CHAIRMAN (original language Arabie): As we agreed, what we are going to do now is to take up item 17. I am delighted to welcome Mr Lindquist, Assistant Director-General, for this section.
Armin H. LINDQUIST (Assistant Director-General, a.i., Fisheries Department): The relevant paper for this agenda item is document C 87/24. It provides a report on the progress so far achieved in implementing the Strategy and the five associated Programmes of Action endorsed by the 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development. I will confine myself in these introductory remarks to drawing attention to certain highlights and major points. My colleagues and I will be pleased to respond after your debate to any question of detail or requests for further explanation.
With regard to the Strategy for Fisheries Management and Development endorsed by the World Fisheries Conference, you will recall that it comprises guidelines and principles for consideration by governments and organizations when planning the management and development of the fisheries sector. The Conference when endorsing the Strategy took great care to emphasize its flexible and non-mandatory character.
On the evidence of the materials received by FAO from governments and organizations in response to the Director-General's request for their collaboration in preparing this first progress report, the recommendations of the Strategy clearly have been found to be most pertinent and useful when planning the future of the fisheries sector.
In particular fisheries administrations in both large and small countries have found the text of the Strategy to be a very valuable advocate when seeking the allocation of higher priorities in fisheries. Responding governments also referred to the direct action they had taken to strengthen their fisheries institutions and reformulate their plans in the light of the Strategies' guidelines.
The review underlined the fact that the rate at which fisheries can be developed or adapted is so gradual that quantifiable changes are unlikely to be identifiable over the short time that has elapsed since the World Fisheries Conference. It emphasized the continued need to promote self-reliance in fisheries through training and the acquisition of technology and capital. It drew attention to the further efforts which are required to improve capabilities to collect and analyse even the basic data required for fisheries planning, development and management.
The survey illustrated that in line with the relevant sections or the Strategy serious attempts are being made in many parts of the world to design and implement schemes for the better management and utilization of fisheries resources. It also illustrated the widespread steps being taken as recommended by the Strategy to promote and protect artisanal fisheries and improve the standards of living of small-scale fishing and fish-farming communities.
Finally, reference should be made to the great importance that governments attach to technical and economic cooperation in fisheries research, development and management. The many bilateral agreements, joint ventures and other cooperative arrangements described by responding governments and the value they place on FAO and other regional mechanisms demonstrate the impetus being given to world fisheries development through international collaboration.
I would now like to turn to the five Programmes of Action approved by the World Fisheries Conference. The objectives and scope of these programmes are fully described in paragraphs 26-28 of document C 87/24, and the following sections of the document provide a detailed review of the assistance which has been delivered by FAO under each of these Programmes. Appendix A presents a breakdown of the funding status and the sources of financial support for the programmes.
In summary, it is pleasing to report that financial support for FAO activities to implement the programmes has grown steadily, in 1987 even exceeding the target indicated by the Conference of US$ 15 million per annum.
Inevitably because of variations in the priorities of donor agencies imbalances remain among the different Programmes of Action and among regions. In particular programme No. V, which aims at tackling the problems of post-harvest and other wastage in fishing industry operations, has received rather limited extra-budgetary support. Regional support for activities planned in Latin America and in inland fisheries have fallen short of expectation.
We are vigorously maintaining our efforts to fill these gaps. Our own activities at Headquarters are reinforced by support from FAO regional offices for implementation of the Programmes of Action.
An increasing number of recipient countries are making contributions in both cash and kind to FAO regional projects being carried out within the scope of the five Programmes.
I would also draw attention to the very extensive assistance being provided by bilateral donors outside the framework of FAO but in support of activities related to these various Programmes of Action. It is difficult to assess accurately the funds being allocated by those donors for this purpose but the partial information available leads us confidently to assume that total support from sources within the overall context of the Programmes now well exceeds US$ 20 million per annum.
The Committee on Fisheries at its last session in May 1987 very closely examined the reports prepared on progress in implementing the major recommendations of the World Fisheries Conference. Although it observed that because of varying conditions and capacities some countries had found it more difficult than others to implement relevant guidelines and principles contained in the Strategy, the Committee agrees that the Strategy was proving to be a useful tool for both governments and international organizations as they sought to improve the contribution of fisheries to national social, economic and nutritional goals.
The Committee therefore recommended that further reports on progress in implementing the Strategy should be prepared at four-yearly intervals - that is, for presentation to every alternate session of the Committee. It was agreed that countries should again be encouraged to provide national reports and other information that they consider pertinent for use in the preparation of such future evaluation. It was further suggested that such future evaluation of the continued usefulness and pertinence of the Strategy might be combined with surveys of the overall state and prospects of world fisheries, thus permitting the Committee to deal regularly with two important issues in a logical and effective manner.
I would also note the Committee's comments on two important, individual initiatives taken within the context of the Strategy.
The Committee reviewed and welcomed the report of the First Session of its new Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, which has been established in direct response to a specific recommendation of the Strategy, and endorsed a proposal for a special technical assistance programme designed to promote the participation of developing countries in international fish trade.
The Committee also reviewed in a preliminary manner draft technical specifications for a standard system of marking and identifying fishing vessels, which was the subject of a recommendation in the Strategy. Such a system would represent an important step towards the better management and control of fishing operations, and the Committee agreed to consider this matter again in a future session.
The Committee expressed its overall satisfaction at the progress achieved in implementing the Programmes of Action and drew attention to the need to continue these Programmes after the conclusion of the initial five-year period approved by the World Fisheries Conference and suggested that the FAO Regional Fisheries bodies should make proposals regarding future priorities and the adjustment required to the Programmes in their respective regions.
The FAO Council, at its 91st Session In Juno this year endorsed the Committee on Fisheries' recommendations with regard to the Strategy and Programmes of Action and also welcomed the progress so far achieved in implementing other resolution endorsed by the World Conference concerning special aspects of fisheries management and development, it drew particular attention to the success of the World Food Day in 1986 in increasing public awareness of the significance of fisheries, especially small-scale artisanal communities in human nutrition and rural employment.
It would be remiss of me if, before concluding this brief review on the progress achieved in carrying out the recommendation of the 1984 World Fisheries Conference, I did not take this opportunity of paying tribute to the memory of the late Jean Carroz, Secretary-General of the Conference and Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department whose untimely death occurred almost two years ago during the last session of this Conference. Jean Carroz was the architect of the World Fisheries Conference. His dedication to the FAO and to world fisheries will long be remembered and valued.
In commemoration of this remarkable contribution, the Director-General has commissioned the preparation and publication of a series of essays by distinguished jurists and other outstanding students of international fisheries law and policy. Many of them were Jean's friends and colleagues. Their experience and wisdom has been combined in a volume entitled "The Law and the Sea". The book in a single multi-lingual edition is a unique source of reference to the extra-ordinary seas of change which international fisheries have experienced in recent decades and represents a fitting tribute to the life of Jean Carroz. A copy of the book is available to each delegation of the present Conference.
Experiences over the last three years have amply demonstrated that the 1984 Fisheries World Conference has already had a significant impact on the fisheries sector. The Strategy it endorsed has created a great awareness of the place and potentials of the fisheries in the overall economy and has provided a valuable source of guidance to those charged with the well-being of fisheries and the fishermen. The associated Programmes of Action are providing a sound basis for FAO and other agencies to aid and advise countries as they seek to enhance their capabilities for fisheries management and development. We look forward to receiving the comments of the present Conference on the steps already taken to implement the Strategy and the Programmes of Action and its advice for further efforts required to build upon the progress already achieved.
CHAIRMAN (original language Arabic): Thank you very much, Mr Lindquist.. I am much obliged to you for your very clear introductory remarks. We are very grateful for all the information you have provided. It gives us great pleasure to realize that considerable progress has been achieved in' many countries as regards ensuring better management and development of fisheries.
The floor is now open for any statements you have to make on this item. Please be as constructive and as effective as possible in your remarks on this item.
M.M. SIDDIQUE ULLAH (Bangladesh): I congratulate Mr Lindquist for a clear presentation of the Report.
We have studied the Report and we find it very clear and concise. We agree that the time gap between the Resollutionsadopted by the World Fisheries Conference and now has not been adquate for making a review of the progress of implementation really worthwhile. There were also other factors like planning and budgeting which in many cases had been done before the Resolutions became available to the governments concerned. Therefore, the progress could not be as it might have been otherwise but we are sure that the Resolutions adopted in the World Fisheries Conference already started having a favourable influence in all countries. In my country particularly we have noticed that
increased budget allocation, planning allocation and importance is being attached to the fisheries sector and it has become really much casier now to get projects related to fisheries approved by the Government in my country and I am sure the statement made in this Report about other countries must be the same. In fact, in Bangladesh we have some kind of an open-ended allocation for fisheries development and it has been promised by the planning authorities at the highest level that if you can show sufficient progress in implementation of the projects already initiated then there would be adequate allocation and there would be no limit on it.
In this connection Iwish to invite your attention to Appendix A where a picture of allocations is shown for different regions. Here we find that in the case of Asia and the Pacific Region, although in 1986 there was slight increase over 1985 but in 1987 it has been a little lower, both in absolute terms as well as in percentages. Well, the regions are not quite clear but we would prefer to see at least a token rising trend considering the fact that millions of people in this region are vitally dependent on fisheries development for their livelihood and their income and their nutrition. In this connection permit me to point out that this Table does not show one thing, how these allocations have benefitted the poorest countries of the world. Perhaps in future reviews it would be worthwhile to present a picture of allocations programme-wise and year-wise in respect of the least developed countries.
Turning to Table 2 in the Appendix, the presentation of a picture of donor allocations over a period of three years, we find that in the case of a number of bilateral donors there has been a steady increase and I wish to mention in this connection in particular Sweden, Japan, the United States of America, Australia, Netherlands and also the EEC. Mr Chairman, through you I wish to convey my congratulations to these donors for taking an increasing interest in this sector. At the same time wo are a little uncomfortable to see that allocations of UNDP for the year 1987 has been lower than that of 1986. The reason is not very clear to us but certainly we would wish UNDP as a donor agency to take greater interest in this sector.
Alhasi Durodola D. APANPA (Nigeria): My delegation whishes to express our appreciation to Dr Lindquist for the clear and eloquent presentation of the document under discussion C 87/24, that is the "Implementation of the strategy and programmes of Action approved by the 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development".
Again my delegation wishes to congratulate the FAO Secretariat in general and the Fisheries Department in particular for the various steps that have been taken in sequence on the follow-up necessary actions towards the effective implementations of the Programme of Action from 1984 to date.
Nigeria being one.of the 57 nations that positively responded to the rendition or submission of their national reports and in accordance with the FAO Director-General's request have found the adoptions based on many points of the format extremely useful in the guidelines of our fisheries policy and planning. It is very interesting to note and to inform this august gathering that the guidelines and principles which have been adequately and positively considered by the present Nigerian administration include all the identified eight major elements of fisheries management and development as enumerated in paragraph 11, page 3 of the document under discussion, that is the contribution of fisheries to Nigerian economic, social and nutritional goals.
They include the improvement of our country's self-reliance on fisheries management and development and the needs of small-scale fisheries and rural fishing and fish farming communities.
It is true as expressed in the document under discussion that most rendered national reports, having been diligently and painstakingly analysed by the FAO Secretariat, observe that any appreciable suc-cess in such national reports should have been due to the various Fisheries Policies and Planning from 1980-85. The national report that was submitted by Nigeria also referred to these indications and observations. However, my delegation would like to register our appreciation to the FAO Secre-tariat because the guidelines and principles of the World Fisheries Conference has yielded many pos-sible and tangible results to our fisheries growth in 1987 to date when planning and policy have been due to circumstances prevailing on annual trends and based on strategy and guidelines. For example, major strides have been made on the investments in fisheries in Nigeria from 1986 to date, where Nigerian entrepreneurs now own more that 300 fishing and shrimping trawlers as against less
than 120 before 1986. Also, the creation in 1986 of the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructures - mainly for the development of rural areas - has contributed immensely to the production of fish fingerlings and fish foods and towards the national development of aquaculture. Millions of viable fish seeds are now being produced at the grassroot levels from all the 301 local governments in all the 21 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Fifth National Development Plan which in the first instance starts from 1988-92 will bo followed by perspective planning, that is, the overall planning period will be between 20 to 25 years. The fisheries sector within the 5th Plan period is expected to be given a well recognized pride of place because policy and planning, together with effective implementation, are based on the World Fisheries Conference strategy and Programmes of Action. In this respect our delegation is in complete agreement with the observation expressed in the document under discussion where, at paragraph 16, it states: - "A number of fisheries administrations, in both large and small countries, have found the text of the Strategy to be a most valuable, advocate when seeking the allocation of higher priorities to the fisheries sector. The high level of attendance and debate at the World Fisheries Conference created a new awareness among decision-makers of the importance and potential of the fisheries sector."
