Statements

Statement to the Ministerial Meeting on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
Rome, Italy, 10-11 March 1999



Distinguished Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to greet you here at FAO Headquarters and to welcome you to this Ministerial Meeting on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.


Your presence here today is a most important contribution to FAO's continuing effort to ensure the sustainable management and development of world fisheries and aquaculture, in particular by strengthening the Organization's services to its Members.


You are in effect the international assembly of fisheries policy-makers and are the world's leaders in the stand against irresponsible and destructive fisheries practices and applications.

Your meeting in this same room almost four years ago was constructive, pragmatic and realistic. Its major outcome was the "Rome Consensus on World Fisheries".

It is the spirit of this Consensus that has guided FAO in carrying out its appointed duties. Document F:MM/99/Inf.4 provides a brief overview of FAO's actions in this connection.

The present meeting is further evidence of the high priority that the Organization accords to the constant need to identify and reappraise - together with its partners - the strategies and actions that are required to address the key emerging issues and challenges of fisheries and aquaculture.

More precisely, these relate to:

• the management of fishing capacity;
  
• overfishing - specifically the use of insufficiently selective fishing gear resulting in waste from by-catch and discards;
  
• the degradation of fish habitats;
  
• the poor monitoring, control and surveillance of vessels, both in zones under national jurisdiction and on the high seas;
  
• the emergence of unilateral eco-labelling practices and the question of whether and when to adopt global measures;
  
• the implementation of international fishery instruments, in particular the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
  

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The assured sustainable management and development of world fisheries will require concerted international action on the scientific, technical, economic and, above all, political fronts. A new spirit of international cooperation must prevail.

Clearly, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries provides a sound framework for the sustainable management and development of world fisheries and for the cooperative action needed to achieve that goal.

Since the adoption of the Code by the FAO Conference in October 1995, the Organization has given high priority to activities that facilitate and technically support national and regional initiatives to exercise its provisions. At national level, the Code is already being used as an important point of reference by many countries and follow-up meetings have been - and are being - organized by individual governments. In this way, the diffused and growing concern over the future of fisheries resources, which is equally felt by those directly involved in fisheries and by the public at large, can be addressed by using the Code to develop concrete programmes and projects.

The success of individual countries' efforts to improve their fishery management is contingent upon the actions of other nations, as interlinkages transcend borders and call for international cooperation. The Code itself urges that assistance be given to developing countries, especially in such areas as financial and technical support, technology transfer, training and scientific cooperation, to enable them to develop their own fisheries and participate in fishing on the high seas. Despite the efforts of some donors, there is an insufficient flow of financial resources to help developing countries implement the Code of Conduct. In this regard, I should like to thank those donors and development agencies that have generously supported activities related to the Code and appeal most fervently for further sustained international cooperation in this area.



Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The agenda before you focuses on the need for solidarity and cooperation between developed and developing countries, between fishing communities and major organizations of economic integration and among all stakeholders in the fisheries sector.


Particular attention should therefore be given to the practical realities of the current situation and much energy needs to be expended on the issues and needs that constitute the challenges that must be taken up. To this end, individual but also joint efforts are required, if the overall economic performance of the fisheries sector is to be raised.

Better management of resources and the integration of environmental objectives are fundamental elements of policies that will benefit producers and consumers throughout the world. FAO has already made a substantial contribution, and will continue to do so within the limits of its resources. It will provide advice and assistance to the various sub-sectors of fisheries and aquaculture, with the intention of improving the global general situation which, in the final analysis, will depend on national policy responses.

I should like to conclude by indicating my intention to initiate studies to enhance implementation of the Code of Conduct through a vessel monitoring systems to assist countries in the surveillance, monitoring and control of fishing activities. Such systems have already been adopted in some regions and their wider application would greatly enhance the ability of many countries to better manage their fisheries.



Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I extend my most heartfelt wishes for the full success of your deliberations.