of enhancing international cooperation in this field. An important part of your deliberations will be concerned with technical issues of international trade, environment and sustainable fisheries development and the challenge of making trade and environment mutually supportive. Matters related to fishery resources questions, as they are related to discussions on trade in international fora, particularly CITES, as I have mentioned earlier, is one of them. Subsidies and sustainable shrimp culture are other aspects to be dealt with. The last two subjects under this item have not been discussed by the Sub-Committee on previous occasion. They are presented on the agenda with a view to explore your opinion as to the need for more detailed coverage from now on. Biotechnology developments related to trade in agricultural commodities have been discussed by the FAO Committee on Commodity Problems which instructed the Intergovernmental Groups on agricultural commodities under the CCP (the bodies equivalent to the Sub-Committee) to keep developments under review and the CCP informed. The theme of trade in fisheries services would be a look beyond the trade in fishery products and if considered to acquire sufficient relevance for world fisheries and aquaculture economies in the future, the Sub-Committee may wish to undertake a more detailed analysis in a future Session.

As the International Commodity Body for fishery products recognized by the Common Fund for Commodities the Sub-Committee is invited to review its sponsored projects financed by the Common Fund and to propose new projects for preparation. In addition you will discuss elements of a strategy for the development of fishery commodities.

The report of this meeting will be submitted to the Twenty-third Session of the Committee on Fisheries in February 1999.

Ladies and gentlemen,

as you are aware, the Director-General is taking a close personal interest in the work of the Sub-Committee and he has given high priority to the technical assistance which FAO members may require in the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements as well as assistance needs related to possible future multilateral trade negotiations. This work is led by the FAO Commodities and Trade Division and the Fisheries Department participates actively in these efforts. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, FAO will not be involved in the negotiations. This responsibility is entirely with our colleagues of the WTO. As has been said many times, FAO strongly believes that progress is best achieved by facing issues together in a cooperative spirit -i. e. the one prevailing in most of past Sessions- and with an approach aimed at improving international fish marketing conditions, and resolving or even better avoiding, problems by applying, among others the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Currently, the Fisheries Department is elaborating a programme of implementing the Code of Conduct until the year 2002. You will also be interested to note that Technical Guidelines for the Article 11.1 of the Code which deals with Responsible Fish Utilization are nearing completion and will be followed by the preparation of guidelines for the two remaining sections of Article 11.

I should like to conclude by conveying the best wishes of the Director-General and myself for a fruitful session which will be aiming to improve and safeguard current and future international trade in fishery products.

Thank you very much.

On behalf of the German Fish Industry Association I want to welcome you to the 6^th conference of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade in Bremen. We feel honoured and we are glad that you again have chosen Bremen as venue for this important conference for the world fish community.

Germany is not a major fishing nation. We are ranking no. 46 with only 300.000 tons landings. On the other hand we are a major fish consuming country (80 million consumers) and Germany has an important fish processing industry for the EU-market. Indeed Northern Germany is the centre of the European frozen fish processing industry. The self-sufficiency rate of the EU is about 50% and the rate for Germany is only 24%. There are 44 000 employees in the German fish business of which 12 000 in the processing industry as compared to only about 800 in deepsea fishing.

Against this background you may understand our utmost interest in all aspects regarding international fish trade and sustainability of fish stocks.

Fish Trade

We strongly believe that today’s international fish trade is severely hampered by too many national bureaucratic and tax hurdles. The EU is not a positive example. For example our self-sufficiency rate for groundfish is extremely low which means that for the frozen fish processing industry almost 100% of the groundfish has to be imported. Yet the EU imposes up to 15% import tax. The official justification is to protect local EU fisheries which are however not able to land the required fish. The consequence is: there is no protection but there is an increase in consumer prices.

Sustainability

The last conference in Bremen two years ago was a memorable event: following the 1995 FAO report on the state of the world fishery the issue of sustainability had for the first time been brought to a wide public audience. You had presented the valuable FAO "Code of Conduct" and the technical guidelines for sustainable fishery. You may remember that on the same conference NGO’s and the industry had presented ideas and concepts to assist in solving the problems.

