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Report of the

CONSULTATION ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY, SHARK FISHERIES AND INCIDENTAL CATCH OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES

Rome, Italy, 26-30 October 1998

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ROME, 1998

 

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This is the final version of the report of the Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, Rome, Italy, 26-30 October 1998.

Distribution
Participants at the meeting
All FAO Member Nations and Associate Members
Other interested Nations and national and international Organizations
FAO Fisheries Department
FAO Regional Fisheries Officers

FAO

Report of the Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. Rome, Italy, 26-30 October 1998.
FAO Fisheries Report. No. 593. Rome, FAO. 1998.

ABSTRACT

The Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries was held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 26 to 30 October 1998. It was attended by delegations from 80 Members of FAO and by observers.

The Consultation approved (i) a draft International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries; (ii) a draft International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks; and, (iii) a draft International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] for the Management of Fishing Capacity.

The Consultation discussed at length the need to take urgent action to curb the growing problems of flags of convenience and pirate fishing. Furthermore it recommended that priority be given by FAO Members to consider accepting the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance agreement).

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS


OPENING OF THE SESSION, ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONSULTATION


DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL CATCH OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES


DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHARKS


INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY


ADOPTION OF THE REPORT



APPENDIXES


A


AGENDA

B

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

C

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

D

STATEMENT BY MR. M. HAYASHI

E

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL CATCH OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES

F

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHARKS

G

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL [GUIDELINES] [PLAN OF ACTION] FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY

OPENING OF THE SESSION, ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONSULTATION

1. The Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries was held in Rome, Italy, from 26 to 30 October 1998. It was attended by 80 Members of FAO, and by observers from a non-Member Nation of FAO, a specialized agency of the UN, as well as ten intergovernmental organizations and eight international non-governmental organizations.

2. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix B. The documents which were before the Consultation are listed in Appendix C.

3. The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson, Mr Will Martin (USA), who welcomed delegates and observers to the Consultation and outlined the programme of work.

4. Mr. M. Hayashi, Assistant Director-General, Fisheries Department, in his opening statement, summarized the origin of the Consultation and the work that preceded it. He also expressed gratitude to the Governments of Japan, Norway and the United States, as well as to the European Community, for their financial support to the Consultation and related activities. The text of his statement is reproduced in Appendix D.

5. The Consultation agreed with a proposal that all discussions be held in Plenary with no working groups established. The Provisional Agenda and Timetable was accordingly amended and adopted. The Agenda as adopted is contained in Appendix A.

6. The Chairperson suggested that, in the light of the increased work which would be required in Plenary, two additional Vice-Chairpersons be elected to assist himself and the Vice-Chairperson, Mrs Maria Helena Vieira (Cape Verde), who had been elected at the Preparatory Meeting held from 22 to 24 July 1998. He proposed that they be selected from the Asia and Latin America regions respectively. Mr Yingqi Zhou (China) and Mr J.F. Pulvenis (Venezuela) were then unanimously elected to serve as additional Vice-Chairpersons.

DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL CATCH OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES

7. This agenda item was discussed on the basis of document FI:CSS/98/4.

8. After discussion, the Draft International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries as contained in Appendix E was approved.

DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHARKS

9. This agenda item was discussed on the basis of document FI:CSS/98/3 (FI:CSS/98/3 Rev.1 for English version).

10. After discussion, the Draft International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks as contained in Appendix F was approved.

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY

11. This agenda item was discussed on the basis of document FI:CSS/98/2 Rev.1.

12. After discussion, each provision of the Draft International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] for the Management of Fishing Capacity as contained in Appendix G was approved.

13. The Consultation recommended that FAO prepare a short technical note on the issues raised in the technical appendixes of document FI:CSS/98/2 Rev.1 since the appendixes were not discussed and included in the provisions which were adopted because of insufficient time to consider them.

14. Several delegations emphasized the right of coastal States to develop high seas fishing recognizing that fisheries carried out on the high seas on transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas stocks should be conducted in a sustainable manner. Other delegations recalled the principle of equality in rights and obligations of States on the high seas.

15. Delegations discussed at length the need to take urgent action to curb the growing problem of flags of convenience and pirate fishing as well as the need to bring this to the attention of all States and the international community

16. The Consultation noted that as and when the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement) enters into force, it would provide a sound legal basis with regard to the implementation of key provisions of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action]. Therefore, the Consultation recommended that priority be given by FAO Members to consider accepting that Agreement.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

17. Participants agreed on the importance of FAO Members reporting information regarding the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries; conservation and management of sharks, and management of fishing capacity as part of their biennial submissions to FAO on efforts to implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

18. The Consultation recommended that the Fisheries Department should prepare a proposal identifying the activities it considers appropriate to carry out in support of the implementation of the conclusions reached in the course of the Consultation, including the possibility of an FAO technical consultation on the handling of fishing capacity spillover effects and vessel disposal practices at regional and global levels. The Regular Programme and extra-budgetary resources needed to carry out these activities should also be identified and included in the proposal. This proposal will be considered by COFI at its 1999 Session.

19. It was agreed that the issues related to reflagging of fishing vessels for the purpose of avoiding compliance with international conservation and management by fishing vessels on the high seas should be brought to the attention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other relevant international organizations by FAO.

20. Several delegations criticized FAO Press Release 98/61 "FAO concerned about severe declines in shark stocks – International Plan of Action calls for sustainable management", stating, inter alia, that information cited therein on the status of shark stocks was not accurate and misleading and also prejudged the outcome of the Consultation, and urged the Secretariat to issue an accurate and revised version as quickly as possible.

21. Several delegations criticized also FAO Press Release 98/62 "FAO calls for strict management of fishing capacity – international agreement proposes concrete actions", stating that the information quoted therein regarding some commercial fish stocks was inaccurate and in some respect prejudged issues to be discussed in the course of the Consultation. These delegations considered it unacceptable that FAO issue a press release of that nature. The representatives of the Fisheries Department responded to various points raised.

22. The report of the Consultation was adopted on 30 October 1998.



Appendix A

AGENDA

  1. Opening of the Session
  2. Adoption of Agenda and Arrangements for the Consultation
  3. Draft Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries
  4. Draft Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks
  5. International Instrument for the Management of Fishing Capacity
  6. Adoption of the report



Appendix B

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

ANGOLA

Carlos Alberto AMARAL
Représentant permanent suppléant de la République d’Angola auprès de la FAO
Ambassade de la République d’Angola
Via Filippo Bernardini 21
00165 Rome, Italie

Maria Salvadora ORTET DE VASCONCELOS MAGALHAÉS (Ms)
Chief
Department of Fishing Industry
Av. Marginal
Luanda

ARGENTINA

Ariel FERNÁNDEZ
Representante Permanente Alterno
Representación Permanente de la República Argentina ante la FAO
Via del Banco di S. Spirito 42 - IV piso
00186 Roma
Italia


Gustavo Enrique CHIARAMONTE
División Ictiológica
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"
Buenos Aires

AUSTRALIA

Murray JOHNS
Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Fisheries and Aquaculture Branch
Petroleum and Fisheries Division
Department of Primary Industries and Energy
P.O. Box 858
Canberra

Andrew McNEE
Director
Wildlife Management
Biodiversity Group
Environment Australia
P.O. Box 636
2601 Canberra

Jennifer DOUST (Ms)
Policy Officer
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Fisheries and Aquaculture Branch
Petroleum and Fisheries Division
Department of Primary Industries and Energy
P.O. Box 858
Canberra

Katrina MAGUIRE (Ms)
Manager
Environment, Fisheries Branch
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
P.O. Box 7051
Canberra Mail Centre
2610 Canberra

AUSTRIA

Ernst ZIMMERL
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Austria to FAO
Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 3
00198 Rome
Italy

Federica VESCHI (Ms)
Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Vienna

BANGLADESH

Ahmed IMTIAZ
Alternate Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Via Antonio Bertoloni 14
00197 Rome
Italy

BRAZIL

Julio GOMES DOS SANTOS
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Federative Republic of Brazil to FAO
Via di S. Maria dell’Anima 32
00186 Rome
Italy

José Roberto DE ALMEIDA PINTO
Deputy Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Federative Republic of Brazil to FAO
Via di S. Maria dell’Anima 32
00186 Rome
Italy

João Mauricio CABRAL DE MELLO
Alternate Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Federative Republic of Brazil to FAO
Via di S. Maria dell’Anima 32
00186 Rome
Italy

Fabio Hissa Vieira HAZIN
Fisheries Scientist
Ministry of Agriculture
Rua das Pernambucanas 377
Apto. 1102, Graças
Recife-Pe
CEP 52011-010

Ana Paula PRATES (Ms)
Technical Adviser
Ministry of Environment
Esplanada dos Ministérios Bloco B, sala 802
70068-900 Brasilia, DF

BURUNDI

Roger KANYARU
Directeur
Département des eaux, pêche et pisciculture
Ministère de l’agriculture et de l’élevage
B.P. 6308
Bujumbura

