The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967, in Bangkok, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. At present, its members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are: i) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region, through joint endeavours and in the spirit of equality and partnership, in order to strengthen the foundations for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations; and ii) to promote regional peace and stability, through maintaining respect for justice and the rule of law within the relationship among countries in the region and through adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
In consideration of the conceptual framework of the Hanoi Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN Vision 2020, the Senior Officers of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) held a Special Meeting from 27 to 29 April 1998 in Phuket, Thailand. At that meeting, it was decided that the Strategic Plan on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture (including Fisheries) and Forestry (1999-2004) should cover overall cooperation in the three major sectors, with particular emphasis on strengthening food security arrangements in the region, enhancing the international competitiveness of food, agricultural and forest products and strengthening ASEAN's position in international fora.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
755 |
940 |
1 187 |
1 545 |
Percentage of world total |
13.0 |
11.5 |
9.8 |
8.2 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
212 |
469 |
736 |
802 |
Percentage of world total |
6.2 |
9.5 |
8.5 |
6.6 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
1 003 |
999 |
1 045 |
984 |
Percentage of world total |
16.8 |
15.5 |
15.6 |
12.3 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
7 403 |
8 451 |
10 040 |
10 748 |
Percentage of world total |
9.4 |
10.7 |
11.8 |
13.7 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
9 372 |
10 859 |
13 008 |
14 079 |
Percentage of world total |
10.0 |
11.0 |
11.6 |
12.0 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
7 640 |
8 597 |
10 334 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
18.7 |
19.5 |
21.9 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
47.7 |
45.7 |
43.7 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
720 |
1 437 |
1 996 |
1 626 |
Percentage of world total |
3.0 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
1 996 |
4 484 |
7 758 |
7 600 |
Percentage of world total |
8.7 |
12.6 |
16.4 |
14.8 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
Existing guidelines (priority areas and programmes), instruments and mechanisms for cooperation should also be taken into consideration and reviewed as part of the preparations for the Strategic Plan. The Plan's implementation will be coordinated by the ASEAN Secretariat. In the field of fisheries and aquaculture, the implementation will be carried out by the Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries. Cooperation in fisheries continues to focus on aquaculture development, the development and improvement of fisheries post-harvest technologies and the harmonization of quality assurance for fishery products.
The manual on good shrimp farm management practices was officially launched at the 20th Meeting of AMAF in Hanoi on 18 September 1998, and distributed to all member countries for use. A manual of guidelines for producing "high health" shrimp broodstock has been drafted. Member countries are implementing the HACCP training programme, which was developed as part of the completed ASEAN-Canada Project on Fisheries Post-harvest Technology: Phase 2. A survey of traditional fish products in the ASEAN region is being carried out and a framework for the compilation of fisheries sanitary measures to facilitate intra-ASEAN trade in fish and fishery products has been prepared. In its early stages, the harmonization effort will be confined to fish diseases and quarantine.
The Programme and Work Plan for ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection, was endorsed by the 20th Meeting of AMAF in Hanoi. A workshop was held in July 1999 in Malaysia, at which strategies were reviewed and a time frame set for the implementation of the action plan. Thailand has identified approximately 40 ha of land on the bank of the Mekong River in Chiang Mai Province for the building of a research centre for ASEAN-Mekong Basin Fisheries Development Cooperation, while Singapore has trained participants from Myanmar in fisheries post-harvest technology. A Fisheries Consultative Group Meeting has been established as a mechanism for collaboration between ASEAN's Fisheries Working Group and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) on sustainable fisheries development in the Southeast Asia region. The Special Meeting of SOM-AMAF, held in April 2000 in Brunei, decided on the implementation of seven ASEAN-SEAFDEC collaborative programmes (all of which have already been started). The programmes cover: the upgrading of the traditional fish processing industry; promotion of mangrove-friendly aquaculture; conservation and management of the sea turtle; regionalization of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; development of a fish disease diagnostical inspection mechanism; improvement of fisheries statistics; fish trade and environment. The Special Meeting also decided to organize an ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New Millennium (Fish for the People), to be held in October 2001 in collaboration with FAO.