Since that time a process of change has started in the fish world. It has been the start of a tough and difficult process because it is about the change in mind-set. We have learned that our inherited marine fish resources are limited and that it does require hard efforts to safeguard the world’s growing fish protein demand. In this I see a particular problem: to me it seems a scandal that still around 25% of the world catches are discarded. But I do see a light at the end of the tunnel since the process of turning fishery into sustainable fishery has finally started and gained momentum. I am convinced that this is an irreversible process.

Since 1996 we have seen:

• Encouraging improvements in many fish management systems;
• The German fish industry – although being on a small player – has subscribed to buying principles to promote sustainability;
• Many NGO’s campaigns have been launched;
• The MSC – whose idea and concept had for the first time been presented at the 1996 conference – has shaped and will be operational soon. Indeed this week will be the official public launch here in Bremen.

The last conference of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade has been a sort of kick-off event for many processes towards sustainability. I think the FAO and you all can be proud of it.

Looking at the agenda of this 1998 conference it seems to me that it covers the major topics of the international fish trade. But it looks like a stretching target in view of the limited time since I hope that besides this conference you may wish to enjoy the city of Bremen, some social events and of course the trade fair.

For the benefit of the world fish trade and specifically for the benefit of our valuable marine fish resources I wish your conference every success.

On behalf of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, especially on behalf of senator Hattig, who unfortunately cannot be present today, I have the great honour to welcome you.

As you know, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen together with the coastal town of Bremerhaven form the smallest state of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The state of Bremen, especially the city of Bremerhaven, is one of the most significant fishing industry centres of Europe and we feel very honoured and we are extremely glad that you have accepted our invitation to hold the sixth session of the FAO Sub-Committee on fish Trade in Bremen.

This session lasts from the 3^rd of June to the 6^th of June and we are playing special significance to you stay with us because the important fair, Fisch ’98 International & Seafood Europe, will take place in our newly established exhibition halls, not too far from here, from the 5^th of June to the 8^th of June 1998.

Let me assure you that the organizer as well as the exhibitors and especially the responsible politicians of the State of Bremen, would be extremely happy if you could prolong your stay and take the chance to visit the exhibition.

A foreigner who once visited our town said that it needs only an hour to fall in love with the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, to appreciate it a whole year, but to comprehend it, it needs a whole lifetime.

Take your short stay in our city as a chance to find out the proof of this saying.

We sincerely hope that you try to explore Bremen and you will like it so much that you may wish to return to it.

May I now deliver the welcome greetings of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.

They wish you a very successful meeting and a pleasant and interesting stay in the State of Bremen and in our country.

Thank you.

(Submitted by Professor D.S. Butterworth, South African
representative to the Session)

During the 10^th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties held in Harare from 9 to 20 June 1997, a proposal for the establishment of a Working Group for Marine Fish Species was debated. In motivating this proposal, its proponents stated that some marine fish species, subject to large-scale commercial harvesting and international trade, currently qualify for inclusion in CITES Appendices, which would consequently lead to limitations on such trade. This argument was supported by the IUCN, which has a special relationship with CITES in providing scientific advice, at the CITES meeting.

The proposal failed to gain acceptance at the meeting, largely because many countries were of the opinion that this matter fell more appropriately under the purview of FAO, and should therefore first be deliberated upon under the auspices of the FAO.

South Africa is likewise concerned about the appropriateness of the new biological criteria for listing under CITES Appendices I and II (as adopted at the 1994 CITES meeting in Fort Lauderdale) as they might apply to large-scale commercially harvested marine fish species. Following the comments made at the Harare CITES meeting, South Africa wishes to propose that the FAO initiate a process to review these criteria scientifically with a view to advising CITES regarding their appropriateness for application to marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest.

Key concerns with these criteria and their interpretation are detailed in the Appendix hereto. In particular, guideline levels for optimal utilisation and for threats of extinction seem to be confused – a problem which our proposal would intend to see resolved.

Given the possibility of CITES listings and consequential trade restrictions, this matter is one of enormous potential significance for world fisheries. South Africa therefore urges FAO to initiate the scientific review process suggested above in the near future.

Accordingly, South Africa wishes to propose that FAO be asked to appoint an ad hoc Group to make suggestions on how such a process of scientific review, leading perhaps to proposals for amendments to and/or appropriate interpretations of the CITES criteria in the context of marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest, might best be pursued. The intention would be that such an ad hoc Group would make its report to the FAO COFI meeting in February 1999, to aid that meeting in deciding on how best to take the matter forward.

