COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES - REPORT OF THE NINTH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE BREMEN, GERMANY, 10-14 FEBRUARY 2004

PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This is the final report approved by the Ninth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries.

Distribution:

All FAO Members
Participants at the session
Other interested Nations and national and international organizations
FAO Fisheries Department
FAO Regional Fishery Officers
HP Selector

MATTERS REQUIRING ATTENTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES

A. MATTERS FOR DECISION

None

B. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

Status and important recent events concerning international trade in fishery products

The Sub-Committee noted the interdependencies within the value-chain, the paramount importance of fish trade to developing countries, the concentration of fish imports among a few countries and the large potential impact on trade from changes in regulatory requirements in these major markets.

(para. 11)

Delegates and observers noted the growing influence of consumers on issues related to fish trade and how consumer reactions and perceptions are now being increasingly fed back to the producer level.

(para. 12)

Delegates noted that the use of fish products for food aid seem to have stabilized, but at much below historic levels. Several delegations underlined the importance of maintaining the role of fish in food aid and of sourcing more of the fish used in aid from developing countries.

(para. 13)

Delegates welcomed the establishment of an Intergovernmental Organization for Marketing Information and Cooperation Services for Fishery Products in Africa (INFOPECHE) office in Namibia (INFOSA) to cover the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

(para. 15)

Several delegates informed the Sub-Committee of some major events during the period 2002-2004. In particular, they highlighted the importance of ongoing negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, including on fisheries subsidies, in the World Trade Organization (WTO) frame work. The Sub-Committee renewed its support of FAO’s work in the field of fish trade, in particular its role in providing technical assistance and capacity building on fish quality and safety, including risk analysis and traceability, and facilitation of products from developing countries in reaching international markets. Several delegates noted that a lack of harmonization of national standards could present obstacles to exports of fish and fishery products from developing countries.

(para. 16)

Delegates also noted the growing contribution of aquaculture to production and trade and underlined the role of FAO in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide. The need for better trade statistics on products from aquaculture and the usefulness of regional networks in providing expertise on aquaculture issues, including risk analysis, was noted. Delegates reiterated the need for close cooperation between the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade. The Sub-Committee also underscored the importance of coordination and information exchange on ongoing activities between FAO and other international agencies and organizations such as the WTO, the World Custom Organization (WCO), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES).

(para. 17)

CITES issues with respect to international fish trade and the CITES/FAO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The Sub-Committee unanimously agreed that FAO should convene the ad hoc Expert Advisory Panel for the Assessment of Proposals to CITES to review any proposals to the Thirteenth Conference of Parties (CoP-13) for listing or delisting commercially-exploited species in accordance with the Terms of Reference agreed to by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and in time to be considered at CoP-13. The meeting recognized that the convening of the Expert Advisory Panel would probably become a regular high priority activity and should therefore receive funding from the FAO Regular Program in the future.

(para. 20)

The Friends of the Chair group met on two occasions during the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade and agreed to recommend to the Plenary that it adopt the Japan-USA compromise text with a few minor editorial changes as the FAO proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Friends of the Chair proposed a process for attempting to reach agreement with CITES on the text of the MoU.

(para. 22)

There was consensus in the meeting to adopt the recommendations from the Friends of the Chair and to refer those recommendations to the FAO Secretariat for appropriate action, including proper information to members at all stages and referral to the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI. The meeting also urged all Members to take this matter back to their Authorities and to explain to their representatives to CITES the background to the FAO proposal and the process for follow-up, emphasizing the need for a consensual approach.

(para. 25)

Safety and quality, with particular emphasis on fishmeal and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

There is growing and strong evidence that the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based systems has contributed to improve fish safety and quality significantly, and there has recently been a growing awareness of the importance and need of an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to safety and quality, considering the entire food chain.

(para. 26)

The Sub-Committee expressed satisfaction and support for the work of FAO in capacity-building through training and technical assistance for developing countries, the FAO contribution to the work of the relevant Codex Committees and the Codex work on risk assessment and the development of Fishport, and the web-based system for the timely dissemination of scientific information on fish safety and quality.

(para. 27)

Many delegates raised concern over some safety issues that have or may affect international fish trade and consumer perception of fish safety. These issues included dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in salmon, fishmeal and BSE and residues of antibiotics in aquaculture products. FAO was requested to monitor developments, including scientific developments, in these areas and report to its Member States.

(para. 28)

Harmonization and equivalency were recognized as areas requesting further FAO’s attention, including capacity building.

(para. 30)

Delegates strongly endorsed the main conclusions of the Secretariat’s paper, i.e., that there is no epidemiological evidence of BSE being transmitted to ruminants or other animals by fishmeal and that there is likewise no evidence for the transmission to humans of the Creuzfeld Jacob disease (vCJD) caused by prions using fish or fish products as vectors.

(para. 31)

Traceability and labelling in fish trade

The Sub-Committee noted the increased discussion around the concept of traceability at national and international levels and its impact on existing regulations including import regulations. In particular some delegates underlined the lack of a unified definition of traceability at the Codex Alimentarius level. Many countries requested FAO to further coordinate with Codex Alimentarius Committees regarding traceability.

(para. 33)

Outcome of the Expert Consultation on the Development of International Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries

The Sub-Committee recommended that FAO organize a Technical Consultation to further elaborate the work of the Expert Consultation and finalize the draft guidelines for their consideration by the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI in February 2005. The Sub-Committee noted the extra-budgetary requirements of FAO in order to ensure broad-based participation in the technical consultation of participants from developing countries.

(para. 41)

The Sub-Committee recommended that the technical consultation focus its work on, inter alia, (i) the further elaboration of the minimum substantive requirements and criteria of sustainable fisheries, in particular concerning the methodology for setting certification criteria; (ii) the applicable definitions of important concepts such as, inter alia, the equivalence of standards; (iii) the procedures for the validation of certification standards; and (iv) possible appeal mechanisms.

(para. 42)

Report on collaboration with the World Custom Organization (WCO)

Delegates recommended continued collaboration with the WCO.

(para. 45)

The Chairman proposed that members who had suggestions for changes to the Harmonized System (HS) code for products and species provide these to the FAO Secretariat for WCO consideration.

(para. 46)

Harmonization of catch documentation

There was a general consensus that FAO should continue to work on Catch Documentation and it was agreed that the matter of Catch Documentation be raised at the Meeting of Regional Fisheries Bodies to be held the week prior to the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI. COFI will give directions on future work.

(para. 53)

COFI Sub-Committee on fish trade as international commodity body and its relationship with the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)

The Sub-Committee expressed its appreciation of the finance provided by the CFC and approved the proposed projects. Several countries commended the regional fish info services for their execution of projects and made reference to additional project ideas to be considered in the future.

(para. 55)

Fish trade and food security, including report on findings of Expert Consultation

The link between international fish trade and pressure on fish resources was noted, with delegations commenting on the need for sustainability in achieving long term food security. Several delegations mentioned examples of positive effects of trade on food security. Many delegations from developing countries highlighted the importance of fish trade for foreign exchange earnings, which are used to import lower priced food commodities for domestic consumption. International fish trade as a generator of continuous employment, especially for women, and as a means of promoting indirect food security was also underscored by these delegations.

(para. 59)

Issues of small-scale fisheries catch access to international trade

The Sub-Committee appreciated the inclusion of the small-scale fisheries sector on the agenda and welcomed the holistic approach taken in the document in its analysis. Delegates concurred with the conclusions of the document and recommended that trade-related aspects of the sector be among the topics addressed in the FAO Expert Consultation for the Development of Guidelines on Increasing the Contribution of Small-Scale Fisheries to Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.

(para. 62)

Any other matters

A delegation recommended that issues related to Genetically Modified Organisms be included in the agenda for the next Sub-Committee meeting.

(para. 66)

Recognizing that WTO was not represented on the Ecolabelling Expert Consultation, the Chairman requested that the draft Guidelines for Ecolabels be transmitted to the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee for possible comment in advance of the preparation of the documents for the Technical Consultation.

(para. 70)

Date and venue of the tenth session

The Sub-Committee received two offers to host the Tenth Session of the Sub-Committee in 2006: one from the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and one from the Government of Spain. The Secretariat requested that formal proposals be submitted to it by 30 September 2004 so that a decision on the venue and date can be made at the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI.

(para. 71)

OPENING OF THE SESSION - AGENDA ITEM 1

1. The Ninth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) was held in Bremen, Germany, from 10 to 14 February 2004 at the kind invitation of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Sub-Committee expressed its gratitude for the generous hospitality of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. The Session was attended by 49 Members of FAO and by observers from 20 intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations. The list of delegates and observers is given in Appendix B to this report.

2. Mr Grímur Valdimarsson, Director, Fishery Industries Division, delivered the opening address on behalf of the Assistant Director-General of the FAO Fisheries Department, Mr Ichiro Nomura. The text of the opening address is contained in Appendix D.

3. The welcoming address on behalf of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen was delivered by Senatsrat Joachim Wülbers.

4. The welcoming address on behalf of the Federal Association of the German Fish Processing Industry and Fish Trade was delivered by its Chairman, Mr Volker Küntzsch.

ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON, VICE-CHAIRPERSONS AND RAPPORTEUR - AGENDA ITEM 2

5. Mr Greg Schneider, USA, was elected Chairperson of the Sub-Committee. Mr Alberto Hart, Peru, was elected First Vice-Chairperson and Angola, Iceland, Malaysia, and New Zealand were elected as the other Vice-Chairpersons.