My delegation would like to thank the FAO, UNDP and IFAD in particular for all the technical and funding assistance, and the facilities that have been rendered towards the general development of fisheries in Nigeria. However, we would like IFAD to accelerate the implementation of the proposed development of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture programme to start without any further delay. In accordance with the expressed opinion in paragraph 20 of document C 87/24 the integration of small-scale fisheries within the wider programmes for rural development; the encouragement of cooperatives and similar participating organizations; the provision of credit and extension services; the recognition of the role of women and young people were all factors of common concern and action in programmes for small-scale fisheries development. The FAO and consultants to IFAD on the Programme had concluded their investigations, and the earlier IFAD start the programme the better for Nigeria.
My delegation is seizing this opportunity to thank FAO and UNDP for the successful implementation of the Artisanal and Inshore Fisheries Development Project in Nigeria and the initiation of a follow-up programme in line with the phased out programme, but different in scope and concept, that is, the Programme captioned as Integrated Rural Fisheries Development. All the preparations at the national level have been completed and the project had been expected to commence in July 1987. This is also reflected in the document under discussion in the next to last sentence of paragraph 29.
We appeal to the UNDP to do everything possible for the immediate commencement of this project which falls in line with the dynamic activities and policies of the national government towards general development of rural areas in Nigeria.
My delegation wishes to direct this important observation to the FAO Secretariat in particular, and more especially to the operations section of the fisheries department. It is in respect of the type and calibre of the technical personnel that are sent to Nigeria for the fisheries projects. It is adequately on record that we do everything possible to satisfy the personnel in order to assist them to achieve their assignment objectives. Most of the time we accord to them treatment above our own standards to encourage them - after all Nigeria is a developing country. In this respect we expect the personnel to bear with our local position to satisfy their needs. Most of them are quite understanding and feel at home with us and perform their jobs with enthusiasm and satisfaction. However,
unfortunately for some immediately they arrive they complain of trivialities, and in certain cases come back to FAO headquarters to complain that their assignments could not be achieved because of the inadequate provision of certain amenities. Ridiculously enough some personnel complained of the excessive heat in Nigeria which is an African country. The FAO local representative in Nigeria can never support trivial excuses because we make him aware of how well we treat FAO technical personnel. In short, we would like the FAO Secretariat to re-examine this important issue for future reference. As regards the problems, it has been expressed in paragraph 19 of document C 87/24 our government is one of the governments still referring to problems being encountered in establishing effective systems for the control and surveillance of the fishing operations and to the need for further assistance. Attention is also drawn to the recurring need for, and frequent lack of, sufficient data both biological and socio-economic when elaborating and introducing management measures.
As regards CECAF my delegation would like to reassure the regional committee (CECAF) that in spite of the Nigerian economic situation something will be done to assist the regional body. The Permanent Secretary who spoke for the government last year when the former CECAF Chairman Mr Joof, of the Gambia and the FAO Director of Fisheries Policy and Planning, Mr Dada, visited Nigeria and confirmed this. The procedure of fulfilling the contribution in personnel to CECAF secretariat is not very easy. However, soon things will work out according to our hopes.
In conclusion, my delegation wishes to endorse the contents of the document C 87/84 and we are in full support of the last three paragraphs, namely paragraphs 60, 61 and 62.
Roger P. LEWIS (United States of America): We would like to commend Mr Lindquist for his excellent presentation. The World Fisheries Conference convened by FAO in 1984 was a useful and successful forum in that it brought together many experts to discuss common ideas on various concepts and approaches in solving fisheries related problems. We feel that the fisheries strategy and programmes of action, as adopted by. the 1984 World Fisheries Conference, provide helpful guidance. The United States feel that the implementation of these strategies, however, should be at the discretion of the individual states concerned. Reports prepared by the Fisheries Agencies or ministries of the individual states for national use or for submission to regional or other international bodies than the FAO, might suffice for an admission to FAO on progress on implementing these guidelines. Initial reports could serve as the reporting framework, while updates could follow the format of the first reports. Such reports would preferably be prepared no less than every two years. In the interest of time we will not elaborate about our own fishery interest, but we thank you for the opportunity of commenting on this presentation.
Marc-André FREDETTE (Canada): First we wish to join Mr Lindquist in paying tribute to the memory of Mr Jean Carros. Canada has developed its own focus for fisheries development strategies which are incidentally considered in full accord with the strategies recommended by the 1984 World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development.
Canada's emphasis has been placed upon five major areas: first, continuing assistance to small-scale fisheries; secondly, emphasis on the development of human resources in, training, especially increased and meaningful participation of women in the development process. Thirdly, the assistance in the improvement of the data base of knowledge of modern resources, protection of the environment and related policy and development planning. Fourthly, creation of conditions resulting in economic returns to the fishermen through improved organizational structuring policy development, improved planning and coordination of private and public sector rules. Fifthly, assistance in the improvement of infrastructures.
In addition to the development concerns, I seize this opportunity to reiterate that Canada would like to have an early resolution to the question of the marking and identification of fishing vessels since this issue has now been studied for seven years.
Zbigniew KARNICKI (Poland): The Polish delegation wishes to congratulate the Secretariat for their well-prepared and concise document and also Dr. Lindquist for the very clear introduction to this document. There is no doubt that the Fisheries Conference made an important impact on setting up clear guidance and principles for fisheries development, and many countries including Poland have taken advantage of it. Five Programmes of Action approved by the Conference have made a solid frame for FAO's activity in the area of fisheries during the five years following the Conference. Poland wishes to express its appreciation for the results and FAO's persistence in the implementation of these programmes.
The summary presented in document C 87/24, as well as the documentation prepared for the Seventeenth COFI Session provided sufficient background for evaluation. Before going into more detailed comments on Programme of Action, our delegation wishes to make a general comment, particularly in view of the discussions held on agenda Item 12. As the Polish delegation sees it, the budget allocation for fisheries in the next biennium does not reflect the role fisheries are playing in world nutrition. For the information of this Commission, fish constitues 16% of the world's protein consumption, and it is highest in the developing countries, ranging from 20% to 33% in the least developed countries. With the world's fish resources already under severe pressure, real price increases for fish are occurring faster than prices in general. The impact of this will be most severe on the rural poor where protein intake will be further reduced. As is often the case, fisheries issues are not adequately taken into consideration within the general agriculture context simply because agriculture is a form of farming where additional inputs increase production, while fisheries is mostly hunting for a resource that is finite in size and in its replenishment. Given the world's fisheries situation as presented at the 17th COFI Session, the budget for FAO Fisheries activity is simply in our opinion not adequate for the problems being faced and the importance of fish as food. We are talking about a budget level of 6.1% for fisheries out of the total FAO budget and if we are serious about the fight against malnutrition and hunger, we should recognize the dependency of the poor on fish and provide the resources to tackle the problem.
Moving to the five Programmes of Action, the Polish delegation shares the concern of the FAO Programme Committee over the limited extra budgetary support provided so far for projects under Programme of Action V - Promotion of the Role of Fisheries in Alleviating Under-nutrition. It is our opinion, that this important Programme covers much wider scope than indicated by its title. It has a substantial part of training in fish technology, a very wide area of an issue of such importance as the prevention of post-harvest losses and also cooperative research programmes in these areas. Therefore it can be said that in fact this Programme precedes Action Programme IV - International Trade in Fish and Fishery Products, preparing conditions and the ground for its implementation. Trained manpower and sufficient knowledge of processing technology, which is nothing more than technology transfer, are indispensable for the preparation of fishery products able to meet export market requirements. Still too many developing countries are faced with severe economic losses due to the unstable quality of their products, which puts the shade on their credibility as exporters and this is often reflected in the lower prices paid for their products.
Research programmes are essential in technology transfer which is so vital in the process of development. FAO's coordinated programmes in fish technology are good examples of well-designed programmes adjusted to regional needs, strongly backing up the very practically oriented technical advisory services provided by FAO under Action Programme IV. These research programmes have very strong TCDC elements which we consider very important. Therefore it is worrying to know that these research programmes are receiving very limited financial support and the Programme for Africa is based in practice on the Regular Programme budget only.
These two Action Programmes, V and IV, are closely linked and the shortage in funding or implementation of one of them will have a negative effect on the other, particularly in the longer term.
Another problem with which Action Programme V is dealing is the better utilization of under-utilized species and their increased use for direct human consumption. This is a difficult technological and economic problem and FAO alone, without strong involvement and support from member countries, will not be able to make further progress.
Therefore the Polish delegation recommends that all these aspects should be taken into account by FAO and we also urge donor countries to do so as well when considering future programmes.
It is also regretted that too limited funds are allocated to Action Programme I - Planning, Management and Development of Fisheries. We would like to emphasize the importance of this programme.
FAO's forecast for the year 2000, prepared for the Seventeenth COFI Session (our congratulations to the Fisheries Department for this excellent document),indicates that by the year 2000 mankind will need in addition to present catches about 20 million metric tons to meet global demand. On the other hand, however, it is clear that the world is slowly approaching a global maximum sustainable yield of fishery resources and this is why the management of these resources is so important.
This is why the Polish Government attaches such importance to cooperation with FAO, its member countries and other organizations on the management of world resources. Poland is carrying out extensive, and I have to say very expensive, research not only in our own economic zone but also in all other areas where our fisheries operate. The results of our research, as always, are available to all interested. Poland is open to the further widening of international cooperation, making our research vessels and facilities available and sharing our knowledge with others. We do believe that only through close International cooperation coordinated by FAO can we enhance our knowledge to assure proper management of resources and the further development of world fisheries.
The Polish delegation noted with appreciation that in 1987 UNDP approved preparatory assistance to start two subregional projects for fisheries planning for East and West Africa respectively. We believe that these two much needed projects will be implemented soon.
Training is one of the most important elements in development which was clearly reaffirmed in the response of most developing countries to the Director-General's letter on the implementation of strategy endorsed by the World Fisheries Conference.
I wish to repeat what has been said by our Hon. Deputy Minister for Maritime Economy, Ryszard Pospieszynski, during the Seventeenth COFI Session: "Following recommendations accepted by the famous World Fisheries Conference, Poland is offering excellent possibilities for training in all areas of fisheries and at any level required, starting from ordinary schools for fisher-men up to PhD in our universities". Here we wish to encourage FAO to make better use of these opportunities.
A few more comments on Action Programmes III and IV. Programme III on Aquaculture in our opinion is going well and though progress in some regions is slower than expected it is our opinion that it does not cause concern as investment made in the last years particularly in manpower training as well as other areas should bring better results in the years to come.
Regarding Action Programme IV which is International Trade, we have very little comment to offer. It is a well-designed and implemented programme and the best proof of its usefulness is the fact that the Regional Fish Marketing Information Service for Asia (INFOFISH) became an intergovernmental; organization funded by the cash contributions from participating countries and its own income. Also other similar regional projects are expanding and we do hope that these projects will follow the INFOFISH way in the near future. Poland highly regards the practically oriented technical advisory services provided by these projects and we wish to encourage FAO to expand these new services further.
These five programmes of action have a termination date in 1989. We would like to support what has been said by Dr Lindquist that these action programmes should be evaluated and proposal for future priorities and adjustment should be presented at the Eighteenth COFI Session.
And finally, in June this year Poland hosted in Gdansk the first UNIDO/FAO World Consultation on the Fisheries Industry'. The Polish delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the Department of Fisheries of FAO for -its involvement and very active role in this important meeting. FAO’s participation and excellent cooperation with its UN sister organization, UNIDO, made the consultation a success. During the meeting a number of recommendations were prepared and we do believe that these two distinguished organizations in the spirit of good cooperation will make every effort to implement this recommendation. This particularly refers to the improvement and modernization of fishing boats and gear to increase productivity and efficiency, improvement of the fish production chain and the increased added value of fishery products.