South Africa is hosting a Symposium on Confronting Uncertainty in the Evaluation and Implementation of Fisheries-management Systems under the auspices of FAO, ICES and the EU in Cape Town from 16-19 November 1998. A number of leading fisheries scientists with expertise in the issues discussed above will be in attendance, likely including the Director of FAO’s Fishery Resources Division. If the proposal above is accepted, South Africa would be prepared to host a meeting of the ad hoc Group suggested either immediately before or after this Symposium.

i. To study a proposal to review the current CITES criteria for Appendix I and II listings in the context of marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest.

ii. To make proposals for an appropriate approach for an in-depth scientific review of these criteria in this context, where the products of such a review would include, if considered necessary, proposals for amendments to and/or appropriate interpretations of these CITES criteria.

iii. To report its recommendations to the February 1999 meeting of COFI.

The Group will consist of experts on the subject, serving in their individual capacities and nominated by FAO.

The key components of the new CITES listing criteria, as they might be applied to marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest, would seem to be:

a) Appendix I Criteria: "A species is considered to be threatened with extinction if it meets, or is likely to meet, at least one of the following criteria.…

C. A decline in the number of individuals in the wild …"

b) Appendix II Criteria: "B. It is known, inferred or projected that the harvesting of specimens from the wild for international trade has, or may have, a detrimental impact on the species by either:

i) exceeding, over an extended period, the level that can be continued in perpetuity…."

c) Definitions, Notes and Guidelines re Decline: "A decline is a reduction in the number of individuals, or a decrease of the area of distribution, the causes of which are either not known or not adequately controlled. It need not necessarily still be continuing. Natural fluctuations will not normally count as part of a decline, but an observed decline should not be considered part of natural fluctuation unless there is evidence for this. A decline that is the result of a harvesting programme that reduces the population to a planned level, not detrimental to the survival of the species, is not covered by the term "decline". For some species in trade where data exist to make an estimate, a decrease of 50% or more in total within 5 years or two generations, whichever is the longer, has been found to be an appropriate guideline (not a threshold) of what constitutes a decline. A guideline (not a threshold) of what constitutes a decline in a small wild population would be 20% or more in total within ten years or three generations, whichever is the longer. However, both these figures are presented only as examples, since it is impossible to give numerical values that are applicable to all taxa. There will be many cases where these numerical guidelines do not apply."

Considerable concern must arise at the practice of interpreting the CITES criteria in this manner. Such an interpretation would see virtually every marine fish species subject to large-scale commercial harvesting listed in CITES Appendix I, i.e. banned from international trade. This is seen as problem related to the CITES criteria themselves. For example, the 50% figure given in a) scarcely seems an appropriate basis for marine species to be categorised as threatened with extinction; rather, it is a target for optimal utilisation (when comparing with pre-exploitation levels). There seems to be confusion between guideline levels for optimal utilisation and for threats of extinction, which is why it is considered that FAO should develop recommendations to CITES for criteria appropriate to marine fish species under large-scale commercial harvest to resolve this problem. This process should, for example, give consideration to recent analyses relating to the levels of depletion in marine stocks at which depensation (which relates to the possibility of extinction) becomes evident.

To request FAO to investigate the feasibility and the practicability of developing non-discriminatory global Technical Guidelines for the eco-labelling of Fish and Fish Products

1. The issue of certification of sustainable fisheries and eco-labelling of fish and fish-products is at focus of the debate on trade and in fish and fish products. To follow and discuss this issue, The Nordic Council of Ministers (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the self-governing islands of the Faeroes, Greenland and Aaland) has engaged in a number of activities – all including participation from the fishery industry as well as governments.
2. Also amongst a large number of other countries and industries a lot of questions have been raised towards the matter of eco-labelling.
3. When put on a commodity, an eco-label shall give reliable information to the consumers including the characteristics and virtues of the product. This requires that criteria used can be verified based on the best scientific evidence available in a documentation system transparent to all stakeholders.
4. The exploration of this issue has clarified its complexities, and the Nordic Council of Ministers has recognised that the criteria developed and the system for documentation presented by private initiatives for eco-labelling of fisheries, so far do not fulfil these requirements.
5. The Nordic Council of Ministers therefore has initiated and financed programmes in following areas:

1. The EU-members of the Nordic Council has further raised these issues within the European Union.
2. The Nordic Council of Ministers has further recognised that an eco-labelling scheme not based on scientifically verifiable criteria may be a threat towards free-trade in fish and fish products, especially as it may cause discrimination towards the fish-export from developing and/or transition economies.
3. The Nordic Council of Ministers is of the opinion that this issue of global relevance should be dealt with by the FAO, to

1. Thus, Norway, proposes that the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, requests the FAO secretariat to arrange for a Working Group, with participation from all stakeholders, which should examine the feasibility and practicability of developing non-discriminatory Technical Guidelines for the establishment of eco-labelling schemes covering Fish and Fish Products, that in a neutral and scientific way are applicable globally and take into account the special requirements of developing countries. The FAO-secretariat is further asked to present a report based on the results from the Working Group to the 1999 COFI-meeting.
2. Norway has promoted that the Nordic Council of Ministers (Fisheries) hosts the Working Group, and that the extrabudgetary funds needed by the FAO are covered.

The Ministers of Fisheries and Heads of Delegations, meeting in La Toja (A Toxa) in the III Conference of Ministers of Fisheries,

Aware of the scarcity of fish resources in many regions of the world, fishing overcapacity and the absence of adequate controls, which may endanger future fisheries resources and economic benefits,

Convinced that international cooperation will improve the situation of fisheries resources in such a way as to aid the nutritional well-being of humanity, and contribute to world food security,

Conscious of the new trade framework emerging from the GATT Uruguay Round and the establishment of the World Trade Organization,

Noting that the development of developing nations, where are located a large proportion of fisheries resources, depends on access to markets for their fisheries products now and in the future,

Considering that the conservation measures of the fisheries resources should be based on the best scientific information available,

Stressing the relevance of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries adopted within the framework of the FAO and its provisions dealing with Responsible Trade and the CODEX Alimentarius Mundi,

Taking into account the Declaration of the International Conference on the Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security in Kyoto, Japan, 1995, concerning the responsible utilisation of fish caught in accordance with a policy of sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture, and acknowledging that our generation is responsible for the needs of future generations,

Aware that trade must be based on the principles, rights and obligations established by the World Trade Organization,

Aware of the increasing importance of international trade in the fisheries sector,

Noting that some problems are caused by the lack of complementarity between trade regulations and conservation regulations,

Concerned that trade regulations adopted in support of conservation can become non-tariff barriers negatively affecting trade,

Concerned that fish and fisheries products cannot be fully identified throughout the commercial distribution chain

Concerned about the harm to fisheries resources from the sale of juveniles and the difficulty in controlling this market,

Noting that consumers demand better information on and greater respect for conservation and sustainable management of natural resources,

Concerned about the lack of coherence, at a regional level, of conservation measures, which hinders their effective control,

Concerned about problems that arise from the insufficient application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,

Concerned about the increasing numbers of vessels flying flags of convenience that do not comply with conservation measures of the resources,

Aware that these problems undermine the application of conservation measures to fisheries resources,

Invite the International Organizations and the entire International Community with competence in fisheries and trade, to search for effective solutions to these problems, and apply them as soon as possible, with the object of defining responsible trade in a manner which complements and promotes responsible fisheries.

On behalf of the African participants, I would like to thank the Municipality of Bremen, the Mayor and the people of Bremen for the warm welcome, their hospitality we enjoyed since our arrival and continue to enjoy and also the facilities provided which necessitated the smooth running of the Sixth Session of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

Mr Chairman, the Meeting on above was well planned and coincided with FISCH’98 EXHIBITION, an occasion which I term very useful as interesting contacts were made.

We wish to support the proposal of having the Seventh Session of the FAO Sub Committee on Fish Trade be organised in Bremen in the year 2000.

Again we call upon the Sub committee to strengthen its activities, with particular reference to developing countries so as to improve on:

• Fish technology
• Quality Assurance
• Marketing strategies

Lastly, but not least, we also wish to extend our sincere thanks to MGH for their professionalism and competency in organising trade fairs such as FISCH Seafood International Europe.

Thank you for your kind attention.