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	Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC)

The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) was established in 1973, in accordance with Article VI-1 of FAO Constitution, bearing in mind the challenges the fishing states of the area were facing at the time.

Its mission is to facilitate the coordination of research; to encourage education and training; to assist Member Governments in establishing rational policies and support management and development of fisheries in the Western Central Atlantic.

BACKGROUND OF WECAFC

I. Origen and Purpose of WECAFC

The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) was established in 1973 by a FAO Council Resolution, in line with Article 4 of FAO Constitution, due to the difficulties encountered by the fishing countries of the area. The purpose of the Commission is to assist in the efforts of international cooperation for the conservation, development and utilization of the living resources, especially shrimps, in the Western Central Atlantic region.

In November 1973, the FAO Council (Sixty-first Session, Resolution 4/61) recommended the establishment of WECAFC, stating the following terms of reference for the Commission which up to date remain unchanged:

• to promote and assist in the collection of national statistics and biological data relating to fisheries in general and the shrimp fisheries in particular; and to provide for the compilation and dissemination of these data on a regional basis;
• to facilitate the coordination of national research programmes and to promote, where appropriate, the standardization of research methods;
• to promote and coordinate, on a national and regional basis, studies of the effect of the environment and of pollution on fisheries, and studies of appropriate methods of control and improvement;
• to promote and assist the development of aquaculture and stock improvement;
• to encourage education and training through the establishment or improvement of national and regional institutions and by the organization of training centres and seminars;
• to assist Member Governments in establishing rational policies for the development and utilization of the resources consistent with national objectives and the conservation and improvement of the resources; and
• to promote and coordinate international aid to further the achievement of the objectives referred to in the preceding sub-paragraphs.

II. Contribution to Regional Cooperation:

WECAFC has been a significant contribution to the management and development of fisheries in the Western Central Atlantic region. For example, the activities of its Working Parties on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources, on Fishery Statistics and on Economics and Planning were a great support to the management of the fishing activities in the region.

Outstanding has been the contribution of the Working Parties on Shrimp and Groundish and Lobster. Expert Consultations have been held in issues such as shared fisheries resources of the Lesser Antilles, the use of microcomputers in fisheries, the use of methodologies for the assessment of stocks based in the distribution of frequencies, length and the promotion of sustainable fisheries management practices in the WECAFC region. Furthermore, the Committee of the Lesser Antilles constituted a forum to determine the special needs of these Small Islands States.

MEMBERS OF THE COMISSION

Following countries are members of WECAFC:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Brazil
• Canada
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• France (French Antilles and Guiana)
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Korea (República of)
• Mexico
• Netherlands (Antilles)
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vicent and the Grenadines
• Spain
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Venezuela

The European Community is also a member of WECAFC

CONTACT

Bisessar Chakalall
Senior Fishery Officer
WECAFC Secretary
Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLAC)
E mail: Bisessar.Chakalall@fao.org
Tel.: (1-246) 426 7110 # 249
Fax: (1-246) 426 7111

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