E.D. MUYANGA (Zambia): My delegation would like to congratulate Mr Lindquist for his clear presentation of the paper. We would also like to congratulate the Secretariat for preparing a brief but comprehensive paper which provides the necessary information. The progress report submitted by the Director-General on the implementation of the strategy and programmes of action clearly shows that many countries have adopted the guidelines for fisheries management and development approved by the World Fisheries Conference. it is also gratifying to note that FAO spared no efforts in mobilizing the necessary financial resources for the implementation of the various programmes of action. Some of the programmes of action have received substantial support from donors and others have received very little support. We hope that FAO will find some way of assisting member - countries in implementing those programmes of action which hitherto have not been receiving sufficient donor support.
Zambia attaches great importance to the implementation of the strategy and programmes of action All our fisheries development programmes are now critically scrutinized to ensure that they do not only meet the needs of the fishermen but they are also within the strategy and programmes of action approved by the World Fisheries Conference.
Since Zambia is a land-locked country, nil our fish production comes from inland waters and aquaculture. We are therefore giving a lot of emphasis to the dovelopment of additional fishers in aquaculture. Aquaculture offers great opportunities for increased fish production but in order for us to succeed in this field we require well-trained aquaculture extension officers.
In Africa we have only one regional aquaculture centre where aquaculture is taught. The centre has been producing aquaculture experts who are spearheading the development of this sector in their countries. We are now worried about the future of this regional centre as it appears very little support is being given to it. This has frequently resulted in delays in starting new training programmes. If FAO is giving a lot of support to other regional aquaculture centres we do not see or understand the reasons why support for the African region's aquaculture centre is rather lukewarm.
As I said earlier, Zambia is giving a high priority to the development of aquaculture and we would like to see that the support we are receiving from FAO and some donors is consolidated by having officers who are capable of conducting extension to fish farmers. In this regard we would like to set up a national aquaculture centre where research in different systems of aquaculture could be conducted and where training of aquaculture extension officers would be carried out. We hope that FAO will assist developing countries in setting up their own national centres as stated in the programmes of action.
May I now be permitted to refer to Programme of Action V: the Promotion of the Role of Fisheries in Alleviating Undernutrition. This is a very important Programme of Action and we would like more efforts to be concentrated on fish processing and the reduction of post-harvest losses. Although some studies on post-harvest losses have been conducted, a lot needs to be done in the way of educating fishermen in goodfish-processing methods. This could increase the availability of fish to the rural poor.
I should also like to make a few comments on the development of small-scale fisheries. These make a significant contribution to the provision of fish to rural areas. They are also a source of employment and income to small-scale fishermen. My country, for example, has fisheries which are regarded as small-scale fisheries and therefore in order to develop these we need a lot of support. FAO should assist developing countries in planning the development of small-scale fisheries because they are always in danger of being over-fished.
In regard to the fish trade, we support the efforts being made by FAO; to ensure that the developing countries take an active part in fish trade.
Lastly, 1 should like to mention that investment in fisheries has tremendously increased in Zambia since 1984. This is largely due to the response to the World Fisheries Conference. We have a number of projects in the pipe-line which we hope, if the donor countries honour their pledges, will start to operate very shortly. We are also grateful for the support we have been receiving from FAO in development, especially aquaculture, but a lot needs to be done in the way of national fisheries.
In order for us in developing countries to exploit our resources effectively, we require a lot of training, especially in the monitoring and evaluation of our resources. This is an area where we feel FAO should pay a major role. We know that a lot of workshop seminars have been organized, but we do not feel that these can be used as a substitute for formal training in fisheries.
LI DACHUN (China) (original language Chinese): First of all 1 should like to thank Mr Lindquist for his introduction of this document. The Chinese Delegation has carefully studied document C 87/24 and wishes to express its satisfaction with the progress made since the 1984 World Fisheries Conference and the efforts made by FAO in this regard.
I should like to make the following comments. First, the 1984 World Fisheries Conference, and especially the Strategy and Programmes of Action and the other resolutions adopted by the Conference have great significance to all countries in formulating their respective studies, principles and policies for fisheries development. We wish to highly praise the progress made and the good results achieved in the implementation of the Strategy Resolutions of the Conference.
Secondly, we agree with the importance given to the aquaculture service. Aquaculture is important for inland fisheries and some coastal countries where their marine resources have been over-exploited to develop fisheries. Aquaculture development cannot only increase the output of fishery products but also increase the income of fishermen and provide job opportunities for the labour force, including women.
Thirdly, we entirely agree with the recommendations in paragraphs 54 to 59 of the document. Both developed and developing countries have their strong and their weak points in elements essential to aquaculture development: namely, resources, funds and technology. With a view to making common progress, our country is willing to give full play to strong points, especially in aquaculture technology, so as to contribute its share to economic and technical cooperation among the countries.
Fourthly, we feel that in order to further facilitate the development of fisheries it is necessary to hold an international conference on aquaculture. At the Seventh Session of the Committee on Fisheries held last May, the Tunisian and Spanish delegations suggested the convening of an international conference on aquaculture. We think this suggestion is worthy of our attention and that a decision on this matter should be made as soon as possible. We hope that FAO will seriously study the suggestion and do a good job in preparing the meeting so as to enable Member States to have sufficient preparation before the meeting or conference in order to achieve good results.
Fifthly, our government has always attached importance to the development of fisheries and has regarded this as an important aspect in ensuring food security and helping rural people to get rid of poverty and helping them to become rich. In recent years, FAO, WFP and some friendly countries have given us assistance and support for the development of fisheries in our country. Here we wish to express our sincere thanks to them.
Philippe PIOTET (France): La délégation française voudrait tout d'abord exprimer sa satisfaction de constater la priorité accordée au secteur des pêches dans le prochain Programme de travail et budget. Le taux de croissance de 2,2 pour cent en faveur de ses actions est certes modeste mais il devrait permettre, en concentrant les moyens sur les activités les plus importantes, d'assurer une mise en oeuvre satisfaisante des programmes adoptés par la Conférence mondiale des pêches de 1984. Ma délégation tient à rappeler ici son attachement à ces programmes qui constituent un cadre cohérent pour une coopération internationale efficace dans un domaine où la FAO a un rôle de tout premier plan à jouer.
En ce qui concerne tout d'abord la politique halieutique, je voudrais mettre l'accent sur le bien-fondé de certaines orientations retenues par la Conférence mondiale des pêches. Les travaux menés par la FAO en matière d'évaluation des ressources, les perspectives à moyen terme de la demande mondiale en produits de la mer mettent clairement en évidence la nécessité d'une exploitation de plus en plus prudente des richesses halieutiques. Tout indique en effet que les prochaines années seront marquées par le plafonnement des captures mondiales et par un décalage croissant entre l'offre et la demande de poisson. Dans ces conditions, la première priorité doit être accordée aux politiques d'aménagement en privilégiant les actions visant à mieux organiser l'accès aux ressources et en limitant léplus possible les pertes de toute nature. La France appuie tout particulièrement, à cet égard, les orientations définies dans le paragraphe 19 du document. C 87/24.
Ma délégation a examiné en détail les recommandations de la dix-septième session du Comité des pêches, qui s'est réuni en mai dernier. Elle souscrit à l'ensemble de ces recommandations et tout particulièrement à celles signalées au paragraphe 51 du document C 87/24 concernant la nécessité de coordonner les apports des donateurs. La consultation des donateurs organisée à Paris en octobre 1986, sous les auspices de la Banque mondiale, de la Communauté économique européenne, du PNUD et de la Banque africaine de développement, avec la participation de la FAO, a fort justement mis l'accent sur cette nécessité. Cette consultation a également mis en évidence, à juste titre, que de nombreux projets n'aboutissaient pas aux résultats attendus parce qu'ils se situaient trop souvent dans une perspective à court terme. Ma délégation propose à ce sujet que la FAO fasse sienne
la recommandation de cette consultation visant à privilégier, dans le cadre des programmes et des projets, une approche à plus long terme s'appuyant sur des analyses prospectives et sur les résultats de la recherche.
Je voudrais maintenant faire quelques observations sur l'exploitation et l'utilisation des; ressources halieutiques. Ma délégation tient tout d'abord à souligner l'intérêt particulier de la pêche artisanale et l'utilité d'intégrer ce secteur dans des programmes plus larges de développement rural, comme le souligne fort justement le paragraphe 20 du document C 87/24. La modernisation du secteur de la pêche artisanale, si elle est bien adaptée aux besoins des pays en développement, peut apporter une contribution importante à l'amélioration de la situation nutritlonnelle des populations. Il faut donc l'encourager.
L'aquaculture, comme vient de le souligner le délégué de la Chine ainsi que celui de la Zambie, peut elle aussi concourir à cet objectif par l'expérience qui nous enseigne que, dans ce domaine, il faut se garder d'appliquer des schémas trop théoriques. Les expériences les plus réussies sont, en effet, celles pour lesquelles on a su maîtriser les techniques tout en tenant compte des conditions locales et régionales.
Le secteur des pêches est l'un des secteurs d'activité importants de l'Organisation qui mérite une attention particulière au sein des différents comités. Je pense, bien sûr, au Comité des pêches et aux sous-comités qui lui sont rattachés. Je pense aussi au Comité du programme, qui pourrait fort utilement renforcer sa capacité d'expertise dans ce domaine. La présence au sein de ce Comité de membres plus particulièrement compétents dans le domaine des pêches permettrait de renforcer les liens entre ce secteur et les autres secteurs et d'intégrer ses différentes activités dans des programmes plus larges de développement rural.
Je souhaiterais maintenant insister sur certains aspects de la coordination internationale. Dans le domaine de la commercialisation, tout d'abord, il conviendra de continuer à éviter tout double emploi avec les travaux menés au GATT et à l'OCDE et à concentrer les activités de la FAO sur certains besoins prioritaires des Etats Membres qu'elle a vocation de satisfaire.
Je pense, en particulier, à la collecte et à la diffusion d'informations sur le commerce des produits de la pêche, notamment dans le cadre du réseau GLOBEFISH.
Dans un autre domaine de la coopération internationale, ma délégation voudrait rappeler l'importance qu'elle attache à la coopération entreprise dans le cadre du Comité des pêches pour l'Atlantique Centre-Est, la COPACE. Cette Commission a développé, au cours des dernières années, des activités particulièrement utiles pour l'ensemble des pays membres. Toutefois, son avenir apparaît incertain à la suite de la décision prise par un de ces pays de suspendre son aide à la fin de cette année. La France, qui participe à la coopération engagée dans le cadre du COPACE, souhaite qu'une solution soit rapidement trouvée avec le soutien de la Communauté économique européenne pour que les activités du COPACE puissent se poursuivre et se développer.
Enfin, ma délégation voudrait se féliciter de la bonne coordination entre la FAO et l'ONUDT dans le domaine de l'industrialisation de la pêche. La première Consultation mondiale organisée sur ce sujet à Gdansk, en Pologne, en juin 1987, a été très utile et nous sommes persuadés qu"elle renforcera la coopération entre les pays membres pour la mise en oeuvre de projets concrets de modernisation des pêcheries tant industrielles qu'artisanales.
Nous pensons également que la FAO, dans le cadre de son Programme ordinaire, ne manquera pas de mettre en application les conclusions de cette Consultation dans les domaines qui la concernent comme la formation, la recherche, le développement, la vulgarisation et l'amélioration des techniques de transformation et de consommation du poisson.
Peter A. WIESMANN (Suisse): J'aimerais remercier le Directeur générai d'avoir autorisé la publication "le Droit et la Mer" en mémoire de M. Jean Carroz. Ce recueil constitue un hommage à la fois pertinent et permanent à sa vie et à son oeuvre.
Quoique mon pays ne puisse contribuer de façon substantielle au développement mondial des pêches pour des raisons évidentes de compétence, nous sommes heureux et fiers qu'un de nos concitoyens,
M. Jean Carroz, ait pu, au cours de sa carrière, contribuer de façon importante au développement du droit de la mer, condition essentielle pour un développement harmonieux du secteur des pêches dont l'apport à l'alimentation de la population mondiale n'est plus à souligner.
Personnellement, j'ai eu le plaisir et le privilège de bien connaître M. Carroz. Dans un temps malheureusement relativement court, il est devenu un ami. Sa mort a été pour moi, mais aussi pour tous ses nombreux amis et collaborateurs, une perte très douloureuse.
Jean Carroz était un homme de grande valeur intellectuelle mais aussi humaine. Nous tous qui l'avons connu garderons certainement un très bon souvenir de ce personnage hors du commun.
