Taking into account the directions elaborated at its First Session and the results of the e-mail conference on fish trade and food security held between 19 October and 12 December 1998, the Committee recommended that the Working Group should focus its work on the following key research areas and suggested the following modalities for their implementation.
1. Acquire further information and conduct analysis on four key barriers to trade, namely tariffs, quotas, currency regulations and quarantine and quality controls. This work should be conducted via the InfoFish Network. The contributors should be carefully selected from industry and government institutions where there is first-hand knowledge and experience of the nature and extent of trade barriers. The Conference should be closed and the participants should be carefully selected and represent a balance of regional knowledge and to include a strong presence of industry in importing and exporting countries. The identity of the participants would be protected in an effort to obtain sensitive information.2. A desk study on the direct and indirect effects of fish trade on food security in selected LIFDCs, taking account of the nature and quantity of fish imports and exports.
3. The InfoFish network should conduct review studies, as relevant, on the reasons for past failures in efforts to divert small pelagics to human food instead of reduction for fish meal.
4. An e-mail conference on the prospects for and barriers to increased intra-regional trade in fish and fishery products in developing country regions. This conference may also be conducted through the InfoFish network.
5. Gather information through the fish information centres on trade subsidies for fishery products.