There is no formal cooperation between ASEAN and FAO in the area of fisheries. However, member countries of ASEAN and its Fisheries Working Group do cooperate closely with FAO through the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok.
The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas on 4 July 1973 for the principal purpose of enhancing, through cooperation, the economic, social and cultural development of the populations of member countries. CARICOM's members are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
In fisheries, CARICOM aims to "promote the development of the fisheries subsector in member states with a view to optimal exploitation of their resources on a sustainable basis". It intends to do this by strengthening the legal and institutional framework, in part through the formulation and implementation of a common CARICOM Fisheries Policy and a CARICOM Regional Fisheries Mechanism.
The CARICOM Fisheries Unit, located in Belize, was established in 1991 to execute the CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Program (CFRAMP). This programme's goal is to promote sustainable development and conservation of the region's fish stocks in order to permit sustainable use of these resources by the peoples of 12 CARICOM Member States. It was created in 1991 and is funded jointly by the Canadian Government, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and participating CARICOM countries. CFRAMP is being executed in two phases. Phase 1 was concluded in 1998, while Phase 2 is due for completion in December 2000. It is hoped that there will then be a transition to a more permanent regional fisheries mechanism.
The role of the CARICOM Fisheries Unit, as a leading regional executing agency for fisheries resource conservation and management, has been expanded to include:
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
79 |
89 |
109 |
117 |
Percentage of world total |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
82 |
94 |
115 |
124 |
Percentage of world total |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
154 |
143 |
155 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
12.7 |
11.1 |
11.4 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
19.7 |
18.5 |
19.1 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
59 |
64 |
62 |
69 |
Percentage of world total |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
66 |
108 |
110 |
178 |
Percentage of world total |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
CARICOM and FAO have cooperated closely over the past decades on various aspects of fisheries, including policy and legal matters. FAO has provided technical assistance to CFRAMP in specific areas since its inception in 1991 and, over the past two years, FAO and CFRAMP have collaborated in implementing joint technical activities through the Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC). Such activities have included training in stock assessment and the assessment of major fish stocks (e.g. spiny lobster, penaeid shrimp) in the WECAFC region.
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established in December 1991. It is a voluntary association consisting of the following States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The main purpose of the Commonwealth is to develop and strengthen cooperation and to serve the cause of peace and security.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
... |
405 |
146 |
106 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
5.0 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
... |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
... |
565 |
319 |
316 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
8.8 |
4.8 |
3.9 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
... |
8 233 |
3 747 |
4 644 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
10.4 |
4.4 |
5.9 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
... |
9 204 |
4 215 |
5 066 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
9.3 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply in ('000 tonnes) |
... |
... |
2 072 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
... |
... |
7.3 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
... |
... |
6.6 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
... |
... |
287 |
375 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
... |
0.6 |
0.7 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
... |
... |
1 797 |
1 268 |
Percentage of world total |
... |
... |
3.8 |
2.5 |
Note: ... = data non available. | ||||
To date, no common fisheries policy among countries of the CIS has been elaborated. Coordination is achieved through bilateral and multilateral agreements among the member countries, which can be divided into two groups:
i) states that have inland water fisheries and aquaculture activities only (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan); and
ii) states that have a well-developed distant-water fisheries sector (the Russian Federation, Ukraine and - to a certain extent - Georgia).
Most CIS countries have concentrated on the restructuring of their fleets and on the processing and marketing sectors.
To date there is no agreed policy within the CIS countries concerning their cooperation with FAO. Each state acts independently in fishery matters.