Rainer PRESTIEN (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German): My delegation welcomes document C 87/24 and the progress report on Strategy and Action Programmes which was adopted by the World Fisheries Conference of 1984.
First I wish to thank Mr Lindquist for his informative introduction to this document. The Federal Republic of Germany took an active part in the World Fisheries Conference.
We support the objectives of the World Strategy and the five Action Programmes for fisheries management and development.
The three main focal areas from our point of view are: first, the improvement of fisheries management; second, effective promotion of breeding of fish and other aquatic organisms under controlledconditions, aquaculture; and third, increased utilization of fisheries resources for human consumption, particularly by bringing about a drop in catch losses. In this way we want, to achieve fisheries playing a greater role in the future for the nourishment of men.
We know from document C 87/2 that over the past calendar year landings of fish again reached a record level of 89.2 million tonnes, which is 4 million tonnes higher than the previous figure, which shows that fish has already begun to play a greater role in human consumption.
This development benefits from the overproportionate share in funds envisaged for fisheries in the 1988-89 Programme of Work and Budget. Together with most experts in this area we also feel that we should promote small-scale fisheries in developing countries as being particularly important. Although in most developing countries up to 80 percent of the total of catches landed derive from this labour intensive sector, nevertheless this is not always given enough focus. The promotion of this sector has been given top priority already for a number of years in fishery development cooperation in the Federal Republic of Germany.
From the point of view of our national development cooperation, the promotion of fisheries improves the qualitative and quantitative food supply and also creates jobs and incomes.
The focal point of our development cooperation consists of promoting research and training and improving the breeding and processing methods. Also we are promoting more independence on the part of developing countries in the management and utilization of the living resources of the sea.
The recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Fisheries and the Council, paragraphs 44-62 of document C 87/24, are largely supported by our delegation.
The activities of our Organization in the area of trade in fish, we recommend that all forms of duplication and overlapping with the activities of other international organizations be avoided.
The Federal Government will also in future carefully watch the further development of world catches and contribute its fruitful cooperation with developing countries in the area of fisheries.
Pedro OYARCE YURASZECK (Chile): Permítame, Señor Presidente, expresar nuestro reconocimiento a la Secretaría por la preparación del documento C 87/24 y al Asistente del Director General del Departamento de Pesca por su compelta presentación.
Mi delegación desea igualmente sumarse al homenaje al señor Carroz. Quienes participamamos en la Tercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Derecho del Mar, tuvimos la oportunidad de apreciar su dedicación a laausa de ios países costeros en la búsqueda de un nuevo orden jurídico en los mares y océanos. La Conferencia Mundial sobre Ordenación y Desarrollo Pesqueros inició en 1984 una nueva estrategia en este sector, en particular promoviendo actividades tendientes a crear mayor conciencia de la importancia y el potencial de la pesca para la economía global y de su contribución a la seguridad alimentaria, como un concepto amplio.
Paralelamente ha facilitado la orientación de los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales en la búsqueda de una nueva Ordenación más eficaz de los Recursos Pesqueros Mundiales y a maximizar los beneficios después del desembarque. Mi delegación desea destacar aquí la especial prioridad que a nuestro juicio debe concedérsele al Programa principal 2.2 "Pesca", del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para el bienio 1988-89 y sus objetivos a mediano plazo.
Chile, como queda reflejado en el párrafo quinto del documento mencionado, se encuentra entre ios 57 países que han dado respuesta a la solicitud del Director General, para la preparación del primer Informe sobre los progresos en la aplicación de la estrategia. En esa respuesta se hacen algunas observaciones de nuestra experiencia pesquera y se identifican temas de interés nacional y otros susceptibles de esquemas de cooperación internacional.
Mi delegación desea formular algunas observaciones generales y puntuales al documento C 87/24. En primer término, consideramos que en él se reflejan los avancesdel sector en el marco global, pero al mismo tiempo so observa un cierto desequilibrio intrarreglonal, como el propio documento lo señala expresamente en los párrafos 30, 57 y en el cuadro número 1 del Apéndice A.
Este desequilibrio, más que responsabilidad de la FAO, obedece a una problemática vinculada a las prioridades seleccionadas por los países donantes. Se puede percibir con claridad en la pesca interior.
Si bien en Latinoamérica hay áreas que disponen, en términos comparativos, de una política e infraestructura tecnológica y humana sectorial importante, también se perciben áreas que indudablemente requieren de un reforzamiento de ios mecanismos multilaterales de cooperación internacional. En tal sentido, existen países como Chile, con experiencia útil eneste ámbito, y con capacidad y disposición para ofrecer líneas de cooperación en el marco del CTPD.
En este aspecto vemos con complacencia las actividades de la Organización a través de sus Oficinas Regionales y de las comisiones de pesca.
Las acciones relacionadas con la estrategia han contribuido a reforzar nuestra política nacional para el desarrollo de este sector de gravitación sustantiva, si se considera que Chile es el quinto país pesquero del mundo. Existe una preocupación permanente en materia de administración y desarrollo pesquero. En este ámbito, estamos realizando acciones a tres niveles: profesional, de formación y de capacitación de pescadores.
En cuanto al Programa 2: Desarrollo de las pesquerías en pequeña escala, el documento destaca precisamente un enfoque integrado coincidente con los esfuerzos que mi país está llevando a cabo a nivel nacional, ai objeto de obtener un mejoramiento de las condiciones socioeconómicas de las comunidades de pescadores artesanales y sus familias. Ello se ha traducido en la ejecución de diversos proyectos orientados a solucionar problemas de infraestructura tecnológica, seguridad en las embarcaciones y otros.
Como se indica en la respuesta de nuestro país al requerimiento del Director General, los resultados a nivel doméstico han sido hasta la fecha positivos.
En relación al Programa 3: Desarrollo de la acuicultura, el documento recoge la idea de reforzar y diversificar las acciones destinadas a implementar el desarrollo, la investigación aplicada, la capacitación y la creación de una base datos sobre acuicultura.
Con ocasión de la cuarta reunión del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Recursos Pesqueros de la Comisión de Pesca Continental para América Latina (COPESCAL) celebrado en mi país, en septiembre de 1986, se abordó detalladamente el desarrollo nacional y regional de las actividades de acuicultura, tanto marinas como continentales. En esa oportunidad, se destacaron los estudios destinados a la normalización pesquera y a mostrar la experiencia nacional, en especial respecto del salmón.
El nivel técnico y la experiencia alcanzados por nuestro país; nos permite disponer de una capacidad de ofrecer líneas de cooperación horizontal. En los aspectos vinculados a las transferencias de tecnologías, también los consideramos valiosos.
En cuanto al Programa 4: El comercio internacional de pescado y productos pesqueros, Chile apoya las acciones de esta agencia y otras organizaciones, con el objeto de aumentar los beneficios del comercio internacional del pescado y los productos pesqueros. Junto a otros países en desarrollo, hemos alentado en el GATT, específicamente a través del CGP, y en la Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI), entre otros foros, las acciones destinadas a eliminar las barreras arancelarias y no arancelarias que dificultan el ingreso a los mercados y el establecimiento y acuerdos con otros países.
El sector pesquero chileno es básicamente exportador, por cuanto el noventa y cinco por ciento de su producción industrial se destina al comercio internacional. Liberalizar el mercado constituye, en consecuencia, una tarea prioritaria para nuestro país.
En términos globales, es interesante tener presente que el valor del comercio pesquero presenta una tendencia creciente. En poco más de dos décadas ha aumentado de mil trescientos millones de dólares a diecisiete mil millones de dólares en 1986. La participación de los países en desarrollo en ese mercado, se ha elevado desde un veinticuatro por ciento en 1965, a aproximadamente el cuarenta y cuatro por ciento en el primertrimestre del presente ano.
Por otra parte, mi Delegación comparte el enfoque planteado frente a las actividades futuras del Subcomité de comercio pesquero.
En relación al Programa 5: Promoción de la función de las pesquerías para mitigar la desnutrición, mi delegación coincide con las ideas contenidas en esta sección. Deseamos subrayar la necesidad de que el fomento de las acciones en esta esfera contribuya al bienestar real de ios sectores de menores ingresos mediante un aprovechamiento óptimo de los recursos hidrobiológicos. La acción del DMA el año pasado constituyó un instrumento valioso en tai sentido.
Mi país, comomiembro de la Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur, junto a Colombia, Perú y Ecuador, tiene un interés particular en la preservación, protección y racional explotación de los recursos del medio marino en las zonas económicas exclusivas en alta mar, de conformidad a las disposiciones contenidas en la Convención de Naciones Unidas sobreel Derecho del Mar. Deseamos reconocer el buen entendimiento y cooperación existentes entre ese organismo y FAO, en especial en un área donde ese organismo subregional absorbe funciones propias de las comisiones de pesca regionales de la FAO.
Dentro de este marco de cooperación se trabaja conjuntamente en variados temas, como el desarrollo de la pesca en el Pacífico sudeste, evaluación de los recursos de pesquerías artesanales, estadísticas pesqueras y del Pacífico sudeste, alimentos pesqueros no tradicionales. Ello representa un nivel de aproximación e intercambio de experiencias especialmente valiosos.
Nuestro país será, además, sede de un simposio internacional sobre recursos vivos y pesquerías, que se llevará a cabo en Viña del Mar en mayo de 1988.
Mi Delegación confía que esta relación entre ambos organismos, en una de las áreas geográficas que ofrece perspectivas en de gravitación política, económica y social, dentro del sistema internacional como es el Pacífico, sea apropiadamente evaluada y respaldada por los países miembros.
Sr..Presidente, el sector pesquero chileno, compuesto por los subsectores: industrial, artesanal e institucional, ha alcanzado un nivel de desarrollo importante, y ello se ha traducido en una contribución sustantiva en la generación de divisas, productos geográficos brutos y fuentes de empleo, con el consecuente impacto social.
Los objetivos de nuestro sistema institucional en este sector son coincidentes con la filosofía, principios y directrices propuestas por la FAO en la Conferencia Mundial sobre Ordenación y Desarrolb Pesqueros, lo que ha sido una guìaideológica en la permanente revisión y evaluación de la política pesquera nacional y en el fomento de la cooperación en los mares y océanos.
Frank Mensa K. DENYOH (Ghana): Ghana congratulates the secretariat for the document as presented. Ghana is one of those countries which have already initiated the action on the Strategy and Programmes of Action. We have not got any comments on the document but we have a few suggestions to make for the consideration of FAO.
Page 6, paragraph 27, II, the English version, the Ghana delegation would like to add the subject matter of utilization of under-utilized species. I was happy to hear the delegate from Poland mention this. An example I had in mind, Trigger fish, the species of Balistes, which is common in the East Central Atlantic.
On III, I wish to refer to the ADCP Programme. I have in mind specifically the African Regional Aquacunlture Centre at Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Again my colleague from Gambia has already made reference to this. The future of this Centre seems to be hanging in the balance. We therefore appeal to FAO to continue in its efforts to secure the assistance of donor agencies to keep this Centre going because this progamme is very dear to countries in Africa.
The programme of fish handling and processing requires special attention in favour of artisanal fishermen and women. This is suggested in view of the present high rate of post-harvest fish losses, which is rated at 20%in the tropical countries.
Finally, the Ghana delegation supports the Programme as contained in the document before us.
Tomofumi KUME (Japan): First of all, my delegation would like to thank Mr Lindquist for his clear introduction.
With regard to the realization of Programmes of Action for Fisheries Management and Development, Japan has been expanding and implementing various financial and technical cooperation schemes bilaterally, and has also been providing cooperation through FAO, in view of assisting fishery development in the third world. When implementing this cooperation, Japan tries to take Programmes of Action fully into account.
We have therefore already contributed to the Trust Funds established for the implementation of FAO Programmes of Action at a total amount of 700 thousand US dollars per annum, of which 400 thousand dollars are for the Regional South Pacific Aquaculture Development Project and 300 thousand dollars for the Indian Ocean Fishery Resource Analysis and Development Project. We would like to continue such a contribution to the Action Programmes in the future.
As to the implementation of Programmes of Action by each country, development should not be concentrated to certain areas, but balanced and integrated development is very important, involving all sectors like fishery resources, fishing technology, fishing vessels, port infrastructure, processing and marketing, promotion of consumption and so on.
Along with this, it is especially important for the success of the development to foster human resources which will have responsibility from the formulation of the development plan to implementation.