CAMBODIA

Mong LENG
Senior Fisheries Officer
Planning, Statistics and Policies Office
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
P.O. Box 582
186 Norodom Blvd.
Phnom Penh

CAMEROON

Pierre NNA ABO'O
Sous-Directeur de l’aquaculture et de la recherche appliquée
Département ministériel
Ministère de l'élevage des pêches et des industries animales
Direction des pêches
Yaoundé

CANADA

David BALFOUR
Director General
Program Planning and Coordination
Fisheries Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St.
Ottawa, Ontario KIA OE6

Ronald ROSE
Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to FAO
Canadian Embassy
Via Zara 30
00198 Rome
Italy


Sylvain SEGARD
Chief, Economic Analysis
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street, St. 14062W
Ottawa, Ontario K1A OE6

Melissa NEWHOOK (Ms)
Economist
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street, St. 14062W
St. 14062W
Ottawa, Ontario K1A OE6

François POULIN
Alliance des pêcheurs du Québec
Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters
1175 ave. des Laurentides
Quebec G1S 3C2

Normand TREMBLAY
Vice President
Laboratoire Aeterna
456 rue Marconi
Quebec G1W 3D1

CAPE VERDE

Maria Helena SANTA RITA VIEIRA(Ms)
Technicien
Direction générale des pêches
Ministère du tourisme, transports et mer
B.P. 206
Palais du Gouvernement
Praia

Eduardo Jorge Lima BARROS SILVA
Représentant Adjoint de la République du Cap-Vert auprès de la FAO
Ambassade de la République du Cap-Vert
Via G. Carducci 4, Int.3
00187 Rome

CHINA

Xihua WANG
Assistant Counsel
Bureau of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture
Beijing

Yingqi ZHOU
President
Shanghai Fisheries University
Shanghai

Haijiang XU
Alternate Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the People's Republic of China to FAO
Via della Caffarella 9
00179 Rome
Italy

Shengyao TANG
Alternate Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the People's Republic of China to FAO
Via della Caffarella 9
00179 Rome
Italy

COLOMBIA

Bernardo Gutiérrez ZULUAGA BOTERO
Representante Permanente Alterno
Representación Permanente de la República de Colombia ante la FAO
Via Giuseppe Pisanelli 4/5
00196 Roma
Italia

CONGO, REPUBLIC OF

André KAMBA
Directeur de Cabinet
Ministère de la pêche et des ressources halieutiques
B.P. 13545
Brazzaville

François MAKAYA
Premier Secrétaire
Suppléant Permanent
Ambassade de la République du Congo
Salita di S. Nicola da Tolentino 1/B
00187 Rome
Italie

COSTA RICA

Fernando VIQUEZ
Asesor de la Presidencia Ejecutiva
Instituto Costaricence de Pesca y Acuicultura
(INCOPESCA)
San José

Yolanda GAGO DE SINIGAGLIA (Ms)
Representante Permanente Alterno
Representación Permanente de la República de Costa Rica ante la FAO
Via Bartolomeo Eustachio 22
00161 Roma
Italia

CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Doumbia MAMADOU
Sous-directeur des pêches
Abidjan

CROATIA

Branimir CECUK
Alternate Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
Via Luigi Bodio 74-76
00191 Rome
Italy

CUBA

Manuel ALVAREZ
Director de Asuntos Internacionales y Juridicos
Ministerio de la Industria Pesquera (MIP)
Barlovento, Sta. Fe.
Habana

CYPRUS

Andreas ROUSHIAS
Alternate Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to FAO
Piazza Farnese 44
00186 Rome
Italy

DENMARK

Lars Touvdal CHRISTENSEN
Adviser
Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Holbergsgade 2
DK 1057 Copenhagen

Birgitte Møller CHRISTENSEN (Ms)
Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to FAO
Royal Danish Embassy
Via dei Monti Parioli 50
00197 Rome
Italy

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Juan BORG GIL
Representante Permanente Alterno de la República Dominicana ante la FAO
Embajada de la República Dominicana
Via Domenico Chelini 10
00197 Roma
Italia

ECUADOR

Miguel CARBO BENITES
Representante Permanente Adjunto de la República del Ecuador ante la FAO
Embajada de la República del Ecuador
Via Guido D’Arezzo 14
00198 Rome, Italy

Renato DEL CAMPO CHANGUIN
Director General de Pesca
Ministerio de Comercio Exterior, Industrialización y Pesca
V.M. Rendón 1006 y Lorenzo de Garaycoa
Edificio Huancavilca
Guayaquil

Ramón MONTAÑO
Director Ejecutivo
Asociación de Exportadores de Pesca Blanca
Edificio Banco del Pichincha, 5°. Piso
Oficina 501
Ave. 2 y Calle 12
Manta

EGYPT

Mohamed Abd EL HAMID KHALIFA
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to FAO
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Via Salaria 267 (Villa Savoia)
00199 Rome
Italy

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Andrés NDONG MICHA
Ingeniero Superior de Pesca
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y
Ganadería
Malabo

ERITREA

Yohannes TENSUE
Alternate Permanent Representative of Eritrea to FAO
Embassy of Eritrea
Via Boncompagni 16
00187 Rome, Italy

ESTONIA

Elena ASKERSTAM (Ms)
Ambassador to FAO
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Estonia to FAO
Via dei Corazzieri 94
00143 Rome
Italy

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
(Member Organization)

Serge BESLIER
Chef d'unité
Direction générale de la pêche (DG XIV - B1)
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Bruxelles
Belgique

Michael ROITMANN
Chef de secteur
Direction générale de la pêche (DG XIV – D1)
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Bruxelles
Belgique

Jacques BASTINCK
Administrateur
Direction générale de la pêche (DG XIV - C1)
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Bruxelles
Belgique

Emilio MASTRACCHIO
Directeur
Direction générale de la pêche (DG XIV - B)
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Bruxelles
Belgique

Philippe LEFÉBURE
Assistant
Conseil de l’Union européenne
175 rue de la Loi
Bruxelles
Belgique

Sara GUALANDI (Ms)
Représentante permanente suppléante
Délégation de la Commission des Communautés européennes auprès de la FAO
Via IV Novembre 149
00187 Rome
Italie

Günther SCHLÖGL
BMLF
Stubenring 12
A-1012
Vienne
Autriche

FRANCE

Christian LIGEARD
Chargé de mission auprès du Directeur
Direction des pêches maritimes et des cultures marines
Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche
7 place de Fontenoy
75007 Paris

GAMBIA

Tijan NJIE
Deputy Permanent Secretary
Office of the Secretary of State
The Presidency, State House
Banjul

GERMANY

Achim VIERECK
Deputy Head of Unit
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry
Postfach 14 02 70
Rochasstr. 1
D-53107 Bonn

GHANA

M.K.S. AKYEAMPONG
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P.O. Box M.37
Accra

Mallam Issah SEIDU
Alternate Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ghana to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of Ghana
Via Ostriana 4
00199 Rome
Italy

GREECE

Dionyssios A. KYVETOS
Deputy Permanent Representative of Greece to FAO
Embassy of Greece
Via Saverio Mercadante 36
00198 Rome
Italy

GUATEMALA

Rita CLAVERIE DE SCIOLLI (Sra)
Representante Permanente Adjunto de la República de Guatemala ante la FAO
Embajada de la República de Guatemala
Via dei Colli della Farnesina 128
00194 Roma
Italia

GUINEA

Thierno Aliou DIALLO
Chef du service etudes et planification
Ministère de la pêche et de l'élevage
B.P. 307
Conakry

HONDURAS

Marco Polo MICHELETTI
Vice Ministro de Ganadería
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería
Avenida la FAO
Tegucigalpa

ICELAND

Kristján SKARPHÉÔINSSON
Head
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries
Skúlagata 4
IS-150 Reykjavik

INDIA

N.K. SINHA
Secretary
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Ministry of Agriculture
New Delhi

Neela GANGADHARAN (Ms)
Alternate Permanent Representative of the Republic of India to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of India
Via XX Settembre 5
00187 Rome
Italy

INDONESIA

Indah GINTING
Senior Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
Jalan Harsono Rm 103
Ragunan
Jakarta Selatan

Adek YUDHASWARI (Ms)
Alternate Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
Via Campania 55
00187 Rome
Italy

IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)

Ebrahim MAYGOLINEJAD
Head of Public Relations and International Affairs of Shilat
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Jehad-e-Sazandagi
Blv. Keshavarz
Teheran

ITALY

Giovanni DELLA SETA
Ministero di Politiche Agricole
Direzione Generale della Pesca e Acquacoltura
Viale dell'Arte 16
00144 Roma

Massimo SPAGNOLO
Director
Istituto Ricerche Economiche per la Pesca e l’Acquacoltura
Via S. Leonardo – Trav. Migliaro
84131 Salerno

Rosaria SABATELLA (Ms)
Istituto Ricerche Economiche per la Pesca e l’Acquacoltura
Via S. Leonardo – Trav. Migliaro
84131 Salerno