The Treaty of Lagos, which established the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was signed by representatives of 15 West African States in Lagos on 28 May 1975. At present, the following countries adhere to the treaty: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The ECOWAS Treaty specifies the Community's objective, to be achieved in stages, as being the creation of economic and monetary union. Cooperation in the development of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries is one of its primary aims. The first stage in this cooperation entails the harmonization of internal and external policies; the second stage envisages the adoption of a common agricultural policy.
Based on the recommendations of the Industry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Commission at its meeting in Cotonou, Benin, in April 1980, ECOWAS organized a conference of experts in Dakar, Senegal, to develop national policies to ensure better management and surveillance of waters under the jurisdiction of its Member States and also to ensure the conservation of fisheries resources in the region. Several recommendations were made concerning research, surveillance, the harmonization of fishing agreements and legislation, trade in fish and fishery products, data collection, etc. Since then, Members have made progress in implementing such recommendations.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
6 |
8 |
15 |
22 |
Percentage of world total |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
... |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
... |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
334 |
341 |
344 |
420 |
Percentage of world total |
5.6 |
5.3 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
959 |
1 128 |
1 065 |
1 297 |
Percentage of world total |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
1 299 |
1 477 |
1 425 |
1 739 |
Percentage of world total |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
1 517 |
2 191 |
1 652 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
9.9 |
12.8 |
8.7 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
30.5 |
34.4 |
28.8 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
243 |
383 |
377 |
494 |
Percentage of world total |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
537 |
518 |
629 |
828 |
Percentage of world total |
2.3 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
ECOWAS's formal relationship with FAO is based on an exchange of letters between the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS. A Cooperation Agreement was established with FAO in December 1984, since which time FAO has been cooperating with the Community in various fields. However, as an organization, ECOWAS is not a member of any of FAO's statutory bodies.
In the mid-1990s, at the request of ECOWAS, FAO carried out a study entitled Economic development of fisheries, which made special reference to aspects of fisheries by foreign vessels off West Africa. In its conclusions, the study emphasized the necessity and the opportunities for regional cooperation in support of fisheries management and regional food security. Furthermore, FAO regional fishery projects have been cooperating with ECOWAS Member States, especially in promoting fisheries management in the artisanal subsector.
The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. In 1993, the Treaty of Maastricht established the European Union (EU) as a broader framework which retained the EEC, now the European Community (EC), as a legal entity. The aims of the EC include the abolition of restrictive trading practices and the free movement of capital and labour within the union. A single market with free movement of goods and capital was established in January 1993. The following countries are members of the EC: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the EC's instrument for the conservation and management of fisheries and aquaculture. It was created with the aims of managing a common resource and meeting the obligation set out in the original Community Treaties. Wild fish are a natural and mobile resource that is considered common property. The treaties creating the Community stated that there should be a common policy in this area; that is, common rules adopted at the Community level and implemented in all Member States. DG Fisheries is the Directorate-General responsible for the CFP, which is scheduled to be reviewed in 2002.
The CFP came into existence in 1983, although the first elements of this policy had already been introduced in 1970. Since then, it has been developed and adjusted continuously in accordance with international developments and changes within the EC itself. The CFP takes into account the biological, economic, social and environmental dimensions of fishing. Its implementation entails the following main issues and related measures.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
171 |
221 |
241 |
249 |
Percentage of world total |
3.0 |
2.7 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
699 |
717 |
796 |
1 085 |
Percentage of world total |
20.6 |
14.5 |
9.2 |
8.9 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
113 |
107 |
104 |
120 |
Percentage of world total |
1.9 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
6 774 |
6 067 |
6 737 |
6 419 |
Percentage of world total |
8.6 |
7.7 |
8.0 |
8.2 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
7 757 |
7 114 |
7 878 |
7 873 |
Percentage of world total |
8.3 |
7.2 |
7.0 |
6.7 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
7 466 |
8 236 |
8 547 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
20.2 |
21.9 |
22.4 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
9.0 |
9.8 |
10.3 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
8 182 |
15 705 |
16 946 |
21 158 |
Percentage of world total |
33.7 |
39.8 |
33.2 |
38.5 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
4 646 |
8 071 |
9 135 |
11 667 |
Percentage of world total |
20.3 |
22.7 |
19.3 |
22.8 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
Conservation and responsible fishing. The EC policy for the conservation of fishery resources focuses on:
Fishing beyond Community waters. The EC has exclusive competence in international relations in the domain of fisheries. It is empowered to undertake international commitments towards third countries or international organizations in matters relating to fisheries. The European Commission, on behalf of the Community, negotiates fisheries agreements with third countries and participates in various regional fisheries organizations. The EC has concluded 26 fishing agreements with third countries and is currently a member of nine regional and international fisheries organizations. The EC is also a member of FAO.