Japan fully agrees with the delegate of Zambia who stressed the importance of extension officers for the development of fisheries production. In my country extension officers play a very important role in disseminating new technology and in providing managerial skills of fisheries to fishermen and this is one of the major factors of the development of fisheries In Japan.
Finally, because of the importance of fisheries we support the strengthening of the Fisheries Department activities in FAO.
Vàclav DOBES (Czechoslovakia): First I would like to congratulate Mr Lindquist for his comprehensive introduction.
My delegation appreciates how easy it is to survey the C 87/24 document, and attach particular value to the suggested trends and the expected further development of the Programmes of Action accepted by the FAO World Conferences on Fisheries Management and Devolopinent in 1984. The importance of fisheries was also pointed out at the 9lst session of FAO Council and at other sessions.
Czechoslovakia as an inland country fully agrees with the conclusions of the World FAO Conference on Fisheries Management and Development and with FAO's plans for bringing these conclusions into life.
According to the Czechoslovak delegation's view, due attention should be paid also to the problems of the development of aquaculture which is included in Programme of Action III. Freshwater fisheries still have considerable reserves in both European and - in particular - developing countries; mobilization of these reserves would make a significant contribution to efforts to remove the protein problem in human nutrition.
Czechoslovakia has been a regular member of the FAO European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) since 1979. The Czechoslovak institutions and experts actively participate in the work of EIFAC subcommissions. With the several hundred years tradition of fisheries and with the present high standard of fish culture, Czechoslovakia is undoubtedly one of the leading European countries with advanced fisheries.
Czechoslovak experts have been, and are, involved in the FAO/UNDP field programmes in the developing countries as well as in bilateral technical assistance schemes.
I would like to confirm again in this context Czechoslovakia's willingness to organize short training courses for experts from developing countries and full readiness to use for this purpose part of the accumulated voluntary Czechoslovak contribution to the UNDP.
The Czechoslovak Delegation uses this occasion to inform the delegates that - as a manifestation of our effort to expand cooperation in aquaculture - Czechoslovakia is ready to hold the 1990 EIFAC session in our country.
Dato' Abu Bakar MAHMUD (Malaysia): The Malaysian delegation is pleased to welcome the Secretariat's Report in Implementation of Strategies and the Programmes of Action as endorsed by the World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development as contained in document C 87/24. 1 would like to congratulate Mr Lindquist for the very useful and informative introduction of the subject.
It has been three years since the World Fisheries Conference endorsed the Strategies and Programme of Action and in spite of the short time that has passed since then it is encouraging to note that a number of positive aspects have been highlighted in this Report.
It is evident that the matter of fisheries development and its contribution to the national economy, in terms of providing food, employment and foreign exchange, have been recognized by many national planners and policy makers. There is no doubt that fishery planners themselves have made use of the strategies and programmes of action when advocating a higher priority in terms of financial allocation to the fishery sector. There has also been a conscious effort by these administrators to align their national fishery plan in accordance with the strategies and programmes of adopted by the World Conference. These positive aspects that have emerged from the World Fisheries Conference, augur well for the fishery sector as a whole, and have instilled the sense of recognition to national planners on the importance of fisheries in their national development.
it is also clear that the strategies and programmes have given solid guidelines for future development and most countries, including my own, are in the various stages of implementing the strategies and programmes of action.
Since the declaration of Malaysia's EEZ in 1980, the optimal utilization of our resources in the economic zones has been the focus of our programmes. We are determined to be self-sufficient in
fish production through the development of our deepsea fisheries fleet. Effort in this direction have been preceded by the complotion of a comprehensive survey of the fisheries resourcos of the EEZ using the chartered vessel, R.V. Rostrelliger. The survey was conducted from December 1985 to January 1987. Both pelagic and demersal fish stocks of the EEZ were assessed. Another complementary survey of tuna stocks in the EEZ is being carried out by the Fisheries Department of my Government. Data obtained from these surveys are being analyzed and used to plan the rational exploitation of our fishery resources and will be the basis for future resource surveys to be conducted by our Fisheries Department from time to time.
The encouraging results of the surveys has enabled the Government to give full encouragement to the private sector in the country to embark upon the expansion of its deep sea fishing fleet.
Licences for fishing on the offshore regions have been issued more liberally, subject to the availability of resources. The response from the private sector in this field has been most encouraging. Cooperation on a joint venture basis with our neighbour, Thailand, has been set up in the catching as well as marketing of tuna.
My delegation does not wish to stress the importance of each of the strategy and programme of action, since they have been fully elaborated and discussed in the COFI and Council meetings prior to this Conference. Nevertheless, we only wish to take this opportunity to reiterate our strong support to these strategies and programmes, especially in the importance of formulating effective systems of management, including the surveillance and control of fishing activities. We attach particular importance to this aspect of fishery, on account of the over-fishing problem in inshore areas, where we feel that prudent utilisation of renewable resources is of paramount importance in ensuring optimal returns.
We have improved our legislative instruments with the passing of the Fisheries Act 1985 by Parliament. For effective utilisation of manpower, we have set up the National Maritime Coordinating Centre, to coordinate all maritime enforcement agencies, such as the Navy, Maritime Police and Fisheries Department. Aerial surveillance of the EEZ is being carried out to supplement surface surveillance by patrol vessels. The control and protection of our resources in the EEZ is part of our responsibility under the EEZ declaration to ensure the rational exploitation of our fish resources.
The other important aspect which we attach particular importance, is aquaculture development, where we think the potential is not fully exploited and the likelihood of this activity to play its role in upgrading the income of fishermen is greatest. We agree with the findings of the document that the need for strengthening the manpower and expertise in developing countries is still great and should be continually stressed. Technical cooperation among developing countries and active collaboration between North and South have to be actively pursued in research, development and management.
We are also gratified with the financial support from bilateral and multilateral donor agencies in having responded positively to the funding requirements to implement the strategies and programmes of action. The $15 million level recommended by the World Fisheries Conference, is now nearly fully met and with the possibility of further increase from other sources for the year. We are appreciative of the efforts of these donors.
We note also that the FAO budget for an increase of $156 000 has been proposed for the fishery sector. Although we would like to see a much greater increase than this amount, the financial constraints faced by this Organization would not allow it to be realised. Nevertheless, we strongly support the level of the budget for fishery as proposed by the Director-Cenerai.
In conclusion, we wish to give our support to the work of FAO in the field of fishery, which we have found very useful and has guided us in the planning and implementation of our national fishery programmes.
McDonald Phillip BENJAMIN (Dominica): I think the invitation is to Dominica rather than to the Dominican Republic. I will follow the example of FAO in the presentation of this document which is characterized by brevity and succinctness. In the presentation by the Chinese delegation reference was made to the opportunities offered by aquaculture and inland fisheries for increased income and employment especially for women. I have had the pleasure of seeing this process at work in China and have been very much impressed with the integrated nature of these operations involving such things as livestock raising, ducks, the cultivation of sugar cane and so on. This all helps to provide a very strong active biological base for these fish ponds. I would add one more dimension to this possibility of aquaculture and inland fisheries. Where such areas of water exist they could become very precious assets in the government's fight against rural poverty and landlessness. For example, in one Asian country I have seen a preliminary start being made with this approach where a common resource of an inland lake was being exploited by landless people. I think this offers one opportunity that many countries with that type of facility may be able to exploit.
Lastly, at the COFI meeting my delegation expressed its concerns about the shares that went to the Latin American and Caribbean region of these Programmes of Action. For that whole area we are talking of an allocation of roughly 8 percent of these resources for these programmes. This cannot be justified either on the basis of population or other considerations. I should like to highlight the fact in particular that for the Caribbean sub-region water and the sea resources are very important because the countries do not have the opportunities or the grassland or ecological conditions favourable for the raising of intensive livestock. In the light of that, Imports of meat, dairy products, poultry and fish are very high and so we would like to see that this point, which was fully recognized in paragraph 57 of the document where it is mentioned in the last sentence that the Council requested FAO to consult with donor countries and financing institutions in order to remedy the situation. Our delegation will be following up this request very closely.
Arrow Solomon OBURU (Kenya): My delegation wishes to commend the Secretariat for the document submitted to facilitate discussions on item 16 of the Conference agenda.
Mr Lindquist's introduction of the item has been pleasant and we express our appreciation to him for this.
The 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development has helped to sensitize those who formulate development policies on the importance of fisheries in national socio-economic development programmes. Policy decision-makers now show greater appreciation than before for the role fisheries can play to facilitate development goals, especially those relating to the creation of additional employment opportunities, raising income levels to improve living standards, particularly in the rural areas and achieving self-sufficiency in food supply and nutritional requirements. It is important that the awareness and Interest stimulated amongst decision-makers on the role of fisheries in development is maintained. However, since the resources available for development are extremely scarce, while high priority programmes bidding for the resources are excessive, it is essential that the fisheries projects selected for funding be those that do not require unduly long gestation periods before attaining their set goals and consequently creating the impact necessary to attract even more the interest of decision-makers in fisheries development.
The strategy and action programmes adopted by the World Fisheries Conference provide a good basis for sustaining the interest generated in fisheries development programmes. The FAO pronouncement in paragraph 29 of document C 87/24 that it will continue close contact with potential donors to mobilize funds for the Programme of Action is therefore welcome. We hope that these efforts will bear fruit and rehabilitate the rather sad situation reported in paragraph 2.10 of document C 87/LIM/19 that the inadequacy of extra budgetary support funds has constrained effective implementation of several programmes, especially the Action Programmes approved by the World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development.
Kenya has accepted the strategy and programmes of action and the Government has incorporated these in the National Development Plan and Planned Implementation Programmes. The Government promotes maximization on a sustainable yield basis, production and subsequent utilization of the country's fisheries resources from both capture and culture fisheries. Capture fisheries from the inland waters account for 93 percent of total fish output. However, most of the inland fisheries resources have
either hit or are about to obtain their maximum sustainable yield limits. Therefore if the country is to realize an appreciable increase in fish landings then emphasis must be put on developing marine fisheries and aquaculture.
Production from the marine resources has continued to be small, accounting for just about 6 percent only of the total country's production. It has however been realized that low production from the coastal waters is primarily due to the limits in capture efficiency and capacity ofboth fishing boats and gear coastal fishermen use in their fishing operations rather than absence of fish stocks. Coastal fishing fleets consist almost invariably of small fishing boats exclusively restricted in their fishing range to waters within the creeks. These boats have severely limited load capacity for carrying fishing gear. They are also not adaptable to the use of more efficient and modern fishing gear methods. The Government has therefore tested and introduced to the fishermen better and more seaworthy boats with a higher fishing range and bigger capacity for carrying fishing gear. It is also easy to rig these boats to use modern fishing gear. The fishermen who have acquired these boats have realized a marked increase in their landings and income. Supply of these boats will therefore be intensified. That is in relation to Action Programme I of the 1984 World Fisheries Conference.
The Government is giving special attention to deep-sea fishing in the management and development of our marine fisheries so that the resources within the 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond may be exploited for the benefit of the country's economic growth. Because of constraints arising from non-avialability in the country of technological competence and sufficient capital outlay required to start a national deep-sea fishing fleet, the Government is open to receipt and consideration of proposals that would lead to fishing under either joint ventures with Kenyans or special licences. We are aware that long-distance fishing fleets from the fishing nations have been fishing in our region for many years. Kenya therefore offers its cooperation on a mutual interest basis, to those from within and out of the region who wish to exploit the deep-sea fishing resources in EEZ.
To a large extent the substitution fish farming operations have been successful. Fish farming - with regard to item 3 of the Action Programme - is another important sector of fish production and fisheries development. Fish farming has been practised in Kenya for about 25 years now. Basically the programme has remained a subsistence occupation with farmers cultivating fish in a small pond near his/her house from where the farmer would harvest a few fish about twice weekly to supplement the family animal protein food supply. There are about 4 000 subsistence fish farmers in the country owning between them about 10 000 ponds covering an estimated aggregate land area of 3 000 hectares. Prevailing pressure on land which correspondingly increases with growth in population and increased awareness amongst the people of opportunity cost for the land, mitigate that fish farming, like many other rural-based activities, must graduate from subsistence to commercial operations and compete on an economic basis with alternative economic employment of both land and time of the farmer if fish farming is to proceed. Pilot projects have proved that commercial fish farming is viable and can be successfully developed in most parts of the country. The Government therefore plans to expand commercial fish farming activities in suitable areas throughout the country. It is envisaged that about 10 000 hectares of land will be put under commercial fish farming within the next five years.