Mauro BERTELLETTI
Ministero di Politiche Agricole
Direzione Generale della Pesca e Acquacoltura
Viale dell'Arte 16
00144 Roma

Marino VACCHI
Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Applicata al Mare
Via di Casalotti 300
00166 Roma

JAMAICA

Fenton FERGUSON
Minister of State
Ministry of Agriculture
Hope Gardens
Kingston

JAPAN

Minoru MORIMOTO
Deputy Director-General
Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ)
Tokyo

Masayuki KOMATSU
Director for International Negotiations
International Affairs Division
Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ)
Tokyo

Kenji KAGAWA
Deputy Assistant Director
Far Seas Fisheries Division
Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ)
Tokyo

Hideo INOMATA
Section Chief
International Division
Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ)
Tokyo

Jiro SUZUKI
Director for Tuna Resource Assessment Division
Institute for Far Seas Fisheries
Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ)
Tokyo

Tsutomu WATANABE
Managing Director
Japan Tuna Federation
Tokyo

Eiko OZAKI (Ms)
Deputy Managing Director
Japan Tuna Federation
Tokyo

Etsuo KITAHARA
Minister
Permanent Representative of Japan to FAO
Embassy of Japan
Via Quintino Sella 60
00187 Rome
Italy

Takanori OHASHI
Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to FAO
Embassy of Japan
Via Quintino Sella 60
00187 Rome
Italy

KENYA

Fred Ole PERTET
Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 58187
Nairobi

KOREA (REPUBLIC OF)

Joon-Suk KANG
International Organization Division
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF)
826-14 Yoksam-Dong
Jinsol Bldg.
Kangnam-Ku
Seoul 135-080

LIBERIA

John M. JALLAH
National Fisheries Coordinator
National Fisheries Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O. Box 10-9010
1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia

LITHUANIA

Algirdas ZEMAITIS
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Lithuania to FAO
Via al Quarto Miglio 111
00178 Rome
Italy

MADAGASCAR

M. MONJA
Représentant Permanent Adjoint de la République de Madagascar auprès de la FAO
Ambassade de la République de Madagascar
Via Riccardo Zandonai 84/A
00194 Rome
Italie

MALAYSIA

Kamaruzaman Haji SALIM
Head of Planning Section
Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOFM)
Tingkat 8, Wisma Tani
Jalan Sultan Salahudin
50628 Kuala Lumpur

Khairuddin Md. TAHIR
Alternate Permanent Representative of Malaysia to FAO
Embassy of Malaysia
Via Nomentana 297
00162 Rome
Italy

MALDIVES

Ahmed HAFIZ
Director
Marine Research Section
Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture
Malé

MALTA

Francis MONTANARO MIFSUD
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Malta to FAO
Lungotevere Marzio 12
00186 Rome
Italy

MAURITANIA

Mahfoudh Ould Taleb SIDI
Centre national de recherches océanographiques et des pêches
B.P. 137
Nouakchott

Mathieu DUCROCQ
Chef du Projet régional de recherche sur les raies et requins
Parc National du Banc d’Arguin
B.P. 5355
Nouakchott

MEXICO

Mara A. MURILLO CORREA (Sra)
Directora General de Política y Fomento Pesquero
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca
México, D.F.

Jerónimo RAMOS SAENZ
Director General de Administración de Pesquerías
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca
México, D.F.

Pablo ARENA FUENTES
Director General de Investigación
Evaluación y Manejo de Recursos Pesqueros
Instituto Nacional de Pesca
México, D.F.

Ramón BONFIL
Asesor del Instituto Nacional de Pesca
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente
Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y Pesca
Pitágoras 1320, 7° piso
03310 México, D.F.

Rosa Elena PENICHE FRANCO (Sra)
Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior
Periférico 4333
México D.F.

MOROCCO

M. Abdelouahed IDELHAJ
Chef du Département halieutique
Institut national de recherche halieutique (INRH)
2 rue de Tiznit
Casablanca

NETHERLANDS

Pieter A.L. DE RIJK
Senior Policy Adviser
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
P.O. Box 20401
2500 EK The Hague

NEW ZEALAND

William EMERSON
Senior Policy Analyst
Ministry of Fisheries
ASB Bank House
101-103 The Terrace
P.O. Box 1020
Wellington

Alastair MACFARLANE
General Manager
Trade and Information
Seafood Industry Council
Wellington

Jim NICOLSON
Principal Policy Analyst
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 10420
Wellington

NICARAGUA

Sergio MARTÍNEZ CASCO
Director
Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras y Acuícolas (CIPA)
Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio
Apdo. 2020, Km 6½ Carretera sur
Managua

NIGERIA

V.O. ADEBOLU
Deputy Assistant Director
Federal Department of Fisheries
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Area 11, P.M.B. 135
Garki, Abuja

NORWAY

Johan H. WILLIAMS
Director General
Ministry of Fisheries
P.O. Box 8118 Dep.
N-0032 Oslo

Egil LEKVEN
Head of Division
Directorate of Fisheries
P.O. Box 185
5000 Bergen

Sigrun NYGÁRD (Ms)
Adviser
Ministry of Fisheries
P.O. Box 8118 Dep.
N-0032 Oslo

Frode PEDERSEN
Vice President
O. Mustad and Son AS Co.
N-2800 Gjøvik

PAKISTAN

Kayser ALIS SHAH
Joint Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture
‘B’ Block Pak Secretariat
Islamabad

Adnan Bashir KHAN
Alternate Representative of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to FAO
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Via della Camilluccia 682
00135 Rome
Italy

PANAMA

Arnulfo FRANCO
Director General
Ministerio de Recursos Marinos y Costeros
Autoridad Maritima de Panamá
Panamá

Ismael BERNAL MAURE
Representante Permanente
Representación Permanente de la República de Panamá ante la FAO
Viale Regina Margherita 239 – piso 4°
00198 Roma
Italia

Horacio MALTEZ
Representante Permanente Adjunto
Representación Permanente de la República de Panamá ante la FAO
Viale Regina Margherita 239 – piso 4°
00198 Roma
Italia

PERU

Juan Alberto ARRUS ROKOVICH
Vice-Ministro de Pesquería
Ministerio de Pesquería
Calle 1 Oeste No. 60
Corpac, San Isidro
Lima 27

Ana María DEÚSTUA CARAVEDO (Sra)
Representante Permanente del Perú ante la FAO
Embajada de la República del Peru
Via Po 22
00198 Roma
Italia

Richard DÍAZ
Gerente General
Sociedad Nacional de Pesquería
Ave. Javier Prado Oeste 2442
San Isidro
Lima 27

PHILIPPINES

Jose A. ORDOÑEZ
Chief
Fisheries Resources Research Division
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Department of Agriculture
860 Quezon Avenue
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Maria Luisa GAVINO (Ms)
Alternate Permanent Representative to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines
Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro 112
00136 Rome

PORTUGAL

Maria Amélia MIGUEZ
Direccão Geral das Pescas e Agricultura
Ed. Vasco de Gama
Alcantara MCR
Lisbon

SAINT LUCIA

Horace WALTERS
Chief Fisheries Officer
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Castries

SENEGAL

Papa Namsa KEITA
Veterinaire Inspecteur
Ministère de la pêche et des transports maritimes
1 rue Joris, B.P. 289
Dakar

SEYCHELLES

Joel NAGEON DE LESTANG
Director Resource Management
Seychelles Fishing Authority
P.O. Box 449
Fishing Port
Mahé

SOLOMON ISLANDS

George BOAPE
Chief Fisheries Officer (Licensing)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
P.O. Box G13
Honiara

SPAIN

Ignacio YBAÑEZ
Subdirector General
Organismos Multilaterales de Pesca
Secretaría General de Pesca Marítima
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
José Ortega y Gasset 57
Madrid

José Luis PAZ ESCUDERO
Consejero Técnico
Dirección General de Estructura y Mercados Pesqueros
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
José Ortega y Gasset 57
Madrid

María del Carmen CADENAS DE LLANO (Sra)
Jefe de Sección
Organismos y Conferencias Internacionales (MAPA)
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
José Ortega y Gasset 57
Madrid

Javier PIERNAVIEJA
Representante Permanente Adjunto de España ante la FAO
Embajada de España
Largo dei Lombardi 21
00186 Roma
Italia

SRI LANKA

Ginigaddarage PIYASENA
Director
Planning and Monitoring
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development
Maligawalla Secretariat
Colombo 10

SUDAN

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

Mohamed KHAIR HASSAN
Director General
Fisheries Administration
P.O. Box 426
Al Sagana

Mohamed Said Mohamed Ali HARBI
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sudan to FAO
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
Via Lazzaro Spallanzani 24
00161 Rome, Italy

SWEDEN

Rolf ÅKESSON
Head of Section
Fisheries Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Stockholm

TANZANIA (UNITED REPUBLIC OF)

Raphael MAPUNDA
Principal Fisheries Officer
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
P.O. Box 2462
Dar-es-Salaam

THAILAND

Somsak CHULLASORN
Marine Fisheries Specialist
Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Kasetsart University Campus
Chatuchak
Bangkok 10900