Restructuring the fishing sector. Restructuring of the EC fisheries sector relies heavily on the implementation of the structural policy, the purpose of which is to adapt and manage the development of structures (the equipment required to produce goods and the organization of production processes) in the fishing and aquaculture industry. EC assistance to the fisheries sector is provided under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). The FIFG aims to:
The Council of the European Union agreed the detailed rules and arrangements regarding assistance under the FIFG on 17 December 1999. These rules replaced the Regulation, which came to an end on 31 December 1999, and cover the period 2000 to 2006. The EC was determined to ensure that public funds would not be used to increase fishing capacity because a number of commercial stocks are still overexploited. Measures regarding financial support linked to productive investment in the processing industry and aquaculture, such as building, enlarging or modernizing processing plants or fish farms, as well as those relating to fishing port facilities have been renewed. Others, such as supporting the creation of temporary joint ventures, have been cancelled, as they had not achieved their objective of contributing to the reduction of EC fleet capacity. Greater emphasis has been put on environmental aspects, and priority will be given to collective projects undertaken by the industry itself. The new rules contain substantial modifications to some previous rules which were shown to be insufficiently explicit or difficult to implement, including rules on fleet renewal and joint enterprises. In the case of the latter, a number of conditions have been attached to the eligibility and implementation of projects to ensure that they do not lead to overfishing in third countries and that the obligations attached to the granting of aid are fulfilled.
In addition, there are provisions relating to support for producers' organizations, which were previously implemented under the Common Organization of the Markets for Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulation. The measures aim to reinforce the competitiveness of the industry through reinforcement of the role of producers' organizations. The inclusion of these measures as well as those in favour of small-scale fisheries in the FIFG allows for a rationalization of its contents and increased coherence with other structural measures.
In conclusion, the new rules widen the range of socio-economic measures by, for example, granting aid to young fishers who are acquiring a fishing vessel for the first time and to individual fishers who are leaving the industry; redefining the current support mechanisms for fishers and vessel owners who are subject to a temporary cessation of activities; and updating the current premiums and scales.
Common organization of the market. The EC set up a system for the common organization of the market for fisheries and aquaculture products almost 30 years ago. Since July 1996, the common market organization in fisheries and aquaculture products has been being adapted to recent changes in the market, including increased globalization of markets, greater dependence on imports, continued scarcity of resources, change in consumption patterns and concentration and vertical integration within the distribution chain. The common organization of the EC market has four components:
The regulation for the common organization of the market for fishery products was adopted on 12 December 1999 and is expected to be fully implemented by 1 January 2001.
Enforcement of the law within the fishing sector. The 1992 review of the CFP stressed the need to make the policy more effective. A new control regulation, created in 1993, reinforced the role of surveillance and extended the CFP's domain of action from that of direct conservation measures to one that also included implementation of structural policy, marketing, transport and sale of fish and shellfish. The new regulation also encouraged harmonization of the proceedings and penalties against wrongdoers across the EC. Information technology was to be used to complement traditional monitoring methods. Fishing surveillance has also been substantially strengthened by the setting up of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). As from 1 January 2000, wherever they operate, all EC fishing vessels that exceed 24 m in length (or 20 m between perpendiculars) must be equipped with a satellite tracking device, as must the vessels of third countries operating in EC waters. The authorities will be able to use satellite tracking to optimize the use of their aircraft and patrol vessels and to compare satellite evidence with the information contained in vessels' log-books.