6. The Sub-Committee elected Mr Richard Sisson, Australia, as Rapporteur.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SESSION - AGENDA ITEM 3

7. The Committee noted the Declaration of Competence and Voting Rights presented by the European Community.

8. The Agenda shown in Appendix A was adopted by the Sub-Committee. The documents which were before the Sub-Committee are listed in Appendix C.

STATUS AND IMPORTANT RECENT EVENTS CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FISHERY PRODUCTS - AGENDA ITEM 4

9. A report on recent events concerning international trade in fishery products covering several important events which had occurred since the Eighth Session of the Sub-Committee was discussed on the basis of document COFI:FT/IX/2004/2.

10. The Sub-Committee noted with satisfaction the quality of information provided in the documents prepared by the Secretariat. It expressed the view that the COFI-Subcommittee on Fish Trade is the foremost international forum for discussing fish trade matters.

11. The delegates underlined the usefulness of document COFI:FT/IX/2004/2 in showing the interdependencies within the value-chain, the paramount importance of fish trade to developing countries, the concentration of fish imports among a few countries and the large potential impact on trade from changes in regulatory requirements in these major markets.

12. Delegates and observers noted the growing influence of consumers on issues related to fish trade and how consumer reactions and perceptions are now being increasingly fed back to the producer level.

13. Delegates noted that the use of fish products for food aid seem to have stabilised but at much below historic levels. Several delegations underlined the importance of maintaining the role of fish in food aid and of sourcing more of the fish used in aid from developing countries.

14. The FAO Secretariat was tasked to seek additional information on the procurement of fish under other UN procurement programmes.

15. Delegates welcomed the establishment of an INFOPECHE office in Namibia (INFOSA) to cover the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

16. Several delegates informed the Sub-Committee of some major events during the period 2002-2004. In particular, they highlighted the importance of ongoing negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, including on fisheries subsidies, in the WTO frame work. The Sub-Committee renewed its support of FAO’s work in the field of fish trade, in particular its role in providing technical assistance and capacity building on fish quality and safety, including risk analysis and traceability, and facilitation of products from developing countries in reaching international markets. Several delegates noted that a lack of harmonization of national standards could present obstacles to exports of fish and fishery products from developing countries.

17. Delegates also noted the growing contribution of aquaculture to production and trade and underlined the role of FAO in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide. The need for better trade statistics on products from aquaculture and the usefulness of regional networks in providing expertise on aquaculture issues, including risk analysis, was noted. Delegates reiterated the need for close cooperation between the FAO Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade. The Sub-Committee also underscored the importance of coordination and information exchange on ongoing activities between FAO and other international agencies and organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Custom Organization (WCO), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CITES ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO INTERNATIONAL FISH TRADE AND THE CITES/FAO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) - AGENDA ITEM 5.

18. The Secretariat introduced document COFI:FT/IX/2004/3. In subsequent discussions on the document, a number of delegations drew attention to the potential impact on fish trade of a CITES listing of a commercially-exploited aquatic species, as well as the bureaucratic requirements of such a listing. For these reasons, they viewed this agenda item as being very serious. The positive contribution to date of FAO to the review of the CITES listing criteria (Conf. Res. 9.24) was also recognized by a number of delegations.

19. In relation to the progress made in implementing the Work Plan approved by the Twenty-fifth Session of COFI, the plans for holding the two Expert Consultations^[1] were welcomed by the meeting. The particular importance of considering the implications for fisheries of the look-alike clause and of trade of listed species that had been produced through aquaculture was stressed. Attention was also drawn to the importance of participation by FAO in the on-going CITES review of the Conference Resolution 9.24 listing criteria in order to promote the adoption by CITES of the recommendations on listing criteria and evaluation of proposals made by the Second Technical Consultation on the Suitability of the CITES Criteria for Listing Commercially-exploited Aquatic Species (Windhoek, Namibia, 22-25 October 2001) and the Eighth Session of COFI:FT (Bremen, Germany, February 2002).

20. The Sub-Committee unanimously agreed that FAO should convene an ad hoc Expert Advisory Panel for the Assessment of Proposals to CITES to review any proposals to CoP-13 for listing or delisting commercially-exploited aquatic species in accordance with the Terms of Reference agreed to by COFI and in time to be considered at CoP-13. The Government of Japan offered to contribute funding toward convening the Panel and the European Community indicated that if necessary it would be willing to consider a proposal for funding the Panel. The meeting recognized that the convening of the Expert Advisory Panel would probably become a regular high priority activity and should therefore receive funding from the FAO Regular Programme in the future.

21. With reference to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FAO and CITES, several delegations expressed a desire to move forward on this as a means of providing a solid basis for constructive and transparent cooperation between the two organizations. Appreciation was expressed for the hard work of the Governments of Japan and the United States of America in trying to move forward on the draft text developed at the Twenty-fifth Session of COFI. Their success in reaching agreement on a compromise text for those parts of the MoU that had been left unresolved at the end of that Session of COFI was widely welcomed. After some discussion, the meeting agreed that a Friends of the Chair group, under the co-chair of Japan and the United States of America, should consider the compromise text, without re-opening the debate on the substantive sections that had been agreed at COFI.

22. The Friends of the Chair group met on two occasions during COFI:FT and agreed to recommend to the Plenary that it adopt the Japan-USA compromise text with a few minor editorial changes as the FAO proposal for a MoU. The approved version is attached as Annex E. In addition, noting that the Twenty-fifth Session of COFI had delegated authority to the Ninth Session of COFI:FT to finalize the draft FAO/CITES MoU, the Friends of the Chair proposed the following process for attempting to reach agreement with CITES on the text of the MoU.

a) The FAO proposal should be sent to the Chair of the CITES Standing Committee with a request that it should be considered by the next meeting of the Standing Committee in March of this year. It also suggested that a member of the FAO Secretariat could attend that meeting if invited by the Chairman of the Standing Committee.

b) If CITES accepted the FAO proposal without change, or with only minor changes that did not alter the substance of the text, the FAO Secretariat could sign the MoU.

c) If, in discussions, CITES requested changes that the FAO Secretariat thought might be unacceptable to some Members, the FAO Secretariat would informally consult with those Members. If those Members did not raise any objections, the FAO Secretariat could sign the MoU.

d) If any serious doubts were expressed by the Members that had been informally consulted, the FAO Secretariat could choose either of the following options.

· To notify all Members, via the official communication channels, of the changes being proposed by CITES and to request any Members that objected, to notify the FAO Secretariat of their objections before a specified and reasonable deadline. If no objections were received within the specified period, the FAO Secretariat could sign the MoU. If objections were received, the matter would be referred to COFI.

· To refer the matter directly to COFI.

23. The Friends of the Chair group agreed that the FAO proposal be the basic document for the final MoU. If CITES wished to make any additions to that text, those additions could be considered. However, any changes should not weaken or diminish the FAO text.

24. Referring to the version of the MoU sent to the FAO Secretariat on behalf of the Chair of the CITES Standing Committee, the Friends of the Chair Group agreed that there were no substantive differences between that and the FAO proposal and there was nothing contradictory in the two texts. One member suggested that the tone of parts of the FAO proposal may be problematic and that flexibility may be advisable in this regard. One small but significant difference was that the CITES text in Article 1 referred to the development of a procedure for ensuring future FAO involvement in the evaluation of listing proposals, whereas the FAO proposal specified a procedure to be implemented. The FAO proposal avoided the need for further discussions and negotiations on the form of cooperation and this approach was preferred.

25. There was consensus in the meeting to adopt the recommendations from the Friends of the Chair and to refer those recommendations to the FAO Secretariat for appropriate action, including proper information to members at all stages and referral to the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI. While Australia did not support the FAO proposal, it abstained from the decision-making process so as not to block consensus. The meeting also urged all Members to take this matter back to their Authorities and to explain to their representatives to CITES the background to the FAO proposal and the process for follow-up, emphasising the need for a consensual approach.

SAFETY AND QUALITY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON FISHMEAL AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) (COFI:FT/IX/2004/4) - AGENDA ITEM 6

26. The Secretariat introduced this agenda item on the basis of document COFI:FT/IX/2004/4 to highlight recent developments in fish safety and quality, including fishmeal and to describe FAO’s efforts and activities in this area. There is growing and strong evidence that the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based systems has contributed to improve fish safety and quality significantly, and there has recently been a growing awareness of the importance and need of an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to safety and quality, considering the entire food chain.

27. The Sub-Committee expressed satisfaction and support for the work of FAO in capacity-building through training and technical assistance for developing countries, the FAO contribution to the work of the relevant Codex Committees and the Codex work on risk assessment and the development of Fishport, and the web-based system for the timely dissemination of scientific information on fish safety and quality.

28. Many delegates raised concern over some safety issues that have or may affect international fish trade and consumer perception of fish safety. These issues included dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in salmon, fishmeal and BSE and residues of antibiotics in aquaculture products. FAO was requested to monitor developments, including scientific developments, in these areas and report to its Member States.

29. Several delegates reiterated the importance of the food chain approach to deal with food safety and quality and requested FAO to assist Member States to promote the necessary enabling policies and regulatory environment.

30. Harmonization and equivalency were recognized as areas requesting further FAO’s attention, including capacity building.

31. Regarding fishmeal and BSE, delegates strongly endorsed the main conclusions of the paper, i.e., that there is no epidemiological evidence of BSE being transmitted to ruminants or other animals by fishmeal and that there is likewise no evidence for the transmission to humans of the Creuzfeld Jacob disease (vCJD) caused by prions using fish or fish products as vectors. The European Community reiterated its position that the ban on the use of fishmeal in ruminant feed was temporary. A detection method has been developed and is being tested by various EU laboratories. Given satisfactory results, the European Community could envisage lifting the ban in the second half of 2004.