Kasem PRASUTSANGCHAN
Alternate Permanent Representative of Thailand to FAO
Royal Thai Embassy
Via Messedaglia 6, Int. 2
00191 Rome
Italy

Chao TIANTONG
Permanent Representative of Thailand to FAO
Office of Agricultural Affairs
Royal Thai Embassy
Via Messedaglia 6, Int. 2
00191 Rome
Italy

TONGA

'AKAU'OLA
Secretary of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries
Sopu
Nuku'Alofa
Tongatapu

TUNISIA

Mohamed HMANI
Sous-Directeur de la préservation des ressources
Direction générale de la pêche et de l’aquaculture
Ministère de l’agriculture
32, rue Alain Savary
1002 Belvedère
Tunis

TURKEY

Ahmet SAYLAM
Alternate Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Turkey to FAO
Via F. Denza 27, Int. 16
00197 Rome
Italy

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Terry GARCIA
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
US Department of Commerce
14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20234

Gary MATLOCK
Director
Office of Sustainable Fisheries
US Department of Commerce
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

David A. BALTON
Director
Office of Marine Conservation
Department of State
Washington, DC 20520

Stetson TINKHAM
Senior Pacific Fisheries Officer
Department of State
OES/OMC, Rm 5806
Washington, DC 20520

Kim RIVERA (Ms)
National Marine Fisheries Service
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802

Prudence FOX (Ms)
Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
US Department of Commerce
14th and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20234

Kent WOHL
US Fish and Wildlife Service
1011 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK

Matteo MILAZZO
Foreign Affairs Specialist
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
US Department of Commerce
1335 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Albert MANVILLE
Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 634
Arlington, VA 22203

Rose Kitty SIMONDS (Ms)
Executive Director
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
1164 Bishop St.
1400 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Randi THOMAS (Ms)
Director
US Tuna Foundation
1101-17 St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Gerald W. WINEGARD
Vice President for Policy
American Bird Conservancy
1250 24th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20037

Andy OLIVER
Adviser
Senior Program Officer
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th St. NW
Washington, DC 20037

URUGUAY

Joaquín PIRIZ
Representante Permanente Adjunto de la República Oriental del Uruguay ante la FAO
Embajada de la República Oriental del Uruguay
Via Vittorio Veneto 183, piso 5°
00187 Roma
Italia

VENEZUELA

J.F. PULVENIS
Director de Fronteras Terrestes y Maritimas
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Torre MRE, piso 13
Esq. Carmelitas
Caracas

Jesús Salvador MARCANO
Investigador
Ministerio de Agricultura y Cria
Ed. Parque Central, Torre Oeste,
piso 10
Caracas

Maritza CAMPO ALFONZO (Sra)
Representante Permanente Adjunto de la República de Venezuela ante la FAO
Embajada de la República de Venezuela
Via Nicolò Tartaglia 11
00197 Roma
Italia

YEMEN

Abdul Bari FAKHRI
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Fish Wealth
P.O. Box 19179
Sana'a

Ahmed AL HAWRI
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Yemen to FAO
Via Alessandro Malladra 10B
00157 Rome
Italy

OBSERVERS FROM UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES NOT MEMBERS OF FAO

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Igor SINELNIKOV
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Via Gaeta 5
Rome
Italy

REPRESENTATIVES OF UNITED NATIONS AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

WORLD BANK

David FREESTONE
Legal Advisor on Environment
World Bank
1818 H St N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
USA

Gert VAN SANTEN
Senior Fisheries Adviser
World Bank
1818 H St N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
USA

Anita GORDON (Ms)
Communication Specialist
World Bank
1818 H St N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
USA

OBSERVERS FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

George TAYLOR-LEWIS
Chef de Division Agriculture Nord
Banque Africaine de Développement
BP 1387
Abidjan
Ivory Coast

Samba Bocary TOUNKARA
Expert en pêche
Banque Africaine de Développement
BP 1387
Abidjan
Ivory Coast

COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES

John COOPER
CCAMLR
c/o Avian Demography Unit
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7700
South Africa

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA

Ger VAN VIIET
CITES Secretariat
15 Ch. des Anémones
Geneva, Switzerland

Robert JENKINS
Chairman
CITES Animals Committee
15 Ch. des Anémones
Geneva, Switzerland

INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION

Robin ALLEN
Assistant Director
IATTC
c/o Scripps Institute of Oceanography
8604 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037
USA

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS

Peter MIYAKE
Assistant Executive Secretary
ICCAT
Corazón de María, 8-6°
28002 Madrid
Spain

LATIN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

Carlos MAZAL
Director Ejecutivo
OLDEPESCA
Calle Las Palomas 422
Lima 34
Perú

NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES ORGANIZATION

Dean SWANSON
Vice-Chairman
NAFO Fisheries Commission
P.O. Box 638
Dartmouth, N.S.
Canada B2Y 3Y9

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Ola FLATTEN
Head of the Fisheries Division
Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
OECD
2, rue André Pascal
75775 Paris Cedex 16
France

SOUTHEAST ASIAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Yasuhisa KATO
Special Advisor
SEAFDEC
Surasuwadi Bldg. D07
Kasetsart University Campus
Bangkok
Thailand

SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM FISHERIES AGENCY

Barbara HANCHARD (Ms)
Executive Officer
FFA
P.O. Box 629
Honiara
Solomon Islands

OBSERVERS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL

John COOPER
Coordinator
Birdlife International
Seabird Global Conservation Project
c/o Avian Demography Unit
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7700
South Africa

COALITION FOR FAIR FISHERIES AGREEMENTS

Béatrice GOREZ (Ms)
Coordinatrice
65, rue Grétry
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium

Michael EARLE
Route d’Amonines 15
6987 Rendeux
Belgium

EUROPEAN BUREAU FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Despina SYMONS (Ms)
Director
European Bureau for Conservation and Development
10 rue de la Science
1000 Brussels
Belgium

GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL

Matt GIANNI
Oceans Campaign Coordinator
Keizersgracht 176
1016 DW Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Mike HAGLER
Fisheries Campaigner
Greenpeace International
P.O. Box 32153, Devonport
Auckland 9
New Zealand

Helen BOURS (Ms)
Route d’Amonines, 15
6987 Rendeux
Belgium

Peter PUESCHEL
Grosse Elbstr. 39
22767 Hamburg
Germany

Gabriel HENRIQUES
Ocean Campaigner
Arzobispo Vicuña 59
Santiago
Chile

INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE IN SUPPORT OF FISHWORKERS

Sebastian MATHEW
Executive Secretary
ICSF
27 College Road
Chennai - 600 006
Madras
India

Brian O'RIORDAN
ICSF Brussels Office
65 rue Grétry
1000 Brussels
Belgium

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS

Benedikt VALSSON
Managing Director, FFSI
Bovgartun 18
105 Reykjavik
Iceland

WORLD CONSERVATION UNION

John WAUGH
IUCN
Senior Programme Officer
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 502
Washington DC 20036-2217
USA

Glenn SANT
TRAFFIC
GPO Box 528
Sydney
Australia

Sarah FOWLER (Ms)
Nature Conservation Bureau Ltd.
36 Kingfisher Court
Hambridge Road, Newbury
Berkshire RG14 5SJ
UK

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE

David SCHORR
Director
Sustainable Commerce Programme
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
USA

Michael SUTTON
Director
WWF’s Endangered Seas Campaign
Branksome House
Filmer Grove
Godalming, Surrey GU7 3AB
U. K.

Gareth PORTER
Technical Adviser
3100 Connecticut Ave. NW #123
Washington, DC 20005

Leigh Ann HURT (Ms)
Endangered Seas Campaign
Branksome House
Filmer Grove
Godalming, Surrey GU7 3AB
U. K.

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (COFI)

Will MARTIN
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
US Dept. of Commerce
14th and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20234
USA

Appendix C

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

FI:CSS/98/1 Rev.2 Agenda

FI:CSS/98/2 Rev.1 Elements of an International Instrument for the Management of Fishing Capacity

FI:CSS/98/3 Rev.1 International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks

FI:CSS/98/4 International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries

FI/CSS/98/Inf.1 List of Documents

FI/CSS/98/Inf. 2 List of Participants

FI/CSS/98/Inf. 3 Statement of Competence and Voting Rights by the European Community and its Member States

Appendix D

STATEMENT BY MR M HAYASHI
Assistant Director-General
Fisheries Department

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and observers, ladies and gentlemen, I have the great honour and pleasure of welcoming you, on behalf of the Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, to the Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries.

Let me start my introductory remarks by briefly summarizing the origin of this Consultation and the work that has preceded it.

Many of you will recall that in March last year the FAO Committee on Fisheries called upon the Organization to examine the issues connected with the management of fishing capacity, conservation and management of sharks, and the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. The Committee asked us to carry out this examination with a view to assisting concerned Members of FAO to define strategies, which could be supported by us all, and applied by each Member as appropriate.