Fishing and the wider environment. In 1997, a ministerial meeting on the integration of fisheries and environmental issues, held in Bergen, Norway, and attended by ministers from all North Sea States and by EC representatives, agreed on a so-called "ecosystem approach" to marine environments which included elements of the precautionary approach. Given the commitment demonstrated by various states and international organizations, including the EC, to integrating an environmental dimension into their policies, greater effort is now being made to promote the relevant research and data collection within the framework of the EC FAIR Programme. Related to this topic, the Community's DG Environment is implementing a project called Integrating biodiversity and European fisheries policy: rebuilding a healthy and productive ecosystem.
The international dimension of fisheries has acquired greater importance for the EC in recent years. Bilateral and multilateral negotiations with third countries have increased, as have negotiations within regional fisheries organizations and international bodies. International trade of fish and fishery products has also become more important for the Community, especially in relation to import trade as well as to environmental issues and health and safety standards of fish and fishery products.
The EC is a full member of FAO. The EC is also a member of most FAO regional fishery bodies and participates actively in the work of several of these.
The financial contribution of the EC makes it possible for FAO to implement its international agreements and plans of action for improved global management of fishing capacity, shark fisheries and incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries.
The Latin American Economic System (LAES) is a regional intergovernmental organization that groups 28 Latin American and Caribbean countries: Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. LAES was established on 17 October 1975 by the Panama Convention.
The objectives of LAES are to promote a system for consultation and coordination, aiming to achieve consensus in the form of joint positions and common strategies on economic issues for the Latin American and Caribbean region. The common strategies may be for individual countries or groups of countries. LAES also serves to promote cooperation and integration among the countries of the region.
The Action Committees of LAES are flexible cooperation mechanisms and are set up when more than two Member States voice their interest in promoting joint programmes and projects in specific areas. These committees are dissolved once their objectives are fulfilled, otherwise they may become Permanent Bodies of the System.
There is a long record of cooperation in technical activities between FAO and LAES. Initially the forum for this cooperation was the Action Committee of Sea and Fresh-water Products. When this action committee was dissolved, the Latin American Organization for Fisheries Development (OLDEPESCA) was established, and this independent body has become the centre of cooperation. FAO usually attends the annual OLDEPESCA conferences of Fisheries Ministers.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
45 |
74 |
101 |
203 |
Percentage of world total |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
57 |
132 |
261 |
518 |
Percentage of world total |
1.7 |
2.7 |
3.0 |
4.3 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
458 |
429 |
474 |
466 |
Percentage of world total |
7.7 |
6.7 |
7.1 |
5.8 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
15 382 |
15 601 |
23 485 |
11 841 |
Percentage of world total |
19.6 |
19.7 |
27.7 |
15.1 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
15 941 |
16 236 |
24 322 |
13 028 |
Percentage of world total |
17.0 |
16.5 |
21.7 |
11.1 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
3 615 |
4 054 |
4 182 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
9.0 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
8.0 |
8.3 |
7.5 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
353 |
477 |
805 |
1 113 |
Percentage of world total |
1.5 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
2 737 |
3 220 |
5 461 |
6 596 |
Percentage of world total |
11.9 |
9.1 |
11.5 |
12.9 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
The League of Arab States, more generally known as the Arab League, was established on 22 March 22 1945. It comprises Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The broad objectives of the Arab League are to develop cooperation and strengthen complementarity among the Member States in economic, cultural, scientific, social and military fields. To do so, the League has set up several specialized agencies. Those of interest to FAO are: the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Khartoum, the Sudan); the Arab Centre for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic); the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (Kuwait); the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (Tunis, Tunisia); the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (Khartoum, the Sudan); the Arab Academy for Science, and Maritime Transport (Alexandria, Egypt); and the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation (Kuwait).