TRACEABILITY AND LABELLING IN FISH TRADE - AGENDA ITEM 7

32. The Secretariat presented document COFI:FT/IX/2004/5 which gave a review of traceability, in particular regarding discussions at relevant Codex Alimentarius Committees, current proposals on the scope and application of traceability, as well as applied research related to the implementation in practice of traceability systems with particular reference to fish and fish products. Some delegations noted that exporters will face some traceability requirements in some key markets for fish products (for example the US and the EU) by 2005. Some developing countries requested extra time in meeting these requirements.

33. The Sub-Committee noted the increased discussion around the concept of traceability at national and international levels and its impact on existing regulations including import regulations. In particular, some delegates underlined the lack of a unified definition of traceability at the Codex Alimentarius level. Many countries requested FAO to further coordinate with Codex Alimentarius Committees regarding traceability.

34. Some countries described their experience in implementing traceability systems. Many delegations expressed the view that traceability requirements should be science-based, be consistent with the WTO Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and on Technical Barriers to Trade (SPS/TBT) and not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade. A few delegations suggested that traceability requirements should be limited to public health.

35. Most delegations expressed the view that traceability requirement should cover sustainable utilization of the fishery resources. In addition, it was mentioned that traceability can be a useful tool to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

36. Most developing countries expressed concern about the cost-benefit of implementing traceability and the need for an implementation period. Many developing countries noted the need for technical assistance and asked the FAO to provide such support.

37. Several delegates highlighted the fact that future traceability schemes should take into consideration the special requirements of small-scale fisheries and small and medium-sized businesses.

OUTCOME OF THE EXPERT CONSULTATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR ECOLABELLING OF FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS FROM MARINE CAPTURE FISHERIES - AGENDA ITEM 8

38. The Expert Consultation, 14-17 October 2003, produced draft international guidelines for the ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from marine capture fisheries which were reproduced in COFI:FT/IX/2004/Inf.6. The draft guidelines also incorporate aspects relating to the special requirements of developing countries and countries in transition to adopt ecolabelling of fish and fishery products. It also recommended that work is needed regarding guidelines for ecolabelling schemes that address fresh water capture fisheries.

39. Dr Kristjan Thorarinsson, Chairman of the Expert Consultation presented a summary of the main contents of the Draft International Guidelines for Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries to the Sub-Committee. Dr Thorarinsson elaborated on the scope, principles, minimum substantive requirements and procedural and institutional aspects addressed by the draft guidelines.

40. The Sub-Committee expressed its appreciation to FAO and the group of experts for the work accomplished. It noted the benefits to fisheries managers, producers, consumers and other stakeholders of internationally agreed and widely accepted and applied guidelines that ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of voluntary ecolabelling schemes for fish and fishery products. Such schemes need to be transparent, market-driven and non-discriminatory, based on best available scientific evidence, not create obstacles to international trade, allow for fair competition and respect the sovereign rights of States.

41. The Sub-Committee recommended that FAO organize a Technical Consultation^[2] to further elaborate the work of the Expert Consultation and finalize the draft guidelines for their consideration by the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI in February 2005. The Sub-Committee noted the extra-budgetary requirements of FAO in order to ensure broad-based participation in the technical consultation of participants from developing countries.

42. The Sub-Committee recommended that the technical consultation focus its work on, inter alia, (i) the further elaboration of the minimum substantive requirements and criteria of sustainable fisheries, in particular concerning the methodology for setting certification criteria; (ii) the applicable definitions of important concepts such as, inter alia, the equivalence of standards; (iii) the procedures for the validation of certification standards; and (iv) possible appeal mechanisms.

43. The Sub-Committee stressed the importance of ensuring consistency of the guidelines with WTO rules and recommended that WTO staff participate in the Technical Consultation.

REPORT ON COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD CUSTOM ORGANIZATION (WCO) - AGENDA ITEM 9

44. The Secretariat introduced the document COFI:FT/IX/2004/7. The paper gave an historical overview on tariff codes for fishery products and issues specifically related to fish and fish products.

45. Delegates noted the usefulness of the document and recommended to continue the collaboration with WCO. Delegations considered options for traditional and radical revisions of the HS code as suggested by the FAO Secretariat and their implications for fish and fish products. The radical revision was seen as an interesting proposal by some delegates, but premature at the present point of time.

46. The Chairman proposed that members who had suggestions for changes to the HS code for products and species, provide these to the FAO Secretariat for WCO consideration.

HARMONIZATION OF CATCH DOCUMENTATION - AGENDA ITEM 10

47. The Secretariat introduced COFI:FT/IX/2004/8 which gave the background and history of the progress of the Harmonization of Catch Documentation since it had been agreed that the subject be included in the Agenda of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

48. In the ensuing discussion, it was pointed out that it is difficult to develop a harmonized document from the plethora of documentation schemes that exist, especially if the objectives, scope and history of those schemes are different.

49. In order to develop a harmonized system there was a need to identify where the data needs are common. It was also suggested that more of the personnel involved in exporting and importing should be included in the discussion.

50. The view was also expressed that it was the contracting parties of the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), not their Secretariat that decide whether it was necessary to harmonize catch documentation schemes. Some delegates referred to the increased cost of documentation schemes and questioned whether they were feasible for all countries.

51. Given that some elements in a harmonized document were common and others unique, the question was posed as to whether any thought had been given to half-way harmonization. Catch Documentation was seen as another layer of traceability and as such had to be considered with other catch reporting schemes. Although there was no agreement on a harmonized trade document, there was a risk that trade documentation would develop in different directions and FAO has an important role to play in ensuring that this does not happen. Nevertheless, it was not considered necessary to convene another Expert Consultation or Technical Consultation.

52. While appreciating the work that had been completed, there was no support to approve the Catch Document or the Instructions for Completion as outlined in Annex 1 and Annex 2 of Paper COFI:FT/IX/2004/8.

53. There was a general consensus that FAO should continue to work on Catch Documentation and it was agreed that the matter of Catch Documentation be raised at the Meeting of Regional Fisheries Bodies to be held the week prior to the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI. It was up to COFI to give directions on future work.

54. Some members asked that the Secretariat work toward the eventuality of a paperless system of documentation bearing in mind the technical challenges some members have at the present time in realizing this option.

COFI SUB-COMMITTEE ON FISH TRADE AS INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY BODY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES - AGENDA ITEM 11

55. The Secretariat introduced document COFI:FT/IX/2004/9 on projects financed by the CFC and on proposals for new projects to be considered by the Sub-Committee. Mr Tailai Lu of the CFC expressed appreciation of the quality of the work carried out by the regional services of the FISH INFONetwork and invited the Sub-Committee to produce a revised and updated fishery development strategy paper in the next Sub-Committee meeting in 2006. The Sub-Committee expressed its appreciation of the finance provided by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and approved the proposed projects. Several countries commended the regional fish info services for their execution of projects and made reference to additional project ideas to be considered in the future.

56. With reference to the Argentinean component of the INFOPESCA project mentioned in COFI:FT/IX/2004/9, the Argentine delegation requested that the fund allocation should be agreed upon with the Under-Secretary of Fisheries before any decisions are taken with regard to its implementation.

FISH TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY, INCLUDING REPORT ON FINDINGS OF EXPERT CONSULTATION - AGENDA ITEM 12

57. The Secretariat referred to document COFI:FT/IX/2004/10 and COFI:FT/IX/2004/Inf.8 reflecting activities related to fish trade and food security undertaken in the past two years. The FAO/Norway study assessed both the direct (fish as food) and the indirect (fish as a source of employment and income) aspects of food security.

58. Delegates appreciated the work carried out so far and indicated that work in this important field should continue in the future and thanked Norway for its generous contribution to the study. The complexity of the issues was highlighted by many delegations. The work should continue taking into account the impact of fish trade on food security in a micro-level approach and to expand the coverage with a focus on least developed countries. The lack of reliable socio-economic data was identified as an obstacle for this type of studies.

59. The link between international fish trade and pressure on fish resources was noted, with delegations commenting on the need for sustainability in achieving long-term food security. Several delegations mentioned examples of positive effects of trade on food security. Many delegations from developing countries highlighted the importance of fish trade for foreign exchange earnings, which are used to import lower priced food commodities for domestic consumption. International fish trade as a generator of continuous employment, especially for women, and as a means of promoting indirect food security was also underscored by these delegations. Members of the Sub-Committee were advised to look at the long-term impact of fish trade and not limit considerations to the short-term gains. The development of guidelines was suggested as an appropriate task for FAO. Capacity building, specifically training on matters of sustainable fisheries and trade development, should be given high priority.

60. The Sub-Committee emphasized the need for improving domestic marketing, including the improvement of food distribution infrastructure. Improving the quality of internally traded fish products for direct food security was underlined. Empowerment of local coastal fishers and particularly improving market access for them, were considered very relevant areas for action. Some delegations gave examples of successful use of under-exploited species, bycatch or species for low cost food items or non-food use.

ISSUES OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES CATCH ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE - AGENDA ITEM 13

61. The Secretariat presented document COFI:FT/IX/2004/11 giving an overview of the various factors that prevent the small-scale fisheries sector from reaping the full potential benefits from trade.

