Report of the twenty-seventh session of the
COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
Rome,
5–9 March 2007

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FAO.
Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries. Rome, 5–9 March 2007.
FAO Fisheries Report. No. 830. Rome, FAO. 2007. 74p.

ABSTRACT

The twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) was held in Rome, Italy, from 5 to 9 March 2007. The Committee reviewed the issues of an international character and the programme of work of FAO/FI in fisheries and aquaculture. In addition to the further work to facilitate and ensure the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its International Plans of Action (IPOAs) (on capacity; illegal, unreported and unregulated [IUU] fishing; sharks; and seabirds), COFI welcomed the pending submission of a general multi-year programme of work on genetic resource management in fisheries and aquaculture. The Committee expressed concern about the level of fishing capacity which was higher than prior to the 2004 tsunami in some of the areas affected by the disaster and recognized that it called for (with FAO assistance as required) the design and implementation of sustainable and effective fisheries management arrangements that included a gradually phasing out fishing overcapacity, monitoring, access and livelihood considerations. COFI also referred to the issue of safety-at-sea in relation to the use of sub-standard vessels. The Committee recognized the importance of traceability for fish trade and welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Committee reaffirmed its trust in FAO to play a coordinating role in advancing the global aquaculture agenda and highlighted the importance of addressing socio-economic impacts of aquaculture and other issues, such as improving planning and policy development at national and regional levels. The Committee agreed to give greater attention to small-scale fisheries and welcomed the convening of a broad-based international conference focusing specifically on small-scale fisheries. The Committee encouraged Members to join or cooperate with the voluntary International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Network and to develop a new legally binding instrument based on the Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat IUU Fishing and the IPO–IUU. The Committee identified several areas for further work on issues related to the ecosystem approach to fisheries. The Committee found the level of the budget assigned to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department unsatisfactory and not commensurate with the importance of its work and the expectations of the international community, and made a strong request that the relevant FAO Governing Bodies allocate more resources to the Department.