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
53 |
69 |
65 |
139 |
Percentage of world total |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
0 |
2 |
6 |
20 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
188 |
234 |
271 |
320 |
Percentage of world total |
3.2 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
1 244 |
1 315 |
1 596 |
1 574 |
Percentage of world total |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
1 486 |
1 620 |
1 939 |
2 052 |
Percentage of world total |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
1 089 |
1 234 |
1 470 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
5.4 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
8.1 |
8.6 |
9.7 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
244 |
213 |
323 |
457 |
Percentage of world total |
1.0 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
612 |
878 |
985 |
1 124 |
Percentage of world total |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
The League of Arab States has no subsidiary body or institution that deals exclusively with fisheries matters.
FAO has participated in several meetings organized by subsidiary bodies of the Arab League. The Organization has attended and partly sponsored meetings of the Arab Federation of Fish Producers (AFFP), which is a subsidiary of the Council for Arab Economic Union. In 1998, FAO was represented at the Conference on the Development of Marine Fisheries in the Arab World, organized by the Council.
Canada, Mexico and the United States of America are members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into effect on 1 January 1994. NAFTA's main aims are to contribute to the expansion of world trade; create, expand and secure markets for the goods produced in their territories; reduce distortions to trade; create new employment opportunities and improve working conditions and living standards in their respective territories; and address related environmental and conservation issues.
NAFTA is a trading block of global reach. It is innovative, as it establishes linkages between economies with different levels of economic development. Current discussions envisage the linking of existing subregional integration schemes, of which NAFTA is one, into a Free Trade Area of the Americas.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
248 |
254 |
287 |
342 |
Percentage of world total |
4.3 |
3.1 |
2.4 |
1.8 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
148 |
120 |
189 |
235 |
Percentage of world total |
4.4 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
218 |
197 |
190 |
197 |
Percentage of world total |
3.7 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
2,5 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
7 405 |
8 356 |
7 565 |
6 688 |
Percentage of world total |
9.4 |
10.6 |
8.9 |
8.5 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
8 020 |
8 927 |
8 231 |
7 462 |
Percentage of world total |
8.5 |
9.1 |
7.3 |
6.4 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
5 995 |
7 056 |
7 768 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
17.3 |
19.3 |
20.3 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
6.4 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
5 188 |
6 257 |
8 115 |
9 872 |
Percentage of world total |
21.4 |
15.8 |
15.9 |
18.0 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
3 690 |
5 649 |
5 893 |
5 382 |
Percentage of world total |
16.1 |
15.9 |
12.4 |
10.5 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
NAFTA does not have any particular activities concerned with fisheries.
To date, there is no cooperation between NAFTA and FAO on fisheries matters. NAFTA member countries deal individually with FAO in this field.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 by the Heads of State and Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC's main goal is to accelerate economic and social development in Member States through joint action in certain agreed areas of cooperation. To achieve this objective SAARC seeks to:
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
823 |
1 182 |
1 755 |
2 502 |
Percentage of world total |
14.2 |
14.5 |
14.5 |
13.4 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
29 |
50 |
123 |
156 |
Percentage of world total |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
1 088 |
1 128 |
1 221 |
1 395 |
Percentage of world total |
18.3 |
17.5 |
18.2 |
17.4 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
2 462 |
3 022 |
3 630 |
3 653 |
Percentage of world total |
3.1 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.7 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
4 401 |
5 382 |
6 729 |
7 705 |
Percentage of world total |
4.7 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
3 772 |
4 566 |
5 555 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
12.1 |
12.6 |
13.4 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
31 |
46 |
39 |
92 |
Percentage of world total |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
616 |
790 |
1 641 |
1 695 |
Percentage of world total |
2.7 |
2.2 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
Note: ... = data not available. |
The Integrated Programme of Action is the key component of SAARC's activities. It now includes 11 areas of cooperation, each covered by a Technical Committee: Agriculture; Communications; Education; Culture and Sports; Environment and Meteorology; Health and Population Activities; Prevention of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse; Rural Development, Science and Technology; Tourism; Transport; and Women in Development. Regular meetings of counterpart scientists are a very important feature of the Technical Committee on Agriculture, and a list of fisheries counterpart scientists has also been prepared and made available.