62. The Sub-Committee appreciated the inclusion of the small-scale fisheries sector on the agenda and welcomed the holistic approach taken in the document in its analysis. Delegates concurred with the conclusions of the document and recommended that trade-related aspects of the sector be among the topics addressed in the FAO Expert Consultation for the Development of Guidelines on Increasing the Contribution of Small-Scale Fisheries to Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.

63. Several delegates informed the Sub-Committee on national experience gained in both developed and developing countries on issues related to the small-scale sector, including the need to link sector-specific work to the overall policies for the fishery sector and to economic development policy in general. Problems of access to markets, of organization, of lack of data and socio-economic indicators which inhibit the sector’s visibility on the national level were mentioned as the most important obstacles. Some delegates made reference to specific development assistance programmes and other initiatives aiming to help the small-scale fisheries sector and the need to also link development assistance in the small-scale sector to overall policy.

64. The Sub-Committee highlighted the important contribution of the small-scale sector to food security, employment, income generation and trade and how sustainable fisheries and aquaculture production are prerequisites for the long-term well-being of small-scale fishermen and fish farmers.

65. The usefulness of greater exchange of national experiences was underlined and the participation of FAO in this process was encouraged. The Sub-Committee recommended FAO to give a higher priority to the small-scale sector, also in relation to its trade-related work.

ANY OTHER MATTERS - AGENDA ITEM 14

66. A delegation recommended that issues related to Genetically Modified Organisms be included in the agenda for the next Sub-Committee meeting.

67. UNEP noted that it will be conducting a workshop on 14-15 April 2004 in Geneva, which will address sustainable management of fisheries and the impact of subsidies on fishery resources.

68. The Chair noted that since there will be a CITES meeting from 2-14 October 2004 and an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Committee for Fisheries meeting on 25-27 October 2004, the Secretariat tentatively suggested scheduling the Technical Consultation on Ecolabelling on 20-22 October 2004.

69. Several delegations suggested that the length of the meeting could be shortened in the future. There was some discussion about whether this was appropriate.

70. Recognizing that WTO was not represented on the Ecolabelling Expert Consultation, the Chairman requested that the draft Guidelines for Ecolabels be transmitted to the WTO TBT Committee for possible comment in advance of the preparation of the documents for the Technical Consultation.

DATE AND VENUE OF THE TENTH SESSION - AGENDA ITEM 15

71. The Sub-Committee received two offers to host the tenth session of the Sub-Committee in 2006: one from the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and one from the Government of Spain. The Secretariat requested that formal proposals be submitted to it by 30 September 2004 so that a decision on the venue and date can be made at the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT - AGENDA ITEM 16

72. The Sub-Committee adopted the report on 14 February 2004.

APPENDIXES

A Agenda

1. Opening of the Session

2. Election of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur

3. Adoption of the Agenda and arrangements for the Session

4. Status and important recent events concerning international trade in fishery products

5. CITES issues with respect to international fish trade and the CITES/FAO MoU

6. Safety and Quality, with particular emphasis on fishmeal and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

7. Traceability and labelling in fish trade

8. Outcome of Expert Consultation on Ecolabelling

9. Report on collaboration with World Custom Organization (WCO)

10. Harmonization of catch documentation

11. COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade as International Commodity Body and its relationship with the Common Fund for Commodities

12. Fish trade and food security, including Report on Findings of Expert Consultation

13. Issues of access of small-scale fisheries catch to international trade

14. Any other matters

15. Date and place of Tenth Session

16. Adoption of the report

B List of delegates and observers

Liste des délégués et observateurs
Lista de delegados y observadores

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
MEMBRES DU COMITÉ
MIEMBROS DEL COMITÉ

ANGOLA

Carlos A. AMARAL (Mr)
Alternate Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Angola to FAO
Via Filippo Bernardini 21
00165 Rome
Italy
Tel: +39 06 39366902/ 88666
Fax: +39 06 39366570
E-mail:

Manuel MATEUS (Mr)
Cabinet du Ministre des Pêches de l’Angola
Ministério das Pescas - Luanda
Tel: +244 2 92439913
Fax: +244 2 310199

ARGENTINA/ ARGENTINE

Juan José IRIARTE VILLANUEVA (Mr)
Director Temas Económicos Especiales
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Comercio Internacional y Culto
Esmeralda 1212, 9º piso
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Tel: +54 11 48197614
Fax: +54 11 48197620
E-mail:

Elisa CALVO (Ms)
Area de Economia Pesquera
Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura
Av Paseo Colon 922, 3° Of. 337
Cdad. Aut. De Bs. As.
Tel: +54 11 43492329/ 43492476
Fax: +54 11 43492329
E-mail:

AUSTRALIA/AUSTRALIE

Richard SISSON (Mr)
Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture)
Australian Delegation to the OECD
4 rue Jean Rey
75724 Paris Cedex 15
France
Tel: +33 1 40593370
Fax: +33 1 40593394
E-mail:

Margaret YOUNG (Ms)
Non-Government Official
PhD Candidate (International Law)
The Faculty of Law
University of Cambridge
10 West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DZ
United Kingdom
E-mail:

BENIN/ BÉNIN

Benoît T. ADEKE (Mr)
Chef Service Contrôle et Suivi des Produits et
des Filières Halieutiques
Direction des Pêches
Ministere de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de
la Pêche
P.O. Box 383
Cotonou
Tel : +229 331551/1831
Fax : +229 335996
E-mail:

BURUNDI

Ir Roger KANYARU (Mr)
Directeur
Département des Eaux, de la Pêche et de la
Pisciculture
B.P. 1850
Bujumbura
Tel : + 257 226378
Fax: + 257 212820
E-mail:

CANADA/CANADÁ

Lori RIDGEWAY (Ms)
Director General
Economic & Policy Analysis Directorate
Policy Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
14th Floor
Ottawa K1A 0E6
Tel: +1 613 9931914
Fax: +1 613 9909574
E-mail:

Martin FOUBERT (Mr)
Acting Director
Trade Policy and International Coordination
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street, 14th Floor
Ottawa K1A 0E6
Canada
Tel: +1 613 9526063
Fax: +1 613 9913254
E-mail:

CHILE/CHILI

Rodrigo POLANCO (Mr)
Under Secretariat for Fisheries
Bellavista No 168, Piso 19
Valparaíso
Tel: +56 32 502835
Fax: +56 32 502810
E-mail:

CHINA/CHINE

Qianfei LIU (Mr)
Deputy Director of International Cooperation
Division
Bureau of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture
No. 11 Nongzhanguan Nanli
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100026
Tel: +86 10 64192973
Fax: +86 10 64192951
E-mail:

Fang XIAO (Ms)
Consultant of Processing & Marketing
Division of Bureau of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture
No. 11 Nongzhanguan Nanli
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100026
Tel: +86 10 64192935
Fax: +86 10 64192995
E-mail:

DENMARK/DANEMARK/ DINAMARCA

Lars B. F. POULSEN (Mr)
Head of Section (Trade and related issues)
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Holbergsgade 2
DK-1057 Copenhagen
Tel: +45 33 923701
Fax: +45 33 118271
E-mail:

Marita RASMUSSEN (Ms)
Adviser
Ministry of Fisheries
Yviri vio Strond 15-17
Torshavn
Faroe Islands
Tel: +298 352020

Lida Skifte LENNERT (Ms)
Greenland Representation
Rue d’Arlon 73
B-1040 Bruxelles
Belgium
Tel : +32 22 330960
Fax : +32 22 330966
E-mail:

Hákun Jógvanson DJURHUUS (Mr)
Counsellor, Head of Mission
Faeroes Representation
Rue d’Arlon 73
B-1040 Bruxelles
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 2330855
Fax : +32 2 2330966
E-mail:

Áki JOHANSEN (Mr)
Trade Council of the Faroe Islands
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Bryggjubakki 12
FO-100 Tórshavn
Faroes
Tel: +298 353100
Fax: +298
E-mail:

DOMINICA/DOMINIQUE

Andrew MAGLOIRE (Mr)
Chief Fisheries Officer
Agriculture and Environment
M.E. Charles Blvd.
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica
Tel: +767 4482401 Ext. 3391
Fax: +767 4480140
E-mail:

EGYPT/ÉGYPTE/EGIPTO

Maryam Ahmed MoUstafa MOUSSA (Ms)
Minister Plenipotentiary for Agriculture
Deputy Permanent Representative of Egypt
Ministry of Agriculture
Head of Agricultural Office
Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt
Via Salaria 267, Villa Aàda
00199 Rome
Tel: +39 06 8548956
Fax: +39 06 8542603
E-mail:

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (MEMBER ORGANIZATION)/COMMUNAUTÉ EUROPÉENNE (ORGANISATION MEMBRE)/COMUNIDAD EUROPEA (ORGANIZACIÓN MIEMBRO)

Friedrich WIELAND (Mr)
Head of Unit
Common Organisation of Markets and Trade
Fisheries Directorate-General
European Commission
99 rue Joseph II
Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 2963205
Fax: +32 2 2959752
E-mail:

Jean-Pierre VERGINE (Mr)
Administrateur Principal
Organisation commune des marchés et
commerce
Direction Générale de la Pêche
99 rue Joseph II
Bruxelles B-1000
Belgique
Tel: +32 2 2951039
Fax: +32 2 2959752
E-mail:

Richard BATES (Mr)
Administrateur Principal
Environnement et Santé
Direction Générale de la Pêche
99 rue Joseph II
Bruxelles
Belgique
Tel: +32 2 2991202
Fax: +32 2 2984489
E-mail:

Robert THOMAS (Mr)
Administrator
Agriculture, Fisheries, SPS measures,
Biotechnology Directorate-General for
Trade
Rue de la Loi 170
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 2954586
Fax : +32 2 2991046
E-mail:

Jean WEISSENBERGER (Mr)
Administrator
Directorate-General Fisheries - Environment
and Health Unit
99 rue Joseph II
Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 2957572
Fax: +32 2 2984489
E-mail:

Leni RIKKONEN (Ms)
Principal Administrator
Council of the European Union
175, Rue de la Loi
Brussels 1048
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 2858723
Fax: +32 2 2858261
E-mail:

FINLAND/FINLANDE/FINLANDIA

Harri KUKKA (Mr)
Senior Officer
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Department of Fisheries and Game
P.O. Box 30
FIN-00023 Government
Helsinki
Tel: +358 9 16052645
Fax: +358 9 16052640
E-mail:

FRANCE/FRANCIA

Alexandre KEMPFF (Mr)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
3 place de Fontenoy
75007 Paris 07 SP
Tel: +33 1 49558257
Fax: +33 1 49558200/7437
E-mail:

GERMANY/ALLEMAGNE/ALEMANIA

Markus BRILL (Mr)
BMVEL
Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection
Food and Agriculture
Rochusstrasse 1
53123 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 529 3821
Fax: +49 228 529 4410
E-mail:

Ulrich Faßbender (Mr)
Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection
Food and Agriculture
Rochusstrasse 1
53123 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 5293323
Fax: +49 228 5294410
E-mail:

Matthias KELLER (Mr)
Geschäftsführer
Bundesverband der deutschen
Fischindustrie und des
Fischgrosshandels e. V.
Grosse Elbstrasse 133
22767 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 381811
Fax: +49 40 3898554
E-mail:

Volker KUNTZSCH (Mr)
Director
Supply Management
Frozen Fish International GmbH
Am Lunedeich 115
27572 Bremerhaven
Tel : +49 471 92652612
Fax : +49 471 92652830
E-mail:

Elisabeth MUNZERT (Mrs)
Federal Ministry for Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Fisheries Division
Conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity; Hunting, Trade and Fisheries
Robert Schümann Platz 3
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 3052633
Fax: +49 228 3052684
E-mail:

Dirk PETERS (Mr)
International Marketing Manager
Sustainability Initiatives Frozen Foods Europe
Dammtorwall 15
20355 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 35972370
Fax: +49 40 359212370
E-mail:

Petra DEIMER (Ms)
Vorsitzende der GSM
Journalistin
Kieler Strasse 2
25451 Quickborn
Tel: +49 4106 620601
Fax: +49 4106 4775
E-mail:

GHANA

Hon. Edward AKITA (Mr)
Minister of State for Fisheries
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P.O. Box M. 37
Accra
Ghana
Tel: +233 21 676628
Fax: +233 21 678670
E-mail:

Alfred Yeboa TETEBO (Mr)
Directorate of Fisheries
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P.O. Box 630
Accra
Tel: +233 21 776071/2
E-mail:

Joana AKROFI (Ms)
Assistant Director of Fisheries
Ministry of Food and Agriculture Directorate
of Fisheries
P.O. Box 630
Accra
Tel: +233 21 776005/ 24 535509
E-mail:

GREECE/GRÈCE/GRECIA

Penelope BELEKOU (Ms)
Ministry of Agriculture, General Directory for
Fisheries
Directory for Fisheries Extensions
Acharnon 381
11143 Athens
Tel: +30 210 2125316
Fax: +30 210 2111719
E-mail:

Despina SYMONS PIROULIDOU (Ms)
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
24 Boulevard du Regent
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : +32 2 2303070
Fax: +32 2 2308272
Mobile : +32 478337154
E-mail:

GUINEA/GUINÉE

Amadou Telivel DIALLO (Mr)
Directeur Général
Port de Pêche Artisanale de Boulbinet
Ministère de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture
BP 307 Conakry

ICELAND/ISLANDE/ISLANDIA

Sveinn BJORNSSON (Mr)
Minister Counsellor
Permanent Representative of FAO
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Raudarastigur 25
IS-150 Reykjavik
Tel: +354 5609900
Fax: +354 5622373
E-mail:

Snorri Runar PALMASON (Mr)
Head of Department
Ministry of Fisheries
Skulagata 4
Reykjavik
Tel: +354 545 9900
Fax: +354 562 2373

Kristjan THORARINSSON (Dr)
Population Ecologist
Borgartuni 35, Liu
Reykjavik
Tel: +354 5910300
Fax: +354 5910301
E-mail:

Petur BJARNASON (Mr)
Chairman
Fishery Association of Iceland
Glerargata 28
600 Akureyri
Tel: +354 5510500
Fax: +354 5527969
E-mail:

INDIA/INDE

G. D. CHANDRAPAL (Mr)
Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries
Director (Tech) Aquaculture Authority
Deptt. Of AH + D
Ministry of Agriculture
491 Krishi Bhawan
New Delhi
Tel: +91 11 23389419
Fax: +91 11 23384030
E-mail:

INDONESIA/INDONÉSIE

Sadullah MUHDI (Mr)
Director of Marketing
Directorate General of Capacity Building &
Marketing
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 16
Jakarta 10110
Tel: +62 21 3500163/3519070 Ext. 1021/24
Fax: +62 21 3520844
E-mail:

Artati WIDIARTI (Ms)
Deputy Director for International Marketing
Directorate of Marketing for Marine &
Fisheries Products
Directorate General of Capacity Building &
Marketing
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 16
Jakarta 10110
Tel: +62 21 3519070 Ext 1039
Fax: +62 21 3520844
E-mail:

Rahmah Hayati Samik IBRAHIM (Ms)
Deputy Director for Implementation of
International Fisheries Conventions
Directorate for International Institutions
Directorate General of Capacity Building and
Marketing
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 16
Jakarta 10110
Tel: +62 21 3519070 Ext 1004
Fax: + 62 21 3521977
E-mail:

Budhi SETYANTO (Mr)
Industry and Trade Attaché
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
Lehrter Strasse 16-17
D-10557 Berlin
Tel: +49 30 4780700
Fax: +49 30 47807209
E-mail:

IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)/IRAN (RÉPUBLIQUE ISLAMIQUE D')/IRÁN (REPÚBLICA ISLÁMICA DEL)

Fazel Mohsen POURIAN (Mr)
Deputy for Fishing and Fishing Harbours
Iranian Fisheries Department
No 250 Dr. Fatemi Ave.
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: +98 21 6943984/5
Fax: +98 21 6941367/8
E-mail:

IRELAND/IRLANDE/IRLANDA

Richard BROWNE (Mr)
Third Secretary
Fisheries
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the
European Union
Rue Frissart 89-93
1040 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 2823268
Fax: +32 2 2823344
E-mail:

ITALY/ITALIE/ITALIA

Riccardo RIGILLO (Mr)
Chief of Unit
MIPAF
Direzione Generale della Pesca e
dell'Acquacoltura
Viale dell’Arte 16
00144 Roma
Tel: +39 06 59084746
Fax: +39 06 59084176
E-mail:

Rosa CAGGIANO (Ms)
International Relations
MIPAF
Direzione Generale della Pesca e
dell’Acquacoltura
Viale dell’ Arte 16
00144 Roma
Tel: +39 06 59084493
Fax: +39 06 59084176/ 4818
E-mail:

JAPAN/JAPON/JAPÓN

Kengo TANAKA (Mr)
Deputy Director
Ecosystem Conservation Office
Fisheries Agency
Government of Japan
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8907
Tel: +81 3 35028487
Fax: +81 3 35021682
E-mail:

Morio KANEKO (Mr)
Deputy Director
Processing and Marketing Division
Fisheries Agency
Government of Japan
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8907
Tel: +81 3 35915613
Fax: +81 3 35916867
E-mail:

Dan GOODMAN (Mr)
Councillor
Information & Social Sceince Division
The Institute of Cetacean Research
4-5 Toyomi-Cho, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 104-0055
Tel: +81 3 35366523
Fax: +81 3 35366522
E-mail:

LATVIA/LETTONIE/LETONIA

Aina AFANASJEVA (Mrs)
Deputy Director
National Board of Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic
of Latvia
2 Republikas laukums
Riga LV-1010
Tel: +371 7332018
Fax: +371 7334892
E-mail:

LITHUANIA/LITUANIE/LITUANIA

Ramune MICKUVIENE (Mrs)
Head of Market and Trade Division
Department of Fisheries under the
Ministry of Agriculture
Gedimino pr. 19
LT - 2025 Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 239 1184
Fax: +370 5 239 1176
E-mail:

MALAYSIA/MALAISIE/MALASIA

Ibrahim BIN SALEH (Mr)
Deputy Director-General
Department of Fisheries
8th Floor, Wisma Tani
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin
50628 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: + 3 26987171
Fax: + 3 26942984
E-mail:

MEXICO/MEXIQUE/MÉXICO

Eduardo Ruiz MAZON (Mr)
Primer Secretario
Embajada de México
Klingelhöferstr. 3
10785 Berlin
Tel:+49 30 269323309
Fax: +49 30 269323700
E-mail:

Abraham BAGDADI ESTRELLA (Mr)
Av. Congreso de la Unión No 66
El Parque
C.P. 15969
Edificio B, Nivel 4, Oficina 24
Tel: +52 56281300 Ext 3537
Fax: Ext 3575
E-mail:

Eugenio MIER Y CONCHA CAMPOS (Mr)
Diputado Federal
Av. Congreso de la Unión No 66
El Parque
C.P. 15969
Edificio B, Nivel 4, Oficina 24
Tel: +52 56281300 Ext 3537
Fax: Ext 3575
E-mail:

Alejandro Higuera OSUNA (Mr)
Diputado Federal
Av. Congreso de la Union No 66 El Parque
C.P. 15969
Tel: +52 56281300 Ext. 7553
E-mail:

MOROCCO/MAROC/MARRUECOS

Mohamed Yassine ELAROUSSI (Mr)
Chef de Service de la Coopération Bilatérale
Ministère des Pêches Maritimes
B.P. 476 Agdal
Rabat
Tel: +212 37 688160
Fax: +212 37 688194
E-mail:

Yassin KHATIB (Mr)
Administrateur
Direction des Industries de la
Pêche Maritime
Ministère des Pêches Maritimes
B.P. 476 Agdal
Rabat
Tel: +212 37 688286
Fax: +212 37 688294
E-mail:

NAMIBIA/NAMIBIE

Aina Shekupe UULENGA (Ms)
Deputy Director PPE
Ministry of Fisheries and
Marine Resources
P. Bag 13355
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 2053129
Fax: +264 61 224566
E-mail:

NEW ZEALAND/NOUVELLE-ZÉLANDE/NUEVA ZELANDIA

Jane WILLING (Ms)
Manager International
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 1020
Wellington
Tel: +64 4 4702651
Fax: +64 4 4702669
E-mail:

Alastair MACFARLANE (Mr)
General Manager
Trade and Information
New Zealand Seafood Industry Council
74 Cambridge Terrace
Private Bag 24-901
Wellington
Tel: +64 4 3854005
Fax: +64 4 3852727
E-mail:

NICARAGUA

Miguel Marenco URECUYO (Mr)
Director Esecutivo
Topesca
Sandy’s C. Masaya 1 c. al Este
Apdo. 2020
Managua
Tel: +270 0932/0946
Fax: +270 0954
E-mail:

NORWAY/NORVÈGE/NORUEGA

Elisabeth WILMANN (Ms)
Deputy Director General
Ministry of Fisheries
P.O. Box 8118, Grubbegata 1
NO-0032 Oslo
Tel: +47 22 246477
Fax: +47 22 249585
E-mail:

Jan Pieter GROENHOF (Mr)
Adviser
Ministry of Fisheries
P.O. Box 8118, Grubbegata 1
NO-0032 Oslo
Tel: +47 22 246452
Fax: +47 22 249585
E-mail:

Britt FISKNES (Ms)
Senior Adviser
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 8118 Dep
0032 Oslo
Tel: +47 22246445
Fax: +47 22249585
E-mail:

Einar TALLAKSEN (Mr)
Senior Adviser
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
0032 Oslo
Tel: +47 22 243600
Fax: +47 22 249580
E-mail:

OMAN/OMÁN

Hassan AL NABHANI (Mr)
Director General of Planning & Investment
Promotion
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
P.O. Box 467
Postal Code 113 Muscat
Tel: +968 696383
Fax: +968 696388
E-mail:

PERU/PÉROU/PERÚ

Alberto HART P. (Mr)
Director for Maritime and Ocean Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Jr. Lampa 545
Lima
Tel: +51 1 3112657
Fax: +51 1 3112659
E-mail:

Jorge ZUZUNAGA (Mr)
Asesor Despacho Viceministro Pesquería
Calle Uno Oeste No 060
Urb. Corpac, San Isidro
Lima
Tel: + 51 1 6162222 (720)/ 4206103
Fax: +51 1 2243416
E-mail:

Flor Maria ALVARADO BARRIGA (Ms)
Directora Nacional de Extraccion y
Procesamieto Pesquero
Ministerio dela Produccion
Calle 31, No 165, Dpto 201 San Borja
Lima
Tel: +51 1 99923373
Fax: +51 1 2243416
E-mail:

PORTUGAL

Antonieta COUTINHO (Ms)
Técnica Superior da DGPA - Direcçao Geral
das Pescas & Aquicultura
Edificio DGPA
Av. Brasilia
1449-030 Lisboa
Tel: +351 21 3035700
Fax: +351 21 3035924
E-mail:

SENEGAL/SÉNÉGAL

MoUstapha THIAM (Mr)
Adjoint Directeur
Pêches Maritimes
BP 289 Dakar
Tel: +221 82 30137
Fax: +221 82 14758
E-mail:

SLOVENIA/SLOVÉNIE/ESLOVENIA

Boris PAS (Mr)
Botsdeftment
Embassy of Slovenia
Hausvogterplatz 3-4
10117 Berlin
Germany

SOUTH AFRICA/AFRIQUE DU SUD/SUDÁFRICA

Doug S. BUTTERWORTH (Prof.)
Director
Marine Resource Assessment and
Management Group
Department of Mathematics and
Applied Mathematics
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7701
Phone: +27 21 6502343
Fax: +27 21 6502334
E-mail:

SPAIN/ESPAGNE/ESPAÑA

Rosa SANCHIDRIÁN FERNANDEZ (Ms)
Subdirectora General de Comercialización
Pesquera, Dirección General de Estructuras y
Mercados Pesqueros, Ministerio de
Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
Corazón de Maria 8, 5a Pl
28002 Madrid
Tel: +34 91 3473681/87
Fax: +34 91 3478445
E-mail:

Carmen ASENCIO CASTILLEJO (Ms)
Subdirectora General Adjunta
S.G. de Organismos Multilaterales de Pesca
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
José Ortega y Gasset, 57
28006 Madrid
Tel:+34 91 3476175
Fax: +34 91 3476049
E-mail:

Carmen RODRÍGUEZ MUÑOZ (Ms)
Jefa de Servicio de la Subdirección General de
Comercializacíon Pesquera, Dirección General
de Estructuras y Mercados
Secretaría General de Pesca Marítima
C/Corazón de aria 8 - 5ª planta
28002 Madrid
Tel:+34 91 3473694
Fax: +34 91 3478445
E-mail:

Aurora DE BLAS CARBONERO (Ms)
Jefe de Servicio
Subdirección General de
Commercialización Pesquera, Dirección
General de Estructuras y Mercados Pesqueros
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y
Alimentacion
Corazón de Maria 8,
28002 Madrid
Tel: +34 91 3473677
Fax: +34 91 3478445
E-mail:

Juanjo DE LA CERDA y L.-Baspino (Mr)
Consejero
Rua José Fernàndez Lopez
36320 Chapela
(Redondela) Pontevedra
Tel: 34 986 818226
Fax: 34 986 450678
E-mail:

SRI LANKA

A. HETTIARACHCHI (Mr)
Director-General (Development)
Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
Mligawatta Secretariat,
Colombo 10
Tel: + 329666
Fax: + 074 610708
E-mail:

SUDAN/SOUDAN/SUDÁN

Basma Mahgoub KARAR (Ms)
Director
Fisheries Administration
Animal Resources and Fisheries
P.O.B 293
Khartoum
Tel: +249 11 476128
Fax: +249 11 475996
Mobile: +249 012651297
E-mail:

SWEDEN/SUÈDE/SUECIA

Rolf ÅKESSON (Mr)
Deputy Director
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Food and Consumer Affairs
Fredsgatan 8
SE-103 33 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 4051122
Fax: +46 8 105061
E-mail:

Ylva MATTSSON (Ms)
Economist
National Board of Fisheries
Department of Markets and Structures Policy
Box 423
SE-401 26 Göteborg
Sweden
Tel: +46 31 7430395
Fax: +46 31 7430444
E-mail:

THAILAND/THAÏLANDE/TAILANDIA

Poonsap VIRULHAKUL (Ms)
Senior Expert in Fisheries Management
Department of Fisheries
Kaset-Klang
Chatuchak
Bangkok 10900
Tel: +66 2 9406211
Fax: +66 2 5620571
E-mail:

TUNISIA/TUNISIE/TÚNEZ

Mohamed NEDHIF (Mr)
General Manager
The Interprofessional Association of
Fishing Products
Niger Street, 37
1002 Tunis
Tel: +216 1 786976/845706
Fax: +216 1 802082
E-mail:

TURKEY/TURQUIE/TURQUÍA

Hüseyin DEDE (Mr)
Section Director
Fishery Products Hygiene and Fish Disease
Control Section Director
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
General Directorate of Protection and Control
Ministry of Agriculutre and Rural Affairs
Akay Cad. No. 3 Bakanliklar
06100 Ankara
Tel: +90 312 4255013
Fax: +90 312 4198319
E-mail:

UGANDA/OUGANDA

Edward F. NSIMBE BULEGA (Mr)
Principal Fisheries Inspector/ Coordinator
Fisheries Development Project
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal
Industry and Fisheries
Department of Fisheries Resources
P.O. Box 4
Entebbe
Tel: +256 41 322027
Fax: +256 41 320496
E-mail:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ÉTATS-UNIS D'AMÉRIQUE/ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

H. Stetson TINKHAM (Mr)
Senior Fisheries Officer
Office of Marine conservation
Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Department of State
Washington DC 20520-7818
Tel: +1 202 6473941
Fax: +1 202 7367350
E-mail:

Greg SCHNEIDER (Mr)
International Trade Specialist
Acting Chief,
Industry and Trade Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Department of Commerce
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring,
Maryland 20910
Tel: +1 301 7132379
Fax: +1 301 7132384
E-mail:

Nancy K. DAVES (Ms)
CITES Coordinator
US Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration
Office of Protected Resources
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
Maryland 20910
Tel: +1 301 7132319
Fax: +1 301 7130376
E-mail:

VIET NAM

Nguyen HUU DUNG (Mr)
General Secretary
Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters
and Producers
10-12 Nguyen Cong Hoan, Ba Dinh
Hanoi
Tel: +84 4 8316994
Fax: +84 4 8317003
E-mail:

Nguyen TU CUONG (Mr)
General Director
National Fisheries Quality Assurance and
Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED)
Ministry of Fisheries
10 Nguyen Cong Hoan
Hanoi
Tel: +84 4 8354966
Fax: +84 4 8317221
E-mail:

Van Nam NGUYEN (Mr)
Expert
Ministry of Fisheries
10-12 Nguyen Cong Hoan St., Ba Dinh
Hanoi

Vu VAN TRIEU (Dr)
Acting Director
International Cooperation Department
Ministry of Fisheries
10-12 Nguyen Cong Hoan St., Ba Dinh
Hanoi
Tel: +84 4 7716709
Fax: +84 4 7716702
E-mail:

Pham QUANG TOAN (Mr)
Expert
International Cooperation Department
Ministry of Fisheries
10-12 Nguyen Cong Hoan St., Ba Dinh
Hanoi
Tel: +84 4 7719607
Fax: +84 4 7719607
E-mail:

Tran VAN QUYNH (Mr)
Ministry of Fisheries
10-12 Nguyen Cong Hoan St., Ba Dinh
Hanoi

OBSERVERS FROM INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
OBSERVATEURS DES ORGANISATIONS INTERGOUVERNEMENTALES
OBSERVADORES DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES INTERGUBERNAMENTALES

CENTRE FOR MARKETING INFORMATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN/CENTRE POUR LES SERVICES D'INFORMATION ET DE CONSULTATION SUR LA COMMERCIALISATION DES PRODUITS DE LA PÊCHE EN AMÉRIQUE LATINE ET DANS LES CARAÏBES/CENTRO PARA LOS SERVICIOS DE INFORMACIÓN Y ASESORAMIENTO SOBRE LA COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE LOS PRODUCTOS PESQUEROS EN AMÉRICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE (INFOPESCA)

Roland WIEFELS (Mr)
Director
INFOPESCA
Julio Herrera y Obes 1296
Casilla de Correo 7086
11200 Montevideo
Uruguay
Phone: +598 2 9028701/2
Fax: +598 2 9030501
E-mail:

CENTRE FOR MARKETING INFORMATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN THE ARAB REGION/CENTRE D'INFORMATION ET DE CONSEIL SUR LA COMMERCIALISATION DES PRODUITS DE LA PÊCHE DANS LES PAYS ARABES/CENTRO PARA LOS SERVICIOS DE INFORMACIÓN Y ASESORAMIENTO SOBRE LA COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE LOS PRODUCTOS PESQUEROS EN LA REGIÓN ÁRABE

Abdellatif BELKOUCH
Managing Director
INFOSAMAK
71, Boulevard Rahal El Meskini
POB 16 243
Casablanca 20 000
Tel: +212 22540856
Fax: +212 22540855
E-mail:

Latifa AROUB
In Charge of Publication
71, Boulevard Rahal El Meskini
POB 16 243
Casablanca 20 000
Tel : +212 22540856
Fax : +212 22540855
E-mail:

Madiha SIRAJ IDDINE
Informatiste
71, Boulevard Rahal El Meskini
POB 16 243
Casablanca 20 000
Tel : +212 22540856
Fax : +212 22540855
E-mail:

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARKETING INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION/ORGANISATION INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE DE RENSEIGNEMENTS ET DE CONSEILS TECHNIQUES POUR LA COMMERCIALISATION DES PRODUITS DE LA PÊCHE EN ASIE ET DANS LE PACIFIQUE/ORGANIZACIÓN INTERGUBERNAMENTAL DE INFORMACIÓN Y ASESORAMIENTO TÉCNICO PARA LA COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS PESQUEROS EN LA REGIÓN DE ASIA Y EL PACÍFICO (INFOFISH)

S. SUBASINGHE (Mr)
Director
INFOFISH
1st Floor Wisma PKNS
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: +603 26914466
Fax: +603 26916804
E-mail:

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE/ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES PÊCHES EN EUROPE ORIENTALE ET CENTRALE/ORGANIZACIÓN INTERNACIONAL PARA EL DESARROLLO DE LA PESCA EN EUROPA ORIENTAL Y CENTRAL (EUROFISH)

Victor HJORT (Mr)
Director
EUROFISH
PO Box 0896
UN Centre, Midtermolen 3
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel: +45 35 467188
Fax: +45 35 467181
E-mail:

Anca SFETOVICI (Ms)
Senior Expert
EUROFISH
PO Box 0896
UN Centre, Midtermolen 3
DK-2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel: +45 35 467135
Fax: +45 35 467181
E-mail:

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARKETING INFORMATION AND COOPERATION SERVICES FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS IN AFRICA/ORGANISATION INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE D'INFORMATION ET DE COOPÉRATION POUR LA COMMERCIALISATION DES PRODUITS DE LA PÊCHE EN AFRIQUE/ORGANIZACIÓN INTERGUBERNAMENTAL DE INFORMACIÓN Y COOPERACIÓN PARA LA COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE LOS PRODUCTOS PESQUEROS EN ÁFRICA (INFOPECHE)

Amadou TALL
Directeur
INFOPECHE
Tour C, 19ème étage
BP 1747
Cité Administrative
Abidjan 01
Côte d'Ivoire
Tel: +225 20228980
Fax: +225 20218054
E-mail:

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)

Carl-Christian SCHMIDT (Mr)
Head of the Fisheries Division
2, rue André-Pascal
75775 Paris Cedex 16
France
Tel :+33 1 45248200
Fax : +33 1 44306121
E-mail:

THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)

Anja von MOLTKE (Ms)
Economics and Trade Branch
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
UNEP
15, chemin des Anemones
1211 Chatelaine
Switzerland
Tel : +41 22 9178137
Fax : +41 22 9178076
E-mail:

OBSERVERS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
OBSERVATEURS DES ORGANISATIONS NON GOUVERNEMENTALES
OBSERVADORES DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES NO GUBERNAMENTALES

COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES

Tailai LU (Mr)
Senior Project Manager
Stadhouderskade 55
1072 AB Amsterdam
Postal address: Postbus 74656
1070 BR Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 575 4941
Fax: +31 20 676 0231
E-mail:

GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL

John FRIZELL (Mr)
Greenpeace International
17 St John’s Terrace
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 514 8150
Fax: +31 20 514 8151
E-mail:

Boris Prentzel BEYME (Mr)
Secretary German Elasmobranch Society
President European Elasmobranch Assoc.
Juliusstrasse 18
22769 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 43193400
E-mail:

INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS

Ron BULMER (Mr)
President ICFA
RR #3
Prescott ON
Canada
Tel: +1 703 5248880
Fax: +1 703 5244619
E-mail:

INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE/FONDS INTERNATIONAL POUR LE BIEN-ÊTRE DES ANIMAUX

Gerhard EMONDS (Mr)
IFAW
Kattrepelsbrücke 1
D-20095 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 866500-19
Fax: +49 40 866500-22
E-mail:

Onno GROSS (Mr)
Delegate IFAW
Ocean Science & Journalism
Hegestr. 46 d
D-20251 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 46856262
E-mail:

INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

David WILLS (Mr)
Director IFCNR
Environmental and International Programs
PO Box 1019
Poolesville, MD 20837
USA
Tel : +1 301 990 6481
Fax: + 1 301 779 8599
E-mail:

INTERNATIONAL FISH MEAL & FISH OIL ORGANISATION

Stuart BARLOW (Mr)
Director General
IFFO
2 College Yard
Lower Dagnall Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire AL3 4PA
United Kingdom
Tel : +44 1727 842844
Fax: +44 1727 842866
E-mail:

Joseph BOLOLANIK (Mr)
Executive Advisor
IFFO
13 Rue Madeleine Michelis
Neuilly/Seine 92 200
France

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS/FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DES MOUVEMENTS D'AGRICULTURE BIOLOGIQUE/FEDERACIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE LOS MOVIMIENTOS DE AGRICULTURA BIOLÓGICA

Andreas STAHMER (Mr)
Biologist - Naturland e.V.
IFOAM
Fürstenstrasse 15
53113 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 0228 9265010
Fax: +49 0228 9265099

THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION/UNION MONDIALE POUR LA NATURE/UNIÓN MUNDIAL PARA LA NATURALEZA

Sarah FOWLER (Ms)
Co-Chair
IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark
Specialist Group
Nature Bureau International
36 Kingfisher Court
Hambridge Road,
Newbury RG 14 5SJ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1635 550380
Fax: +44 1635 550230
E-mail

WORLD CONSERVATION TRUST

Jaques BERNEY (Mr)
Executive Vice-President
IWMC
3, Passage de Montriond
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel: +41 21 6165000
Fax: +41 21 6165000
E-mail:

MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

Yemi OLORUNTUYI (Ms)
Programme Manager
Developing World Fisheries
Marine Stewardship Council
119 Altenburg Gardens
London SW11 1JQ
United Kingdom
Tel : +44 20 73504000
Fax: +44 20 73501231
E-mail:

ORGANIZACIÓN LATINOAMERICANA DE DESARROLLO PESQUERO

Sr. Angel RIVERA B. (Mr)
Director Ejecutivo OLDEPESCA
Organizacion Latinoamericana de Desarrollo
Pesquero (OLDEPESCA)
Av. Petit Thouars 115, Piso 3
Lima 1
Perú
Tel: +51 1 330 8741
Fax: +51 1 332 2480
E-mail:

WORLD FORUM OF FISH HARVESTERS AND FISHWORKERS

Arthur Bogason (Mr)
Delegate for WFF
Klapparst., G4R 27
101 Reykjavik
Iceland
(Tel/Fax to WFF offices)
Tel: +1 613 235 3474
Fax: +1 613 231 4313
E-mail:

WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE/FONDS MONDIAL POUR LA NATURE/FONDO MUNDIAL PARA LA NATURALEZA

Caroline RAYMAKERS (Ms)
WWF
Regional Programme Director
TRAFFIC Europe
90 Bd. Emile Jacqmain
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 3438258
Fax: +32 2 3432565
E-mail:

Will MARTIN (Mr)
WWF
5141 Granny White Pke
Nashville, TN 37220
USA
Tel: +1 615 370 5676
Fax: +1
E-Mail:

Stefanie SCHMIDT (Ms)
International Marine Policy
WWF Marine and Coastal Division
C/o Ökologiestation
Am Güthpol 11
D-28757 Bremen
Germany
Tel: +49 421 6584610
Fax: +49 421 6584612
E-mail:

FAO FISHERIES DEPARTMENT/DÉPARTEMENT DES PÊCHES DE LA FAO/DEPARTAMENTO DE PESCA DE LA FAO

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy

C List of documents

D Opening Statement by the Representative of the Director-General of FAO

Mr Grímur Valdimarsson, Director, FIID

Distinguished delegates and Observers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you, on behalf of Mr. Ichiro Nomura, the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department of FAO, to the Ninth Session on the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI). This is the fifth time the Sub-Committee meets here in Bremen. As on previous occasions I wish to thank the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen for its generous invitation which has made this meeting possible.

To begin with it is important to note that trade has a very important place on the world’s official agenda on how to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. Agenda 21 of the Rio World Summit on Sustainable Development, in 1992 the blueprint for sustainable development, states that the international economy should “promote sustainable development through trade liberalization”. It has been estimated that if developing countries could increase their share in free international trade by only one percent it could lift 130 million people out of poverty. Healthy trade between nations does not only increase prosperity directly but could be the single most important factor in transferring new know-how and professionalism between countries. Development aid is necessary and can be of great importance but there is little doubt that the success of development programmes would be greatly enhanced if they were accompanied by increased trade.

In recent years we in this forum have discussed that fishery products are the most traded food category in the world. Over one-third of fisheries production moves into international trade. Impressively, over half of this trade in value terms originates in developing countries. This shows what developing countries are able to accomplish in international trade when given an equal opportunity.

Fish trade is very much on the global agenda today. The current World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Round Negotiations in particular, focus on fish trade in a number of areas. These include negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products, fisheries subsidies and reduced tariff escalation. Discussions in these areas are ongoing and their outcome may well have a significant impact on how the markets for fish products operate in the future. In this regard we should also note and welcome China’s recent accession to the WTO. China is a key player in the fisheries’ world and its participation in the WTO will enhance the organisation’s effectiveness. We will report recent developments in the WTO to you and seek your feedback on future FAO activities in this area.

Commercially-exploited aquatic species are increasingly being referred to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for listing in its appendices. We will report to you on past and ongoing activities in FAO related to listing of commercially exploited species on a CITES appendix and its implications. We also seek your views on how the draft Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and CITES can be concluded in this Sub-Committee as was mandated by COFI and if so how we should proceed in the future.

Markets, consumers, regulators, processors, fisheries managers and fishers, increasingly require more and better information regarding the origin, quality and safety of seafood products. This trend is reflected in a number of papers for discussion at this meeting. These include papers on safety and quality, traceability, eco-labelling and catch documentation. These are the building blocks for a chain of custody that covers the complete process by which fish is transformed into the final product provided in the wholesale or retail market. We look forward to your views on these matters.

As the International Commodity Body for fishery products recognized by the Common Fund for Commodities, the Sub-Committee is invited to review its projects financed by the Common Fund and to propose new projects for preparation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

FAO’s mission is to help the creation of a food secure world for present and future generations. This Sub-Committee has an important role to play in achieving the FAO’s mission. As decided by the FAO’s Committee on Fisheries, the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade shall provide a forum for consultations on technical and economic aspects of international trade in fish and fishery products including pertinent aspects of production and consumption.

It will be your task during this Session to analyse the status and development of international trade in fishery products and to consider how best we can enhance the benefits derived from this activity. You will discuss aspects of responsible fish trade connected with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and issues of globalization and implications for international fish trade and food security. We look forward to your views and guidance on work we can undertake in order to promote this very important issue.

I will conclude by conveying the best wishes of the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department, Mr. Ichiro Nomura, for a fruitful session, which will be aiming to improve and safeguard current and future international trade in fishery products.

Thank you very much.

E Text, as adopted by the Ninth Session of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade of the Committee on Fisheries, for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

RECOGNIZING the primary role of sovereign States, FAO and regional fisheries management organizations in fisheries conservation and management,

RECOGNIZING further that the mission of FAO with respect to fisheries is to facilitate and secure the long-term sustainable development and utilization of the world’s fisheries and aquaculture resources,

NOTING IN PARTICULAR FAO’s three medium-term strategic objectives for fisheries namely: - Promotion of Responsible Fisheries Sector Management with priority given to the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Compliance Agreement, International Plans of Action, - Promotion of Increased Contribution of Responsible Fisheries and Aquaculture to World Food Supplies and Food Security and, - Global Monitoring and Strategic Analysis of Fisheries.

RECOGNIZING also the role of CITES in regulating international trade in species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by international trade and those that may become threatened with extinction unless international trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation as well as other species which must be subject to regulation in order that international trade in specimens of certain species threatened with extinction may be brought under effective control,

RECOGNIZING further that the CITES Parties have adopted criteria for the listing of species on its Appendices I and II and that for marine species, the CITES Secretariat has an obligation to consult inter-governmental bodies having a function in relation to those species “especially with a view to obtaining scientific data” and “to ensuring co-ordination with any conservation measures enforced by such bodies.”

TAKING account of the results of the 8th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade held in Bremen, Germany from 12 - 16 February 2002 (which was endorsed by the Twenty-fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) held in Rome from 24 to 28 February 2003) and in particular Paragraph 18 and Appendix F of the report of that meeting (FAO Fisheries Report No. 673)

ALSO TAKING account of the Decision of the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES regarding the development of an MOU to establish a framework for cooperation between CITES and FAO,

AFFIRMING the rights and duties of all States pertaining to fishing activities outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, highlighting the goal of optimum utilization and the duty of all States to cooperate when fishing on the high seas, and maintaining the goal of sustainable utilization as stated in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

NOTING that CITES cannot replace traditional fisheries management and the particular importance of consulting all relevant bodies associated with the management of the species when considering amendments to CITES appendices.

BELIEVING that there is a need to strengthen the process in CITES for scientific evaluation of proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II concerning commercially-exploited aquatic species and improve communication between fisheries agencies and CITES authorities at the national level.

FAO AND CITES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THEM HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The Fisheries Department of FAO and the CITES Secretariat will send each other general information of common interest.

2. FAO will be invited as an observer to meetings under the auspices of CITES or its Committees that are of common interest and CITES will be invited as an observer to meetings of common interest held by the Fisheries Department of FAO, the FAO Committee on Fisheries or its subcommittees.

3. FAO and CITES will cooperate as appropriate to promote capacity building in developing countries for issues relating to commercially-exploited aquatic species listed on CITES appendices.

4. FAO will continue to provide advice to CITES and be involved in the process of revision of the CITES listing criteria. These criteria will be the primary basis for the evaluation of proposals for amendment of the CITES Appendices by the FAO and the CITES Secretariat and for subsequent actions of the CITES Parties.

5. CITES will inform FAO of all proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II concerning commercially-exploited aquatic species. Such information shall be provided to FAO as soon as possible to allow FAO to carry out a scientific and technical review of such proposals in a manner it deems appropriate and for the resulting output to be transmitted to the CITES Secretariat who will consider it in its deliberations to provide recommendations to the Parties to CITES regarding such proposals.

6. In order to ensure coordination of conservation measures, the CITES Secretariat will incorporate to the greatest extent possible the results of the FAO scientific and technical review of proposals to amend the Appendices, the responses from all the relevant bodies associated with management of the species in question, as well as the substance of the preambular paragraphs of this memorandum in its advice and recommendations to the CITES Parties.

This Memorandum may be cancelled by either signatory by giving notice to the other in writing at any time.

Director General, FAO _______________________________ Date: ___________

Chair, Standing Committee of CITES _____________________ Date: ___________

BACK COVER

At its sixteenth session, the Committee on Fisheries decided to establish a Sub-Committee on Fish Trade to serve as a multilateral framework for consultations on international trade in fishery products. The ninth session of the Sub-Committee was held in Bremen, Germany, from 10 to 14 February 2004. The Sub-Committee took note of important recent events concerning international trade in fishery products and considered specific issues of international trade and sustainable fisheries development, including: safety and quality of fishery products; traceability of fish products; labelling issues; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and fish trade; small-scale fisheries catch access to international trade; fish trade and food security. In its capacity as the International Commodity Body for Fishery Products, the Sub-Committee noted the progress achieved in its cooperation with the Common Fund for Commodities and endorsed several pipeline projects.