COFI further specified that this work should be carried out using extra-budgetary funds. The Governments of Japan and the United States agreed to provide the needed facilities and funds, and subsequently the European Community and the Government of Norway decided to provide additional funds.

Earlier this year Japan and the United States hosted meetings of three FAO Technical Working Groups, one each on fishing capacity, shark conservation and management, and, incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. Each working group consisted of independent experts selected by FAO.

The working groups reviewed technical guidelines and discussed draft plans of action; in the case of fishing capacity the group reviewed elements which could possibly be inserted into a plan of action. Subsequently the Secretariat produced draft plans of action, and in respect of fishing capacity, elements of an international instrument. These documents were reviewed by the Preparatory Meeting which took place here at FAO Headquarters during three days at the end of July. The Preparatory Meeting also elected the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson for the current Consultation. The report of that Meeting has been distributed to participants and all FAO Members.

Following that meeting the Secretariat has drafted the documents that you will be reviewing and debating in the course of this week. They are: the "Elements of an International Instrument for the Management of Fishing Capacity"; the "International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks" and the "International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries". In doing so, the Secretariat has strived to reflect the recommendations and discussions of the July meeting. Consequently you will find in the documents:

Soon after having completed the new text of the "Elements of an International Instrument for the Management of Fishing Capacity", we concluded that if the Secretariat issued a slightly modified text it would probably facilitate the work of the Consultation. I must confess that we overestimated our ability to produce this document on time. So many of you have received the document in revised form only this morning, for which I apologize most sincerely.

Work has also progressed on the technical guidelines. We are still in the drafting stages. Two of the drafts are available to you. They have been written in English and that is the language in which you will find them now. Both have been printed in the form of "Preliminary Versions" of Fishery Circulars of the FAO Fisheries Department. One concerns the mitigation of catches of seabirds in longline fisheries; the other the conservation and management of sharks. These documents are not presented for discussion in the course of the Consultation. Nevertheless, the Secretariat would be most grateful to receive your suggestions in respect of their format and content.

I expect and hope that in the course of these five days you will succeed in agreeing on a set of global schemes for the management of fishing capacity, shark fisheries and the incidental catch of seabirds so that they may be submitted to COFI at its next session in February 1999 for its endorsement.

Before concluding, Mr. Chairman, I would like to again express our gratitude to the Governments of Japan, Norway and the United States, as well as the European Community, for their generous financial support, without which this process would not have been possible.

I should like to conclude by conveying the best wishes of the Director-General and myself for fruitful deliberations on these important subjects.

Thank you very much.

Appendix E

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL
CATCH OF SEABIRDS IN LONGLINE FISHERIES

Introduction

1. Seabirds are being incidentally caught in various commercial longline fisheries in the world, and concerns are arising about the impacts of this incidental catch. Incidental catch of seabirds may also have an adverse impact on fishing productivity and profitability. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and commercial fishery associations are petitioning for measures to reduce the mortality of seabirds in longline fisheries in which seabirds are incidentally taken.

2. Key longline fisheries in which incidental catch of seabirds are known to occur are: tuna, swordfish and billfish in some particular parts of oceans; Patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean, and halibut, black cod, Pacific cod, Greenland halibut, cod, haddock, tusk and ling in the northern oceans (Pacific and Atlantic). The species of seabirds most frequently taken are albatrosses and petrels in the Southern Ocean, northern fulmars in the North Atlantic and albatrosses, gulls and fulmars in the North Pacific fisheries.

3. Responding to the need to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in commercial fisheries in the Southern Ocean, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted mitigation measures in 1992 for its 23 member countries to reduce incidental catch of seabirds.

4. Under the auspices of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), Australia, Japan and New Zealand have studied and taken seabird mitigation measures in their southern bluefin tuna longline fishery since 1994, and in 1995 CCSBT adopted a recommendation relating to ecologically related species, including the incidental mortality of seabirds by longline fishing. The recommendation stipulates a policy on data and information collection, mitigation measures, as well as education and information dissemination. All member nations of CCSBT have made the use of bird scaring lines (tori poles) mandatory in their fisheries.

5. The United States of America also adopted, by regulation, measures for reducing incidental catch of seabirds for its groundfish longline fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska in 1997, and for its halibut fishery in 1998. The United States is currently developing measures to mitigate the incidental catch of seabirds in the Hawaiian pelagic longline fisheries. Several other countries with longline fisheries have likewise adopted similar mitigation measures.

Origin

6. Noting an increased awareness about the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries and its potential negative impacts on seabird populations, a proposal was made at the Twenty-second Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in March 1997 that FAO organize an expert consultation, using extra-budgetary funds, to develop Guidelines leading to a Plan of Action to be submitted at the next Session of COFI aiming at a reduction in such incidental catch.

7. The International Plan of Action for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries (IPOA-SEABIRDS) has been developed through the meeting of a Technical Working Group in Tokyo 25-27 March 19981 and the Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries held 26-30 October 1998 and its preparatory meeting held in Rome 22-24 July 19982.

Nature and Scope

8. IPOA-Seabirds is voluntary. It has been elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as envisaged by Article 2 (d). The provisions of Article 3 of the Code of Conduct apply to the interpretation and application of this document and its relationship with other international instruments. All concerned States3 are encouraged to implement it.

9. The IPOA-SEABIRDS applies to States in the waters of which longline fisheries are being conducted by their own or foreign vessels and to States that conduct longline fisheries on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of other States.

Objective

10. Taking into account in particular the objectives of articles 7.6.9 and 8.5 of the Code of Conduct, the objective of the IPOA-SEABIRDS is to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries where this occurs.

Implementation

11. In implementing the IPOA-SEABIRDS States should carry out a set of activities. This should be done as appropriate in conjunction with relevant international organizations. The exact configuration of this set of activities will be based on an assessment of the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries.

12. States with longline fisheries should conduct an assessment of these fisheries to determine if a problem exists with respect to incidental catch of seabirds. If a problem exists, States should adopt a National Plan of Action for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries (NPOA-SEABIRDS). (See the attached "Technical note on developing a National Plan of Action for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries".) When developing the NPOA-SEABIRDS experience acquired in regional management organizations should be taken into account as appropriate. FAO should provide a list of experts and a mechanism of technical assistance to countries for use in connection with development of NPOA-SEABIRDS.

13. States which determine that an NPOA-SEABIRDS is not necessary should review that decision on a regular basis, particularly taking into account changes in their fisheries, such as the expansion of existing fisheries and/or the development of new longline fisheries. If, based on a subsequent assessment, States determine that a problem exists, they should follow the procedures outlined in paragraph 12, and implement an NPOA-SEABIRDS within two years.

14. The assessment should be included as a part of each relevant State’s NPOA-SEABIRDS.

15. Each State is responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring of its NPOA-SEABIRDS.

16. States recognize that each longline fishery is unique and the identification of appropriate mitigation measures can only be achieved through on-the-spot assessment of the concerned fisheries. Technical and operational mitigation measures are presently in use or under development in some longline fisheries where incidental catch of seabirds occurs. Measures developed by different States are listed in a Technical Note attached to this document. This list does not prejudice the right of States to decide to use any of these or other suitable measures that may be developed. A more comprehensive description and discussion of the mitigation measures currently used or under development can be found in FAO Fisheries Circular No. 937.

17. States should start the implementation of the NPOA-SEABIRDS no later than the COFI Session in 2001.

18. In implementing their NPOA-SEABIRDS States should regularly, at least every four years, assess their implementation for the purpose of identifying cost-effective strategies for increasing the effectiveness of the NPOA-SEABIRDS.

19. States, within the framework of their respective competencies and consistent with international law, should strive to cooperate through regional and subregional fisheries organizations or arrangements, and other forms of cooperation, to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries.

20. In implementing the IPOA-SEABIRDS States recognize that cooperation among States which have important longline fisheries is essential to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds given the global nature of the issue. States should strive to collaborate through FAO and through bilateral and multilateral arrangements in research, training and the production of information and promotional material.

21. States should report on the progress of the assessment, development and implementation of their NPOA-SEABIRDS as part of their biennial reporting to FAO on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

Role of FAO

22. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, and as part of its Regular Programme activities support States in the implementation of the IPOA-SEABIRDS.

23. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, support development and implementation of NPOA-SEABIRDS through specific, in-country technical assistance projects with Regular Programme funds and by use of extra-budgetary funds made available to the Organization for this purpose.

24. FAO will, through COFI, report biennially on the state of progress in the implementation of the IPOA-SEABIRDS.

 

Technical note on developing a National Plan of Action for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries (NPOA-SEABIRDS)

This is not an exclusive or necessarily all-encompassing list but provides guidance for preparation of the NPOA-SEABIRDS.

The NPOA-SEABIRDS is a plan that a State designs, implements and monitors to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries.

I. Assessment

1. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the extent and nature of a State’s incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries where it occurs.