To increase fish supply the Government is providing infrastructure which includes improvement of fish landing, handling and preservation facilities. These facilities will reduce post-harvest losses to the minimum so that the landed fish are utilized well in good condition by the consumers. Good quality fish will also fetch higher prices for the fishermen who should therefore realize higher income for their efforts.
In conclusion, Kenya wishes to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to various countries and agencies which have given us assistance that has facilitated expansion in development of our fisheries resources. This assistance has been in the form of personnel, equipment, capital finance and manpower development.
Adel Helmy EL-SARKI (Egypy) (Original language Arabic): My del ogation would like to express its appreciation to Mr Lindquist for the presentation of this document. We welcome this report which has become very clear and we join the representative of Bangladesh when he says that the lapse of time since the World Fisheries Conference in 1984 does not allow for the assessment of the progress
in the field of fisheries at the global level. We would also point out that the resolutions of this Conference have had positive effects, as we have noticed an increase in the allocations in the fish sector and better planning of this sector.
Table I shows the position of FAO's financing provided under the Programme of Action for the Management and Development of Fisheries in the period 1985-87. We are pleased to note the increase of this funding in the Near East region. We are also satisfied under Table II of the document - the increase of funding provided by the donor countries to the Programme of Action in the Field of Fisheries.
My country grants the fish sector special attention. Therefore we have set up a special department which elaborates the action programmes for the develpment of this sector. We have had successful experiments of cooperation with FAO in this field and we hope it will increase its aid to this sector. We are ready to cooperate at the regional level in this sector in which we have acquired experience from our collaboration with FAO in its assistance programme, namely the Red Sea Project. We availed ourselves of this opportunity, for the countries with whom we have concluded bilateral agreements for the promotion of this sector.
.My country has elaborated the programmes for the development of the fish sector in the light of the programmes of action adopted by the World Fisheries Conference because we are convinced of the importance of fish and the vital role of this sector in bridging the protein gap and in the production of food. Some of my colleagues mentioned in their interventions on this item the need to train personnel in the field of fisheries. We welcome personnel for training in our centres that are within the framework of the FAO programmes, and particularly the technical cooperation among developing countries.
Marcos I. NIETO LARA (Cuba): En primer lugar Señor Presidente, y por ser la primera vez que hago uso de la palabra bajo su presidencia, deseo felicitarlo sinceramente por haber sido elegido para presidir este debate. Estamos convencidos de que con su experiencia y sentido práctico, nuestro debato en este tema culminará exitosamente. Quisiera asimismo felicitar al Señor Lindquist por la clara presentación del tema y a la Secretaría por la calidad y concreción del Documento C 87/24, que ños ha presentado.
Mi Delegación considera que aun es un tiempo insuficiente para poder realizar una evaluación a profundidad y en extenso, de los resultados de la aplicación de las estrategias trazadas por la Conferencia Mundial de Pesca celebrada en 1984. No obstante, hay que reconocer que se han realizado progresos y las decisiones adoptadas progresivamente se vienen aplicando por una cantidad importante depaíses.
En este sentido se debe tomar en cuenta la mayor importancia que cada día le conceden los países y la FAO al desarrollo de la pesca, como parte importante de la seguridad alimentaria, constituyendo una fuente de alimentos proteicos que aún es suficientemente explotada en los países en desarrollo.
Por otra parte, mi Delegación concede una gran importancia a la pesca como parte del comercio internacional.
Mi país mantiene excelentes y estrechas relaciones de cooperación con la FAO en este sector, y a pesar de que hemos contado con contribuciones en cierta medida limitadas dada la limitación de recursos de la Organización, podemos.decir que estas contribuciones han tenido un impacto importante en el desarrollo de la pesca de nuestro país.
En cuanto a los Programas de acción, Señor Presidente, podemos apreciar que ya estos vienen pociiln-. dose en práctica. Quisiera de manera particular referirme al Programa de Acción para el Desarrollo de la Agricultura, habida cuenta de que existe un gran potencial en este sector y donde las inversiones de recursos escasos pudieran tener un beneficio inmediato, especialmente para los países en desarrollo, abarcando un plano mucho más amplio, pues incluye a los países mediterráneos. Nos satisface saber que este Programa ha sido uno de los más beneficiados en la asignación de recursos.
Nos complace mucho los esfuerzos realizados por la FAO para obtener fondos de posibles donantes para apoyar los programas de acción en el período 1985/89, cumpliendo así la Resolución N 2 de la Conferencia Mundial de Pesca.
Dentro de las Contribuciones externas recibidas se debe poner de relieve la participación del PNUD y esperamos que este Programa siga brindando su importante aporte a los programas de acción. También deseamos bacer un llamado a otros posibl]es donantes para que brinden nuevas contribuciones y a aquéllos que ya lo están haciendo, alentarlos a que continúen, y de ser posible los aumenten.
Para finalizar, dire que el Director General, a pesar de las dificultades financieras por las que atraviesa la PAO, ha tenido
incrementar los fondos destinados al Programa príncipal,Pesia, para el bienio 1988-89, lo cual debe recibir nuestro respaldo.
Resumiendo, mi Delegación apoya las proposiciones hechas por la Secretaría en el Documento C 87/24.
Milutin TAPAVICKI (Yugoslavia): The Yugoslav Delegation would like to welcome and express its satisfaction with the progress achieved in the implementation of the Strategy and Programmes of Action approved by the 1984 FAO World Fisheries Conference. At the same time we regret the imbalances in the support received by the different Programmes of Action as well as the geographical imbalances, as was also underlined by the Council. Let us hope that additional support to rectify these imbalances will be forthcoming.
Our Delegation shares the view of other delegations that the associated Programmes of Action are providing a sound and integrated basis for FAO and other technical assistance and financial agencies to aid developing countries to enhance their own capacities for fisheries development.
In this connection we are of the opinion that there is a necessity to give greater emphasis to the needs for training, transfer of technology and financial resources as a contribution to the efforts of developing countries aimed at ensuring self-reliance in planning and implementation of the Fisheries Management and Development Programme. Equally important is the more adequate use of fish, particularly in under-fed regions, having in mind the place and potential of fisheries in the rural economy and the prospective role in increasing food supplies in developing countries.
Finally the Yugoslav Delegation looks forward to more significant and substantial progress in the implementation of the Strategy and Programmes of Action in forthcoming years.
Mohammed ROUCHDI (Maroc): Je voudrais tout d'abord féliciter M. Lindquist pour sa presentation claire et concise du document qui nous est soumis. Je voudrais aussi remercier le secrétariat du Département des peches pour les efforts qu'il a déployés en vue de la préparation du présent document.
La Conférence mondiale de 1984 sur l'aménagement et le développement des pêches marque une étape fondamentale dans l'évolution de la noble action de la FAO et confère une dimension nouvelle à son oeuvre au profit du bien-être de l'humanité. En effet, le texte de la Stratégie élaborée ;par d'émi-nents experts internationaux appartenant à cette Organisation et adoptée lors de la Conférence a constitué et continue de constituer pour l'ensemble des pays membres un document de référence combien utile au niveau de la préparation des plans nationaux pour l'aménagement et le développement des pêches.
Pour le cas de mon pays, l'adoption de la Stratégie et des programmes intervenant à une période où le Maroc entreprenait l'exécution d'un pian quinquennal intégrant le développement des pêcheries, on ne pouvait introduire de modification ou de révision et ce, pour les raisons suivantes: premièrement, parce que la stratégie revêtait un caractère souple et non contraignant pour les pays membres; deuxièmement, parce que les principes et les objectifs qui étaient énoncés au niveau de notre plan de développement cadraient parfaitement avec ceux de la Stratégie avec lesquels ils étaient en parfaite harmonie. On avait donc jugé qu'aucune révision de ce plan n'était nécessaire ou justifiée.
Le Maroc, conscient du rôle de plus en plus croissant que jouent les protéines halieutiques dans la satisfaction des besoins alimentaires de la population mondiale, entend faire de sa zone économique exclusive un facteur de développement économique et social. Il s'efforce néanmoins d'éviter toute exploitation irrationnelle de ses ressources halieutiques, laquelle va à l’encontre même de toute stratégie d'aménagement et de développement des pêches. En effet, le secteur des pêches au Maroc est conçu: premièrement, comme un réservoir stratégique de ressources alimentaires à même de participer à l'équilibre nutritionnel de la population; deuxièmement, comme une source importante de devises pouvant contribuer, au rétablissement de l'équilibre de la balance des paiements; et troisièmement, comme une source d'emplois et une activité pouvant contribuer à la promotion du mondo rural et à la fixation des populations dans leur zone d'origine par la création de pools de développement.
Les résultats enregistrés jusqu'à présent au niveau de la contribution du secteur des pêches à la réalisation de ces objectifs socio-économiques sont fort encourageants. Toutefois, il convient de signaler que d'importants efforts restent encore à entreprendre en vue d'améliorer davantage le niveau de ces contributions. Nous sommes convaincus de la nécessité de préserver ces ressources dont la valeur nutritive en protéines permettrait de remédier aux carences alimentaires dont souffrent los p¿iys les plus démunis.
Nous sommes convaincus de la nécessité de préserver ces ressources dont la valeur nutritive en protéines permettrait de remédier aux carences alimentaires dont souffrent les pays les plus démunis.
Le Maroc, se basant sur des études scientifiques, faites avec l'assistance de la FAO, s'est attelé à l'élaboration d'un plan d'exploitation optimale des ressources halieutiques et a recherché des zones économiques exclusives.
Ce plan détermine pour chaque pêcherie, premièrement le niveau de l'effort de pêche, et en second lieu le niveau admissible de captures pouvant être 'réalisées, sans risquer de compromettre le cycle normal de reproduction des espèces. Cependant, et en l'absence d'une part-d'un'ontrole-et d'une surveillance appropriés, et d'autre part d'une législation maritime adaptée, toute politique de planification et d'aménagement des pêches n'aurait qu'une portée limitée. Sur ce plan, le Maroc, grâce a la précieuse assistance de la FAO et d'autres organisations s'occupant des questions maritimes en général, procède actuellement à la refonte et a la révision de son code maritime afin de l'adapter aux nouvelles conditions et circonstances imposées par le progrès technologique et l'évolution du droit de la mer.
Ma délégation saisit cette occasion pour rendre un vibrant hommage à la FAO pour le travail remarquable qu'elle a accompli et qu'elle accomplit toujours en vue d'aider les pays membres à améliorer le niveau de leur capacité nationale en matière d'aménagement et de développement des pêches. En effet, que cela soit au niveau de la formation, de la collecte des statistiques et des Informations qu'elle traite et diffuse, ou au niveau des avis scientifiques et techniques qu'elle donne, la FAO joue indéniablement un rôle capital dans le cadre de la planification et de l'aménagement des peches. Comme nous le savons tous, la pêche artisanale, particulièrement dans les pays en voie de
développement, fournit l'essentiel des approvisionnements en poisson, de l'emploi et des devises, et reste parfaitement intégrée aux économies des états cotiers. A ce titre, elle bénéficie, au Maroc, d'une attention particulière, concrétisée par des mesures incitatives et des aides instituées en sa faveur. Parmi ces mesures, il convient de signaler qu'outre le code relatif à l'encouragement des investissements maritimes, le Gouvernement marocain s'apprête à mettre en place une institution de crédit maritime qui financera les activités tant en amont qu'en aval de la pêche cotere en général. Ces crédits seront accordés à des conditions bien adaptées aux spécificités de ce secteur.
En outre, l'importance que revêt la promotion économique et sociale du marin pêcheur ne nous a pas échappé et c'est la raison pour laquelle, conformément aux principes énoncés dans la strategic d'aménagement et de développement des pêches, nous projetons, le long du littoral national, l'implantation de villages de pêche. Ces centres de pêche, qui seront équipés aussi d'installations de froid, de manutention et de commercialisation des produits de la pêche, sont susceptibles d'améliorer les conditions économiques et le niveau de vie du marin.
En ce qui concerne le développement de l'aquaculture, nous nous réjouissons de ce que ce secteur ait reçu un important soutien financier de la part des donateurs car nous considérons que c'est là un créneau qui renferme de larges possibilités pour l'accroissement des disponibilités alimentaires.