SAARC does not cooperate formally with FAO in fisheries or aquaculture.
The Declaration and Treaty establishing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was signed at the Summit of Heads of Government in Windhoek, Namibia, in August 1992. Its member countries are Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The objectives of SADC are to:
SADC's work related to specific sectors is handled by Sector Coordinating Units (SCUs). These are allocated to individual Member States, who provide coordination, leadership and guidance on the formulation, implementation and management of sector-specific policies, programmes and projects. A Sectoral Committee of Ministers, chaired by the coordinating country's minister for the sector, supervises the sectoral activities. There are currently 21 such SCUs. Responsibility for marine fisheries and resources was allocated to Namibia following a decision by the Council of Ministers in 1991. The Sector Coordinator is Namibia's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, with the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources chairing the Sectoral Committee of Ministers. Sector contact points are allocated by each of the eight Member States, and these form the grassroots level of cooperation between the SCU and the region. Matters concerning marine and fisheries resources are also coordinated by SADC's overall Sector Coordinator for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, as one of the eight subsectors it oversees.
The task of guiding and leading SADC's fisheries sector is based on the policy objectives and strategy document that direct the Programme of Action for the sector. One of the most important elements of the Programme of Action is finalization of the Protocol on Fisheries that is currently being drawn up and is expected to be a key policy instrument in the fulfilment of SADC objectives in the field of marine and inland fisheries sustainable development. The SCU of marine and fisheries resources is coordinating the implementation of seven projects that focus on the priority areas for the sector: the Regional Fisheries Information System; SADC monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of fishing activities; support to the SADC Marine Fisheries SCU; assessment of the marine fisheries resources of the SADC region; the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem; and harmonization of marine fisheries policy and marine fisheries training. In addition, the SCU is formulating three project proposals, as directed by the Annual Marine Fisheries Ministers Meeting (May 1999, United Republic of Tanzania). These are: cooperation with research on the east coast large marine ecosystem; a policy study for mariculture development; and language training.
The SADC fisheries programme has raised a total of US$9 million to support SCU-driven marine fisheries initiatives during 2000. Funding of US$35 million, for the next five years, has been committed from a wide range of donors.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
0 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
594 |
694 |
560 |
619 |
Percentage of world total |
10.0 |
10.8 |
8.3 |
7.7 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
1 013 |
1 032 |
1 038 |
1 158 |
Percentage of world total |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
1 609 |
1 733 |
1 609 |
1 789 |
Percentage of world total |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
1 364 |
1 511 |
1 085 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
10.0 |
9.9 |
6.3 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
21.8 |
21.8 |
17.2 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
223 |
264 |
249 |
256 |
Percentage of world total |
0.9 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
165 |
203 |
665 |
843 |
Percentage of world total |
0.7 |
0.6 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
SADC and FAO cooperate closely in relation to fisheries matters. FAO is providing technical and financial assistance to two of the projects currently being implemented by the SCU for marine and fisheries resources.
The South Pacific Forum (SPF), consisting of Heads of Government, was established in 1971. It provides an opportunity to discuss a wide variety of South Pacific and international concerns and issues common to members, including the promotion of a free trade area in the South Pacific region. In 1998, the members of the SPF and its affiliated agencies were: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The SPF has a Secretariat (Forum Secretariat) which promotes regional cooperation among members on important economic issues.