2. The assessment may include, but is not limited to, the collection and analysis of the

II. NPOA-SEABIRDS

The NPOA-SEABIRDS may contain the following elements:

  1. Prescription of mitigation measures


  1. Research and development


  1. Education, training and publicity




  1. Data Collection

 

Technical note on some optional technical and operational measures for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds

I. Introduction

To reduce the incidental catch of seabirds, it is essential to reduce the number of encounters between seabirds and baited hooks. It should be noted that, if used in combination, the options could improve mitigation effectiveness.

For each of the measures, the effectiveness and the cost involved for fishers are briefly presented. In this presentation, "effectiveness" is defined as to what extent the measures reduce incidental catch of seabirds; "cost" is defined as the initial cost or investment and any ongoing operational costs.

Other technical options are currently under development and fishers and researchers in the field may develop new mitigation measures, so the list of measures is likely to increase over time.

If effectiveness of mitigation measures can be improved by combining different mitigation measures or devices, each State may find it advantageous to implement different measures that are more suitable for their conditions and reflect the needs of their specific longline fisheries.

The list below should not be considered mandatory or exhaustive and FAO shall maintain a data base of measures that are in use or under development.

II. Technical measures

1. Increase the sink rate of baits

Concept: Increase the sinking speed of baited hooks and reduce their exposure time to seabirds.
Effectiveness:
Studies have shown that appropriate line-weighting can be highly effective in avoiding bait loss to birds.
Cost:
The cost is the initial purchase of the weighting material (either heavier gear or weights) and any ongoing replacement of weights lost during fishing. Concept: Overcome buoyancy problems in bait by thawing and/or puncturing swim bladders.
Effectiveness:
Rate of incidental catch of seabirds is reduced when thawed baits are used. It has also been shown that bait fish with deflated swim bladders sink more quickly than those with inflated swim bladders did.
Cost:
Possible costs include bait thawing rack, or extra weight to compensate flotation resulting from the air bladder. Concept: Increase line sinking rate by removing line tension during gear deployment.
Effectiveness:
Although no quantitative assessments have been done, this practice would result in the line sinking more rapidly thereby reducing availability of baited hooks to seabirds.
Cost:
For some fisheries, initial costs may include purchase of a line-setting device.

2. Below-the-water setting chute, capsule, or funnel

Concept: Prevent access by seabirds to baited hooks by setting line under water.
Effectiveness:
Underwater setting devices are still under development but could have high effectiveness.
Cost:
Initial cost would include purchase of the underwater setting device.

3. Bird-scaring line positioned over or in the area where baited hooks enter the water

Concept: Prevent seabirds access to baited hooks where they enter the water. The bird scaring line is designed to discourage birds from taking baited hooks by preventing their access to baited hooks. Design specifications may vary by vessel, fishing operation, and location and are critical to its effectiveness. Streamer lines and towing buoys are examples of these techniques.
Effectiveness:
A number of studies and anecdotal observations have demonstrated significant effectiveness of these devices when properly designed and used.
Cost
: Low initial cost for the purchase and installation of bird scaring line.

4. Bait casting machine

Concept: Places bait in area protected by a bird scaring line and outside the turbulence caused by the propeller and the ships wake.
Effectiveness
: Deployment of bait under the protection zone of the bird-scaring line reduces the availability of baited hooks to seabirds. The extent to which bait loss is reduced by the use of bait casting machines, used either without a bird-scaring line or in such a manner that baits are not protected by a bird-scaring line, is yet to be determined.
Cost:
High, initial costs may include purchase of a bait-casting device.

5. Bird scaring curtain

Concept: To deter seabirds from taking baited hooks during the haul by using a bird scaring curtain.
Effectiveness:
Anecdotal evidence indicates that the bird-scaring curtain can effectively discourage birds from seizing baits in the hauling area.
Cost:
Low, cost for materials.

6. Artificial baits or lures

Concept: Reduce palatability or availability of baits.
Effectiveness
: New baits are still under development and effectiveness has yet to be resolved.
Cost:
Currently unknown

7. Hook modification

Concept: Utilize hook types that reduce the probability of birds getting caught when they attack a baited hook.
Effectiveness
: Hook size might effect the species composition of incidentally caught seabirds. The effect of modification of hooks is, however, poorly understood.
Cost
: Unknown.

8. Acoustic deterrent

Concept: Deterring birds from the longline using acoustic signals, such as high frequency, high volume, distress call, etc.
Effectiveness
: Low probability of being effective as background noises are loud and habituation to noises is common among seabirds.
Cost
: Unknown

9. Water cannon

Concept: Concealing baited hooks by using high pressure water.
Effectiveness:
There is no definite conclusion about the effectiveness of this method.
Cost:
Unknown.

10. Magnetic deterrent

Concept: Perturbing the magnetic receptors of the birds by creating magnetic fields.
Effectiveness:
No indication of effect in practical experiments.
Cost:
Unknown.

III. Operational Measures

1. Reduce visibility of bait (Night setting)

Concept: Set during hours of darkness and reduce illumination of baited hooks in the water.
Effectiveness:
This method is generally recognized as being highly effective. However, effectiveness can vary between fishing grounds and also seasonally according to the seabird species. Effectiveness of this measure may be reduced around the full moon.
Cost:
A restriction of line setting to the hours of darkness may affect fishing capacity, especially for smaller longliners. Small costs may be incurred to make vessel lighting appropriate.
Such restriction can also entail investing in costly technology for maximizing fishing efficiency in a shorter period of time.

2. Reduce the attractiveness of the vessels to seabirds

Concept: Reducing the attractiveness of vessels to seabirds will reduce the potential for seabirds being incidentally caught. Materials (e.g. fish discards, garbage) discharged from vessels should be at a time or in a way that makes them least available to birds or least likely to cause them harm. This includes avoidance of the dumping of discarded fish, offal, fish heads, etc. with embedded hooks. If dumping offal is unavoidable, it should be done on the opposite side of the vessel to where lines are being set or in such a manner that birds are not attracted to the vessel (e.g. at night).
Effectiveness:
The issue of offal discharge is a complex one, and there have been conflicting results regarding effects of various procedures in the studies done to date.
Cost:
Low; in some situations costs may be associated with providing for offal containment or reconfiguration of offal discharge systems on the vessel.

3. Area and seasonal closures

Concept: Reduce incidental catch of seabirds when concentrations of breeding or foraging seabirds can be avoided.
Effectiveness:
Area and seasonal closures could be effective (such as in high density foraging areas or during the period of chick care when parental duties limit the distances adults can fly from breeding sites) although displacement of fishing fleet to other seabird areas needs to be considered.
Cost:
Unknown, but a restriction on fishing by area or season may effect fishing capacity.

4. Give preferential licensing to vessels that use mitigation measures that do not require compliance monitoring

Concept: Incentive provided for effective use of mitigation measures that do not require compliance monitoring.
Effectiveness
: May be highly effective in stimulating the use of mitigation measures and development of fishing systems that reduce incidental catch of seabirds.
Cost:
Unknown.

5. Release live birds

Concept: If despite the precautions, seabirds are incidentally caught, every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that birds brought onboard alive are released alive and that when possible hooks should be removed without jeopardizing the life of the birds.
Effectiveness:
Depends on the number of birds brought onboard alive and this is considered small by comparison to the numbers killed in line setting.
Cost:
Unknown.

Appendix F

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHARKS

Introduction

1. For centuries artisanal fishermen have conducted fishing for sharks sustainably in coastal waters, and some still do. However, during recent decades modern technology in combination with access to distant markets have caused an increase in effort and yield of shark catches, as well as an expansion of the areas fished.

2. There is concern over the increase of shark catches and the consequences which this has for the populations of some shark species in several areas of the world’s oceans. This is because sharks often have a close stock-recruitment relationship, long recovery times in response to over-fishing (low biological productivity because of late sexual maturity; few off-spring, albeit with low natural mortality) and complex spatial structures (size/sex segregation and seasonal migration).

3. The current state of knowledge of sharks and the practices employed in shark fisheries cause problems in the conservation and management of sharks due to lack of available catch, effort, landings and trade data, as well as limited information on the biological parameters of many species and their identification. In order to improve knowledge on the state of shark stocks and facilitate the collection of the necessary information, adequate funds are required for research and management.

4. The prevailing view is that it is necessary to better manage directed shark catches and certain multispecies fisheries in which sharks constitute a significant bycatch. In some cases the need for management may be urgent.

5. A few countries have specific management plans for their shark catches and their plans include control of access, technical measures including strategies for reduction of shark bycatches and support for full use of sharks. However, given the wide-ranging distribution of sharks, including on the high seas, and the long migration of many species, it is increasingly important to have international cooperation and coordination of shark management plans. At the present time there are few international management mechanisms effectively addressing the capture of sharks.

6. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the Sub-regional Fisheries Commission of West African States, the Latin American Organization for Fishery Development, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna and the Oceanic Fisheries Programme of the Pacific Community have initiated efforts encouraging member countries to collect information about sharks, and in some cases developed regional databases for the purpose of stock assessment.

7. Noting the increased concern about the expanding catches of sharks and their potential negative impacts on shark populations, a proposal was made at the Twenty-second Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in March 1997 that FAO organize an expert consultation, using extra-budgetary funds, to develop Guidelines leading to a Plan of Action to be submitted at the next Session of the Committee aimed at improved conservation and management of sharks.