Grâce au projet régional de développement de l'aquaculture en Méditerranée, (MEDRAP), il y a eu un accroissement des stocks de manière très encourageante et le projet mis en place est déjà dans une phase d'exploitation industrielle. Aussi, souhaitons-nous vivement que la FAO prenne contact - si ce n'est déjà fait - avec les donateurs pour la prorogation de ce projet -qui expire, en principe, au cours de cette année.
Par ailleurs, et sur le plan de la commercialisation, nous considérons que la FAO a accompli un travail remarquable par la mise en place dans tous les continents du globe, de systèmes d'information destines à fournir aux pays membres des indications régulières sur l'évolution du commerce international du poisson et des produits de la peche.
Dans ce cadre, le Maroc s'apprête à abriter une consultation internationale entre les opérateurs publics et privés du commerce international des produits de la pêche, consultation organisée par le service régional d'information Info-Pêche. Cependant, en vue de permettre au commerce international des produits de la pêche de connaître un développement: réel, nous aimerions que les barrières douanières et tarifaires soient progressivement supprimées alors quo les produits de la péche pays en voie de développement puissent accéder aux marchés des pays développés et ainsi accroître leur part dans le commerce international de poisson. De même, il serait souhaitable que le Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM), utilise de plus en plus et en plus grande quantité le poisson et les produits de la pêche en général, dans son programme d'aide alimentaire aux pays les plus démunis.
Je voudrais signaler enfin que le Maroc vient d'achever la préparation d'un nouveau pian national de développement de son secteur des pêches et, à ce niveau, tous les principes énoncés au niveau de la stratégie d'aménagement et de développement des pêches ont été observés. Je signale également que les crédits budgétaires alloués au secteur maritime, au titre du nouveau plan sont quatre fois supérieurs à ceux de l'ancien plan, et ce, malgré une conjoncture financière des plus difficiles.
Paul MUSCAT (Malta): I join my colleagues in congratulating Mr Lindquist for his very clear exposition of the report.
My Ministor in his address to the FAO has stressed the importance on fisheries to Malta. In view of this and considering that the Programmes of Action seem to have been fully accepted by almost all the countries concerned, I wish to go through these areas of action and highlight items of importance to us.
We also believe that Programme No I provides developing countries with access to a range of skills required for planning and development of marine fisheries. We observe, however, that such training is mainly based on short-term ones. Wo agree with such courses but certainly feel that courses of a higher standard leading to MSc and PhD in marine biology, maritime law and management be also made readily available.
Programme No II on small-scale fisheries aims at improving the socio-economic conditions of communities.
My government has as its avowed aim to raise the social and economic level of fishermen by helping them build better houses, buy better boats, engines, fishing gear and equipment; by advancing to them credit facilities; cold storage facilities, and by improvement in fishing ports.
Fishermen, too, like all other citizens in Malta, benefit through a free health service, a free education service and a system of social services aiming at providing assistance to cover interruption in earning power and exceptional needs.
However, it is in the processing of fish that Malta needs assistance and this mainly in the canning industry. As fish catches are not on a continuous basis, Malta needs to consider entering into joint ventures with other countries to set up such an industry who would provide the fish when the catch is low and also the markets, we would of course provide labour and other facilities.
Programme No III, aquaculture development, we feel that a more effective organization of aquaculture development in the Mediterranean is needed. It is true that a great deal has been done in this direction in recent years. Certain attempts met with failure, as for example the earlier attempts to improve wild stocks, as for example of plaice in the North Sea, by breeding and transplantation,failed due to absence of enforcible controls over harvesting. The project that had the cooperation of MEDRAP - the FAO/UNDP Mediterranean aquaculture project - was instrumental in the setting up of various pilot projects in the Mediterranean and included training sessions and the establishment of a training centre. Unfortunately MEDRAP terminated its activities at a very early stage of aquaculture development in the region.
We feel that MEDRAP is still required to follow up this development and that funds should be made available for its re-establishment. Here Malta requires special assistance and attention to develop aquaculture in view of its small size and position in the Mediterranean. It is felt that aquaculture should be well developed in Malta for various reasons.
In the first instance the products of marine aquaculture go. direct to human nutrition; they have a high unit value and the work is labour intensive. Malta has the availability of labour and a relatively unpolluted sea. Above all, aquaculture products would boost the increasing tourist trade in Malta. For these reasons Malta should pursue aquaculture on commercial lines. Malta can too with FAO assistance participate actively in researches to be undertaken at the International Ocean Institute which was set up in Malta not very long ago. Technical and professional assistance at a high level would be required to achieve good results from such research. I mean here people coming from other countries, people at a high level of professional ability.
Turning now to Programme No.IV, international trade in fish and fishery products, most countries would benefit by the maintenance and extension of the regional fish marketing information and technical advisory services already established by FAO.
In the case of the Mediterranean region I wish to submit the following. The Mediterranean countries consume about ten percent by weight of the world fish production. As Malta has developed a trans-shipment centre we are prepared to consider offering Malta as a clearing house for fish and fish products. Malta too can serve as a regional fish marketing information service within the Programme of Action proposed and approved by the World Fisheries Conference.
Another point that emerges in the case of planning and of international and regional trade is the fact that the number and type of fishing vessels available and required to ensure a sustainable harvest is not known. I am talking of the Mediterranean here. Such information is required just as much as data on fish landings. It is generally accepted that the Mediterranean is heavily exploited and that it has an excessive number of fishing fleets.
Malta has an established merchant vessel registration system and the staff for the setting up of a regional register for fishing vessels is in our opinion competent. It is proposed that Malta be set up as such a registration centre.
Now I come to Programme No. V, promotion of the role of fisheries in alleviating undernutrition. All agree that fish and fish produce are a vital source of food.
Unfortunately the Mediterranean and other seas have been severely depleted by over fishing, bad fishing techniques that kill the young fish and also by pollution.
With regard to the last cause, Malta takes an active role in combatting pollution in the Mediterranean through the Mediterranean Oil Pollution Combatting Centre. However, in the case of fisheries management much remains to be done in the international field.
My Minister in his address to the FAO welcomed the proposal of the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean to initiate as early as possible the project entitled "Fisheries Resources evaluation and management in the Mediterranean."
It is said that the annual Mediterranean fish catch is somewhere around 1 million tons. The size of the catch is considered to be low. But as it is consumed directly its money value is high and in this sense it is regarded as being worth more than the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries or the famous Peruvian Anchovy Fishery before its unfortunate collapse. To prevent a similar fate in the Mediterranean, we wish to see the project proposed by the General Fisheries Council in the Mediterranean become a reality as early as possible.
Now I come to my final point. Following Malta's initiative taken about 20 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982. This convention under Articles 276 and 277 mandates the establishment of regional centres which should be effected through States in coordination with the competent international organizations and national marine scientific and technological research institutions.
Article 277 provides inter alia for:
(a). The training and educational programmes at all levels on various aspects of marine scientific and technological research, particularly marine biology, including conservation of living resources.
(b). Study programmes for the protection and preservation of the marine environment and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution.
(c). The close cooperation in the dissemination of marine technology, marketing etc.
My Prime Minister in his recent address at the 42nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly pointed out that despite the importance of these centres, yet no such centre had so far been established.
At the 5th Ordinary Meeting of Parties under the Barcelona Convention held in September 1987, it was proposed that the first centre should be in the Mediterranean region. The reason for this is that the Mediterranean Basin, bordered by developed as well as developing countries, countries having different social and economic systems, should provide an ideal setting for a pilot project for research and development in marine industrial technology.
While fully aware that such issues pertain mainly to other United Nations organizations, such as UNEP, yet I feel that the FAO can help by proposing to the competent authorities the setting up of such a centre. If approved, Malta may perhaps be considered for the setting up of such a pilot regional contre. The International Ocean Institute in Malta may serve as such a centre.
Antonio R. PIRES (Cap-Vert): Je vais suivre votre appel et tenir compte de l'heure tardive de nos débats.
Ma délégation s'associe aux orateurs qui nous ont précédés et félicite Monsieur Lindquist pour sa présentation brillante do co document C 87/24 concernant la mise en oeuvre de la stratégie et du programme d'action approuvés en 1984, par la Conférence Mondiale à laquelle mon pays assistait et qu'il a suivie avec beaucoup d'attention; ma délégation comprend tout l'intérêt de ce programme d-'action.
J'aimerais également féliciter le secrétariat pour son travail, car il nous a présenté un document très fouillé et ordonné , nous permettant une analyse très simple mais concrète. Je saisis cette occasion pour associer ma voix aux orateurs qui m'ont précédé pour rendre un hommage à notre regretté ami Jean Carroz; c'était un ami pour nous tous.
Le gouvernement du Cap-Vert a adopté le programme d'action tel que présenté dans le cadre du Plan de développement.
Je vais passer brièvement en revue certaines actions en tenant compte des préoccupations et stratégies dégagées dans le cadre de cette Conférence.
A not ie niveau, avec l'aide de la FAO et des pays amis, nous avons pris nos responsabilités et no e part dans l'application de la stratégie adoptée par cette Conférence. Le Conseil des Ministres vient d'approuver plusieurs décrets en matière de politique d'économie et de gestion des ressources halieutiques au début de l'année 1987. Nous avons créé une nouvelle entreprise publique pour la commercialisation des produits de la mer au capital d'environ 1,8 million de dollars, une entreprise de peche industrielle au capital de 2,4 millions de dollars, chiffres colossaux pour un pays de la dimension du Cap-Vert.
La vente au détail est laissée au secteur privé qui est tout à fait bien organisé; nous n'avons négligé ni les recherches ni la formation car ces deux volets - et en particulier le volet formation - constituent la base du développement de la pêche à tous les niveaux du pays. C'est ainsi que nous avons créé un institut national de promotion de la pêche artisanale et un institut piscicole.
Mais toutes ces institutions ont été dotées d'uno large autonomia administrative et financière. Avant de terminer, tout en appuyant le contenu de ce document et de ses pertinentes recommandations et en tenant compte de l'importance particulière que la pêche revêt pour mon pays, non seulement comme source nutritionnelle très importante, mais aussi comme source de devises pour l'exportation; je me réfère au point 19 et tiens ici à appuyer ce qu'a dit le délégué de la France en ce qui concerne l'aide que la FAO, dans le cadre du programme, dispense aux Etats Membres pour ce qui concerne les données tant biologiques que socio-économiques qui permettent aux Etats de mieux maîtriser les éléments et mieux programmer leur stratégie nationale. Nous avons également pris note de la coopération fructueuse qui existe entre la FAO et l'ONUDI, tenant compte de ce qui s'est dégagé de notre comité des pêches. Nous attachons une importance particulière au contenu du point 27.I et 27.II notamment on ce qui concerne la planification, l'aménagement et le développement des pêches et plus particulièrement le point 2 pour l'intégration, l'approche intégrée du développement de la pêche artisanale qui nous paraît très important pour l'encadrement des pêcheurs et de leurs familles. Au point 31, en ce qui concerne le programme d'action I "Planification d'aménagement et développement des pêches", nous félicitons de toutes les actions entreprises dans le cadre du programme qui nous est cher, Comité des pêches atlantique Centre-Est (COPACE). Nous connaissons les difficultés que le COPACE vit actuellement. Nous tenons ici à remercier les pays donateurs qui ont soutenu ce programme et nous lançons un vibrant appel afin que d'autres pays puissent soutenir la FAO dans le cadre des actions du COPACE.
Le point 32, Actions et programmes régionaux, entamés par la FAO en Afrique de l'Ouest méritent l'attention de la délégation du Cap-Vert et nous tenons à dire que nous encourageons les travaux qui vont dans ce sens, particulièrement la question de la commercialisation des pêches, la promotion des opérations techniques entre pays en voie de développement qui figure au paragraphe 34 et revêt une grande importance pour nous de même que les programmes définis dans le cadre d'INFOPECHE.
Pour terminer nous voudrions souligner l'action particulière au programme d'action V: "Promotion du rôle des ressources que la FAO a octroyé aux pays sahéliens dans le cadre du programme de technologie de transformation et de contrôle de la qualité du poisson". Voilà. Nous désirons, encore une fois, réaffirmer l'appui total sur toutes les recommandations figurant au point 45 et celles formulées sur le rôle du Comité des pêches.