The South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) was established as a specialized agency by the SPF in 1979. The FFA Convention reflects the common concerns of member countries regarding conservation, optimum utilization and coastal states' sovereign rights over the region's living marine resources. The functions of FFA include accumulating detailed and up-to-date information on aspects of living marine resources in the region; evaluating and analysing data to provide clear, timely, concise, complete and accurate advice to member countries; developing and maintaining a communication network for the dissemination of information to member countries, and implementing policies and programmes that have been approved by the Forum Fisheries Committee. The following are the main functions and objectives of FFA, which are reviewed periodically.
Economics and marketing. Assistance is given to member countries in the formulation of policies and identification of projects for the sustained use of their tuna resources (the main areas covered are tuna management, industry, marketing, fisheries access, training and linkages).
Legal services. Support is provided to strengthen member countries in the understanding of their legal responsibilities and rights and ability to fulfil responsibilities and take advantage of rights. This support includes the provision of advice in the fields of international law, national legislation, illegal fishing, access negotiations and of training for responsible lawyers and officers within member countries. FFA is simultaneously assisting members in achieving full and independent legislative control of their fisheries resources and ensuring the necessary regional compatibility and cohesion.
Monitoring, control and surveillance. MCS activities aim at reinforcing the capacity of fishing operators in member countries to comply with national regulations and regional licence conditions. This function includes such actions as: assistance to member countries in developing and coordinating national MCS plans; coordination of regional observer programmes and assistance to the development of national observer programmes; coordination of regional surveillance operations; collection and dissemination of data in support of national MCS operations; assistance to FFA members in determining their maritime boundaries; and provision of training, advice and regional exchanges on enforcement and technological developments. FFA's achievements in this field include:
FFA also undertakes corporate and treaty services, including the establishment and maintenance of administrative systems that meet the requirements of treaties and agreements for which FFA is responsible. In the field of information technology and communication, FFA has developed an innovative and sophisticated computer system that provides support in the reception, processing and transfer of information to facilitate the monitoring and control of foreign fishing fleets as well as to increase the speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness with which FFA conducts its work.
FFA has brought important economic and social benefits to its members. Small island developing states have benefited, in particular through regional cooperation and the adoption of regional minimum standards. Regionally agreed measures to limit fishing effort (e.g. in the purse seine tuna fishery) have also been of tangible benefit to FFA member countries.
1986 |
1990 |
1994 |
1998 | |
Aquaculture production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Percentage of world total |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
25 |
40 |
68 |
119 |
Percentage of world total |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
Fisheries production |
||||
Inland production ('000 tonnes) |
20 |
22 |
19 |
22 |
Percentage of world total |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
Marine production ('000 tonnes) |
505 |
505 |
793 |
1 074 |
Percentage of world total |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
Fisheries and aquaculture production |
||||
Combined total ('000 tonnes) |
551 |
734 |
882 |
1 219 |
Percentage of world total |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
Food balance |
||||
Total food supply ('000 tonnes) |
500 |
541 |
550 |
... |
Per capita supply (kg) |
20.6 |
21.0 |
20.1 |
... |
Fish as share of animal protein (%) |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.5 |
... |
Trade in fishery commodities |
||||
Total imports (US$ millions) |
320 |
444 |
534 |
575 |
Percentage of world total |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Total exports (US$ millions) |
749 |
1 036 |
1 538 |
1 543 |
Percentage of world total |
3.3 |
2.9 |
3.2 |
3.0r |
Note: ... = data not available. | ||||
FFA has formal relations with FAO, which cooperates with the agency on a range of technical issues, including such matters as joint training exercises and exchanges of technical information. FAO participates in the annual FFC meeting as an observer.
FAO also participates as an observer in the Multilateral High-Level Conference on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Central and Western Pacific (MHLC), in close cooperation with FFA and its members, as well as with the Distant Water Fishing Nations.
The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific is expected to participate in the Marine Sector Working Group of the South Pacific Organizations' Coordinating Committee, which is being convened by the Forum Secretariat and its members. The Working Group was established to facilitate the coordination of regional activities in the development of a regional strategy for the marine sector, and its membership comprises relevant Pacific regional organizations.