8. This International Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-SHARKS) has been developed through the meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Conservation and Management of Sharks in Tokyo from 23 to 27 April 19984and the Consultation on Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries held in Rome from 26 to 30 October 1998 and its preparatory meeting held in Rome from 22 to 24 July 19982.

9. The IPOA-SHARKS consists of the nature and scope, principles, objective and procedures for implementation (including attachments) specified in this document.

Nature and Scope

10. The IPOA-SHARKS is voluntary. It has been elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as envisaged by Article 2 (d). The provisions of Article 3 of the Code of Conduct apply to the interpretation and application of this document and its relationship with other international instruments. All concerned States3 are encouraged to implement it.

11. For the purposes of this document, the term "shark" is taken to include all species of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras (Class Chondrichtyes), and the term "shark catch" is taken to include directed, bycatch, commercial, recreational and other forms of taking sharks.

12. The IPOA-SHARKS encompasses both target and non-target catches.

Guiding principles

13. Participation. States that contribute to fishing mortality on a species or stock should participate in its management.

14. Sustaining stocks. Management and conservation strategies should aim to keep total fishing mortality for each stock within sustainable levels by applying the precautionary approach.

15. Nutritional and socio-economic considerations. Management and conservation objectives and strategies should recognize that in some low-income food-deficit regions and/or countries, shark catches are a traditional and important source of food, employment and/or income. Such catches should be managed on a sustainable basis to provide a continued source of food, employment and income to local communities.

Objective

16. The objective of the IPOA-SHARKS is to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use.

Implementation

17. The IPOA-SHARKS applies to States in the waters of which sharks are caught by their own or foreign vessels and to States the vessels of which catch sharks on the high seas.

18. States should adopt a national plan of action for conservation and management of shark stocks (Shark-plan) if their vessels conduct directed fisheries for sharks or if their vessels regularly catch sharks in non-directed fisheries. Suggested contents of the Shark-plan are found in Appendix A. When developing a Shark-plan, experience of subregional and regional fisheries management organizations should be taken into account, as appropriate.

19. Each State is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring its Shark-plan.

20. States should strive to have a Shark-plan by the COFI Session in 2001.

21. States should carry out a regular assessment of the status of shark stocks subject to fishing so as to determine if there is a need for development of a shark plan. This assessment should be guided by article 6.13 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The assessment should be reported as a part of each relevant State's Shark-plan. Suggested contents of a shark assessment report are found in Appendix B. The assessment would necessitate consistent collection of data, including inter alia commercial data and data leading to improved species identification and, ultimately, the establishment of abundance indices. Data collected by States should, where appropriate, be made available to, and discussed within the framework of, relevant subregional and regional fisheries organizations and FAO. International collaboration on data collection and data sharing systems for stock assessments is particularly important in relation to transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas shark stocks.

22. The Shark-plan should aim to:

23. States which implement the Shark-plan should regularly, at least every four years, assess its implementation for the purpose of identifying cost-effective strategies for increasing its effectiveness.

24. States which determine that a Shark-plan is not necessary should review that decision on a regular basis taking into account changes in their fisheries, but as a minimum, data on catches, landings and trade should be collected.

25. States, within the framework of their respective competencies and consistent with international law, should strive to cooperate through regional and subregional fisheries organizations or arrangements, and other forms of cooperation, with a view to ensuring the sustainability of shark stocks, including, where appropriate, the development of subregional or regional shark plans.

26. Where transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas stocks of sharks are exploited by two or more States, the States concerned should strive to ensure effective conservation and management of the stocks.

27. States should strive to collaborate through FAO and through international arrangements in research, training and the production of information and educational material.

28. States should report on the progress of the assessment, development and implementation of their Shark-plans as part of their biennial reporting to FAO on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

Role of FAO

29. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, and as part of its Regular Programme activities, support States in the implementation of the IPOA-SHARKS, including the preparation of Shark-plans.

30. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, support development and implementation of Shark-plans through specific, in-country technical assistance projects with Regular Programme funds and by use of extra-budgetary funds made available to the Organization for this purpose. FAO will provide a list of experts and a mechanism of technical assistance to countries in connection with development of Shark-plans.

31. FAO will, through COFI, report biennially on the state of progress in the implementation of the IPOA-SHARKS.

Appendix A

Suggested Contents of a Shark-plan

I Background

When managing fisheries for sharks, it is important to consider that the state of knowledge of sharks and the practices employed in shark catches may cause problems in the conservation and management of sharks, in particular:

II Content of the Shark-plan

The Technical Guidelines on the Conservation and Management of Sharks, under development by FAO, provide detailed technical guidance, both on the development and the implementation of the Shark-plan. Guidance will be provided on:

The Shark-plan should contain:

A. Description of the prevailing state of :

B. The objective of the Shark-plan.

C. Strategies for achieving objectives. The following are illustrative examples of what could be included:

Appendix B

Suggested contents of a shark assessment report

A shark assessment report should inter alia contain the following information:

Appendix G

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL [GUIDELINES] [PLAN OF ACTION] FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF FISHING CAPACITY

Introduction

1. In the context of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its overall objective of sustainable fisheries, the issues of excess fishing capacity in world fisheries is an increasing concern. Excessive fishing capacity is a problem that, among others, contributes substantially to overfishing, the degradation of marine fisheries resources, the decline of food production potential, and significant economic waste.

2. The Code of Conduct provides that States should take measures to prevent or eliminate excess fishing capacity and should ensure that levels of fishing effort are commensurate with sustainable use of fishery resources.

3. At its last Session in 1997, the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), requested FAO to address the issue of fishing capacity. FAO organized a Technical Working Group on the Management of Fishing Capacity in La Jolla, USA, from 15 to 18 April 1998. A subsequent FAO consultation was held in Rome from 26 to 30 October 1998, preceded by a preparatory meeting from 22 to 24 July 1998.

PART I - Nature and Scope of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action]

4. The International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] is voluntary. It has been elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as envisaged by Article 2 (d). The provisions of Article 3 of the Code apply to the interpretation and application of this International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] and its relationship with other international instruments.

5. This document is in furtherance of the commitment of all States3 to implement the Code of Conduct. States and regional5 fisheries organizations should apply this document consistently with international law and within the framework of the respective competencies of the organizations concerned.

6. The International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] constitutes an element of fishery conservation and sustainable management.

PART II - Objective and Principles

7. The immediate objective of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] is for States and regional fisheries organizations, to achieve world-wide by [2003] [2005] an efficient, equitable and transparent management of fishing capacity. Inter alia, States and regional fisheries organizations confronted with an overcapacity problem, where capacity is undermining achievement of long-term sustainability outcomes, should endeavour initially to limit at present level and progressively reduce the fishing capacity applied to affected fisheries. Where long-term sustainability outcomes are being achieved, States and regional fisheries organizations nevertheless need to exercise caution to avoid growth in capacity undermining long-term sustainability objectives.

8. The above objective may be achieved through a series of actions related to four major strategies:

  1. the conduct of national, regional and global assessments of capacity and improvement of the capability for monitoring fishing capacity;
  2. the preparation and implementation of national plans to effectively manage fishing capacity and of immediate actions for coastal fisheries requiring urgent measures;
  3. the strengthening of regional fisheries organizations and related mechanisms for improved management of fishing capacity at regional and global levels;
  4. immediate actions for major transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas fisheries requiring urgent measures.

These strategies may be implemented through complementary mechanisms to promote implementation of this international [Guidelines] [Plan of Action]: awareness building and education, technical co-operation at the international level, and co-ordination.

9. The management of fishing capacity should be based on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and take into consideration the following major principles and approaches:

  1. Participation: The International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] should be implemented by States either directly, in co-operation with other States, or through FAO in co-operation with other appropriate intergovernmental organizations, including regional fisheries organizations. States and regional fisheries organizations, as appropriate, are encouraged to give effect to [them] [it] and to inform FAO of actions taken to implement [them] [it]. FAO will regularly provide information about [their] [its] implementation.
  2. Phased implementation: The management of fishing capacity on the basis of national and regional plans should be achieved through the following three phases: assessment and diagnosis (preliminary analysis to be completed by the end of [2000]), adoption of management measures (preliminary steps to be adopted by the end of [2001]) and periodic adjustment of such assessment and diagnosed measures, as appropriate. States and regional fisheries organizations should complete these steps and progressively implement by [2005] the complementary measures specified in the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action].
  3. Holistic approach: The management of fishing capacity should consider all factors affecting capacity in both national and international waters;
  4. Conservation. The management of fishing capacity should be designed to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks and the protection of the marine environment consistent with the precautionary approach, the need to minimize by-catch, waste and discard and ensure selective and environmentally safe fishing practices, the protection of biodiversity in the marine environment, and the protection of habitat, in particular habitats of special concern.
  5. Priority: Priority should be given to managing the fishing capacity in those fisheries in which there already unequivocally exists overfishing;
  6. New technologies: The management of fishing capacity should be designed so that it takes into account the incorporation of environmentally sound and evolving technology in all areas of capture fisheries.
  7. Mobility: The management of fishing capacity should encourage efficient use of fishing capacity and discourage mobility when it negatively affects sustainability and take due account of socio-economic performances in other fisheries;
  8. Transparency: The International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] should be implemented in a transparent manner in accordance with Article 6.13 of the Code of Conduct.

10. The implementation of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action] should be based on the Code of Conduct, particularly Article 5, in relation to enhancing the ability of developing countries, to develop their own fisheries as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such fisheries, in accordance with their legitimate rights and their obligations under international law.

PART III: Urgent Actions

Section I: Assessment and monitoring of fishing capacity

Measurement of fishing capacity

11. States should support coordinated efforts and research at national, regional and global levels to better understand the fundamental aspects of issues related to the measurement and monitoring of fishing capacity.

12. States should support the organization by FAO of a technical consultation to be held as early as possible in 1999 on the definition and measurement of fishing capacity and the subsequent preparation of technical guidelines for data collection and analysis, noting that the result of this consultation should provide specific guidance for preliminary assessments of fishing capacity and excess fishing capacity at national, regional and global levels.

Diagnosis and identification of fisheries and fleets requiring urgent measures

13. States should proceed, by the end of [1999] [2000], with a preliminary assessment of the fishing capacity deployed at the national level in relation to all the fleets of principal fisheries and update this assessment periodically.

14. States should proceed, by the end of [2000], with the systematic identification of national fisheries and fleets requiring urgent measures and update this analysis periodically.

15. States should cooperate, within the same time frame, in the organization of similar preliminary assessments of fishing capacity at the regional level (within the relevant regional fisheries organizations or in collaboration with them, as appropriate) and at the global level (in collaboration with FAO) for transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas fisheries, as well as in the identification of regional or global fisheries and fleets requiring urgent measures.

Establishment of records of fishing vessels

16. States should support FAO in the development of appropriate and compatible standards for records of fishing vessels.

17. States should develop and maintain appropriate and compatible national records of fishing vessels, further specifying conditions for access to information.

18. While awaiting the entry into force of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement), States should support the establishment by FAO by the end of 2000 of an international record of fishing vessels operating in the high seas, following the model indicated in the Compliance Agreement.

Section II: Preparation and implementation of national plans

Development of national plans and policies

19. States should develop, implement and monitor national plans of action for managing fishing capacity, taking into account, inter alia, the effect of different resource management systems on fishing capacity.

20. States should develop the means to monitor fishing capacity systematically and accurately, and to regularly assess any imbalance with available fishery resources and management objectives.

21. States should develop, adopt and make public, by the end of [2001], national plans for the management of fishing capacity and, if required, reduce fishing capacity in order to balance fishing capacity with available resources on a sustainable basis. These should be based on an assessment of fish stocks and giving particular attention to cases requiring urgent measures and taking immediate steps to address the management of fishing capacity for stocks recognized as significantly overfished.

22. States should give due consideration, in the development of national plans, to socio-economic requirements, including the consideration of alternative sources of employment and livelihood to fishing communities which must bear the burden of reductions in fishing capacity.

23. When it has been found that a national plan to manage capacity is not necessary, States should ensure that the matter of fishing capacity is addressed in an ongoing manner in fishery management.

24. At least every four years, States should review the implementation of their national plans to manage capacity for the purpose of identifying cost effective strategies for increasing effectiveness.

Subsidies and economic incentives

25. When developing their national plans for the management of fishing capacity, States should assess the possible impact of all factors, including subsidies, contributing to overcapacity on the sustainable management of their fisheries, distinguishing between factors, including subsidies, which contribute to overcapacity and unsustainability and those which produce a positive effect or are neutral.

26. States should reduce and progressively eliminate all factors, including subsidies and economic incentives and other factors which contribute, directly or indirectly, to the build-up of excessive fishing capacity thereby undermining the sustainability of marine living resources, giving due regard to the needs of artisanal fisheries.

Regional considerations

27. States should cooperate, where appropriate, through regional fisheries organizations or arrangements and other forms of co-operation, with a view to ensuring the effective management of fishing capacity.

28. States should strive to collaborate through FAO and through international arrangements in research, training and the production of information and educational material aiming to promote effective management of fishing capacity.

Section III: International considerations

29. States should consider participating in international agreements which relate to the management of fishing capacity, and in particular, the Compliance Agreement and the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.

30. States should support co-operation and the exchange of information among all regional fisheries organizations in accordance with their procedures.

31. States should take steps to manage the fishing capacity of their vessels involved in high seas fisheries and cooperate, as appropriate with other States, in reducing the fishing capacity applied to overfished high seas stocks.

32. States should improve, through regional fisheries organizations where appropriate, and in collaboration with FAO, the collection of data on catches on the high seas as well as in the coastal area by their fleet.

33. States should recognize the need to deal with the problem of those States which do not fulfil their responsibilities under international law as flag States with respect to their fishing vessels, and in particular those which do not exercise effectively their jurisdiction and control over their vessels which may operate in a manner that contravenes or undermines the relevant rules of international law and international conservation and management measures. States should also support multilateral co-operation to ensure that such flag States contribute to regional efforts to manage fishing capacity.

34. States should be encouraged to become members of regional fisheries organizations or arrangements, or agree to apply the conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements to their vessels.

35. States should promote, with the assistance of FAO, the exchange of information about the fishing activity of vessels which do not comply with conservation and management measures adopted by regional fisheries organizations and arrangements, consistent with Article VI of the Compliance Agreement.

36. Anticipating the entry into force of the Compliance Agreement, States should strive to apply the provisions of Article III of that Agreement.

37. States should ensure that no transfer of capacity to the jurisdiction of another State should be carried out without the express consent and formal authorization of that State.

38. States should, in compliance with their duties as flag States, avoid approving the transfer of vessels flying their flag to high seas areas where such transfers are inconsistent with responsible fishing under the Code of Conduct.

Section IV: Immediate actions for major international fisheries requiring urgent measures

39. States should take immediate steps to address the management of fishing capacity for international fisheries requiring urgent attention, with priority being given to those harvesting transboundary, straddling, highly migratory and high seas stocks which are significantly overfished.

40. Within the framework of their respective competencies, States should act individually, bilaterally and multilaterally, as appropriate, to reduce substantially6 the fleet capacity applied to these resources as part of management strategies to restore overfished stocks to sustainable levels considering, in addition to the other relevant provisions of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action]:

  1. the economic importance of the fleets catching overfished stocks and the need to limit these fleets to a level commensurate with stock sustainability and economic viability; and
  2. the use of appropriate measures to control the transfer of overcapacity to fully exploited or overexploited fisheries, taking into consideration the condition of the fish stocks.

PART IV: Mechanisms to promote implementation

Awareness building and education

41. States should develop information programmes at national, regional and global levels to increase awareness about the need for the management of fishing capacity, and the cost and benefits resulting from adjustments in fishing capacity.

Scientific and technical co-operation

42. States should support the exchange of scientific and technical information on issues related to the management of fishing capacity and promote its world-wide availability using existing regional and global fora.

43. States should support training and institutional strengthening and consider providing financial, technical and other assistance to developing countries on issues related to the management of fishing capacity.

Reporting

44. States should report to FAO on progress on assessment, development and implementation of their plans for the management of fishing capacity as part of their biennial reporting to FAO on the Code of Conduct.

Role of FAO

45. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, collect all relevant information and data which might serve as a basis for further analysis aimed at identifying factors contributing to overcapacity such as, inter alia, lack of input and output control, unsustainable fishery management methods and subsidies which contribute to overcapacity.

46. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, and as part of its Regular Programme activities, support States in the implementation of their national plans for the management of fishing capacity.

47. FAO will, as directed by its Conference, support development and implementation of national plans for the management of fishing capacity through specific, in-country technical assistance projects with Regular Programme funds and by use of extra-budgetary funds made available to the Organization for this purpose.

48. FAO will, through COFI, report biennially on the state of progress in the implementation of the International [Guidelines] [Plan of Action].




1 See: "Report of the Technical Working Group on Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. Tokyo, Japan, 25-27 March 1998. FAO Fisheries Report No. 585.
2 See report: "Preparatory Meeting for the Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries". Rome, 22-24 July, 1998. FAO Fisheries Report No. 584.
3 In this document the term "State" includes Members and non-members of FAO and applies mutatis mutandis also to "fishing entities" other than States.
4 See: "Report of the FAO Technical Working Group on the Conservation and Management of Sharks". Tokyo, Japan, 23-27 April 1998. FAO Fisheries Report No. 583
5 In this document, the term "regional" incudes sub-regional, as appropriate.
6 The required reduction would vary from fishery to fishery; e.g. a 20 to 30% reduction was mentioned for large-scale tuna long line fleet (Technical Working Group on the Management of Fishing Capacity, 15-18 April 1998, FAO Fisheries Report No. 586).