S. RAJASEKAR (New Zealand): I would first of all begin by congratulating the Secretariat for its efforts in preparing and presenting document C 87/24. Let me begin by saying that fisheries is a very important sector of the New Zealand economy. New Zealand, by virtue of its location in the South Pacific has one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones in the world and our approach to the management of our zone reflects the principles and guidelines endorsed by the World Fisheries Conference. New Zealand was one of the countries that provided a comprehensive response to the FAO questionnaire on progress in implementing the guidelines of the Fisheries Conference. In the various specialist committees of FAO, New Zealand has provided detailed explanation of its fisheries. management and development policies. I do not therefore propose to go into details of our fisheries policy. I would simply observe over the last three years or so we have taken a number of difficult decisions to protect our fishery resources and set in place a management regime that provides for sound commercial development of our fisheries sector while meeting the needs of conservation.
New Zealand's interest and concern in the area of fisheries management is not solely restricted to its own territorial sea and exclusive Economic Zone. We firmly believe in the benefits of cooperation and have worked closely with our island neighbours in the Pacific region through our involvement in the Forum Fisheries Agency. As was highlighted in the Plenary by several delegates from the South Pacific, fisheries is important to the future prosperity and development of the island nations of the South Pacific and we would urge the FAO to give greater attention to the needs and aspirations of these countries. Their relative isolation, vast fisheries zones and small population base make such special attention imperative for the realization of their fisheries potential.
I might add that my comments would equally apply to the field of agriculture.
Jung Joo KIM (Korea, Republic of): First, congratulations for your election to the Chair.
The Republic of Korea would like to express its sincere appreciation for the FAO's thoughtful measures to develop the fisheries sector.
As is well known, marine projects are regarded as an important animal protein source with minor harm for health caused by such as cholesterol. Furthermore it ispossible to utilize fully the irrigation facilities for agriculture, such as lakes and the rivers through aquaculture bringing about an increase of rural farmers additional income.
in this context, as a peninsular country, the Republic of Korea is trying to develop a seashore under the Marine Ranching project and it is our sincere hope to develop fisheries skill through exchanging experience among member countries under the FAO's initiation. Also on a bilateral basis we want to open the door to any member countries for the fisheries development. So far the Republic of Korea has had many opportunities to share experience with developing countries.
In conclusion, we will fully support FAO's efforts for the fisheries development project and we hope more considerable efforts should be taken into account in FAO's fisheries projects; first, management skill development at the individual fisheries farm level thereby cutting the cost down; secondly, encouragement of fisheries cooperative activities so that small-scale fishermen could utilize their resources; thirdly, development of fisheries raw data processing and their distribution for RRD:urthly, development of fisheries marketing which is laid in the primitive stage compared to other commodities; fifthly, efforts to eliminate sea pollution caused by the process of industrialization.
Carlos Moyses ANDREOTTI (Brésil): La delegation brésilienne souligne le document C 87/24 et l'elicitele Directeur général de la FAO pour la manière objective avec laquelle été traité.
Tout d'abord je voudrais souligner à la page 4 au paragraphe 12 du texte français le caractère tres souple et peu contraignant de l'action de la FAO.
Je voudrais souligner aussi au paragraphe 17 page 5 du texte français l'importance accordée au développement de l'aquaculture. Au paragraphe 22 de la page 6 du texte français nous soulignons "le rôle important que jouent dans de nombreux pays les sources intérieures d'investissement tant publiques que privées" ainsi que "l'aquaculture intégrée au développement de la pêche continentale" (paragraphe 27 page 7 programme II du texte français). La délégation brésilienne a analysé le document sur l'approche intégrée du développement de la pêche artisanale. En exprimant sa satisfaction elle aimerait saisir l’occasion pour faire quelques observations à propos de l'expérience brésilienne dans ce domaine, qui je pense pourrait être utile pour l'action de la FAO et peut-être aussi pour les pays membres.
Je me rapporte, en premier lieu, à l'aquaculture, qui est devenue pour le gouvernement brésilien, une priorité: "la surintendance de la pêche", et j'aimerais bien citer le Centre international de pisciculture au Brésil qui est un grand soutien pour la FAO. Bien que cette surintendance, en plus de faire de la recherche sur différentes espèces de poissons, de crevettes d'eau douce et d'eau salée et aussi sur des grenouilles et d'investir dans la formation de cadres moyens, et supérieurs produise des allevins et les vende aux éleveurs privés. Cola veut dire pour nous que l'aquaculture ne se borne pas seulement à l'élevage de poissonsecadre de la pêche maritime et continentale soit à un niveau artisanal ou non, mais qu'elle travaille aussi avec l'élevage de crevettes et de grenouilles. On essaie de mettre l'accent sur la production soit de poissons, soit de crevettes, soit de grenouilles au niveau familial, pas seulement: au niveau artisanal ou à des niveaux de grandes entreprises commerciales. Pour ce qui est de l'intégration de la pêche artisanale, il me semble que le concept, dans ce document, donne une idée un peu vague, un peu générale, et je l'avoue, je ne l'ai pas bien saisi. De toutes façons, chez nous, l'intégration de l’acquaculture peut étre à deux niveaux. En premier lieu au niveau de l'intégration de l'initiative privée et du secteur public. Le secteur public, y compris les grandes entreprises hydro-électriques fait le travail de base, c'est-à-dire, va jusqu'à l'éclosion des oeufs, (soit de poissons soit de crevettes, soit de grenouilles). Peut-être les grands réservoirs dans les grandes entreprises hydro-électriques fournissent, de l'autre coté, les allevins et les girins aux éleveurs privés. L'importance de
l'enterprise de l'éleveur compte peu. Il peut s'agir d'un éleveur au niveau familial. Dans un second niveau, cette intégration se fait au niveau de la production à l'intérieur de la ferme elle-même et peu importe l'importance de la ferme. Cela peut-être une petite ferme ou une grande ferme. D'ailleurs, je penseque nous connaissons tous le concept de ferme intégrée ou de ferme auto-suffisante. Peut-être ce n'est pas le cas de préciser. On peut le comprendre, car si l'on pense que la production de grains et de graminées alimente l'élevage des porcs, des animaux soit des poissons, soit des grenouilles, soit de crevettes, des lapins ou autres animaux, les fumures permettent d'alimenter l'élevage soit de poissons, soit de crevettes, soit de grenouilles. En même temps, c'est un cycle qui dans certaines fermes peut être plus élargi. Cette même fumure peut être utilisée pour la production de gaz méthane ou pour la production agricole. Peut-être par exemple dans la production de canne à sucre, ou de sorgho lesquels peuvent être utilisés pour la production d'alcool et une autre partie reviendrait sur les champs pour continuer le cycle de production de graines et de semences qui continuent à alimenter les animaux etc. Le programme d'aquaculture no se limite pas aux pêcheurs marins ou continentaux, il est ouvert à tous les agriculteurs.
Pour ce qui est des investissements internes, publics comme privés, le Gouvernement brésilien doit garantir le crédit à tous les projets d'élevage de poisson, de crevettes ou de grenouilles. Mais l'initiative privée intervient aussi. D'ailleurs, cette participation est marquante surtout dans l'élevage des grenouilles, non seulement du point de vue financier mais aussi du point de vue de la découverte de nouvelles méthodes d'élevage. Elle a travaillé cette année à la formulation définitive d'un concentré pour l'alimentation des grenouilles, ce que l'on ne croyait pas possible encore au début de l'année et elle espère arriver prochainement à un processus plus simple de traitement de la peau tandis que le traitement des viscères pour la production de fils chirurgicaux est déjà un processus normal.
Pour finir, je voudrais tout simplement souligner, en guise de conclusion de mon intervention, que l'initiative privée, lorsqu'elle n'est pas bloquée par la lenteur ou l'étroitesse de la bureaucratie publique, peut aller loin et très vite, apportant une contribution beaucoup plus importante qu'on ne le croit au développement de nos pays.
Luis de Andrés ORTIZ (España): Seré breve y esquemático. Comenzaremos felicitando calurosamente a la Secretaría por el documento C 87/24 quo estamos debatiendo y al Sr. Lindquist por su exposición.
Asimismo deseamos sumarnos al homenaje al Dr. Carroz; estamos seguros de que su recuerdo perdurará en la memoria de cuantos tuvimos el alto honor de conocerle.
Queríamos señalar que la política pesquera española ha incorporado los principios recogidos en la estrategia aprobada en la Conferencia de 1984. Desde entonces en este intervalo de tiempo se ha producido un hecho importanteue es nuestra adhesión a la Comunidad Económica Europea y, en consecuencia, desde el 1 de enero de 1986 adoptamos los principios y normas de la política común pesquera.
Por último, querría hacer una alusión particular al proyecto CECAF señalando nuestro interés en que dicho proyecto continúe también a partir del 1 de enero de 1988 en nuestra doble condición, por un lado como país ribereño, y por otro lado por la presidencia del CECAF que actualmente ostenta España.
Espero haber sido breve.
Pedro SEBASTIÃO (Angola): Permettez-nous, au nom de la délégation angolaise de vous féliciter de présider notre Commission. Nous espérons que votre sagesse et votre compétence seront la garantie de la réussite de nos travaux.
Nous voudrions également associer notre voix à celle des délégués qui nous ont précédés pour féliciter le Secrétariat de la qualité du document qui nous est soumis.
A nostre avis, cette enceinte est le lieu idéal pour échanger les expériences vécues et dresser un bilan de ce qui a été réalisé après la Conférence mondiale de la FAO sur l'aménagement et le développement des pêches.
Dans mon pays, la peche revêt une importance capitale et son développement s'inscrit dans le cadre global des priorités établies par notre Gouvernement pour atteindre l’autosuffisance alimentaire et constituer une source de devises. A cet effet, un programme a été établi et mis en oeuvre pour l'organisation et la gestion des entreprises appropriées que l'on est en train d'équiper de bateaux industriels pour remplacer les anciens en bois.
Vu l'augmentation de la capture, nous envisageons des investissements dans le domaine de la transformation, dans l'augmentation de la capacité de réception, dans la création et l'adoption de nouvelles structures de production de poissons salés et dans l'utilisation des déchets. Par conséquent, des entreprises de manutention sont mises sur pied et équipées pour l'entretien des bateaux.
Nous pouvons affirmer ici que notre Gouvernement a accordé une attention spéciale au développement de la pêche artisanale. En effet, les résultats du permier séminaire sur les ressources halieutiques de l'Angola, réalisé à Luanda, cette année, nous ont encouragés à promouvoir la pêche artisanale. Nous espérons entreprendre, avec la FAO, l'année prochaine, l'initiative qui constituera la plateforme de la pêche artisanale grace à laquelle l'Organisation pourra nous venir en aide. Nous remercions la FAO, le PNUD et le Gouvernement norvégien pour la réalisation dudit séminaire.
La formation, dans ce domaine, est l'une des grandes préoccupations de notre Gouvernement. Deux écoles seront créées pour la formation de cadres de base, ce qui élèvera à cinq le nombre de centres de formation. A ce sujet, nous ne pouvons laisser passer cette occasion sans remercier le Gouvernement suédois pour l'aide précieuse, qu'il nous apporte dans ce domaine, dans le cadre de la coopération bilatérale de nos gouvernements.
En ce qui concerne la commercialisation du poisson, nous souhaitons que la FAO puisse poursuivre son action afin, dans le cadre du Programme spéciale d'assistance technique, d'offrir son aide aux pays en développement pour assurer leur participation au commerce international des produits de pêche.
Pour terminer, nous appuyons les recommandations faites parle Comité des pêches de la FAO telles qu'elles figurent dans le document C 87/24, aux paragraphes 46 et 47.
Kjell Arne HAGEN (Norway): Due to the late hour and taking into account your request to be brief the Norwegian delegation will present a more concentrated statement than originally intended. The Norwegian delegation welcomes document C 87/24 and the discussion of the implementation of the strategy and Programmes of Action approved by the 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development.
We endorse the work being carried out by the Secretariat of FAO related to the collection of information on national measures taken by various countries in follow-up of the e strategy approved by the World Fisheries Conference. The Norwegian delegation recommends that FAO continues its work in collecting information on the status of activities being carried out at the sub-regional, interregional and global levels. The principles entailed in the report from the World Fisheries Conference are the basis for FAO's fisheries programmes. However, these principles should also be taken as guidelines for the development programmes in the fisheries sector carried out on a bilateral basis. We strongly support measures taken to improve management of resources as such. The improvement of fisheries management is a prerequisite for a balanced and sustainable development in the fisheries sector. We want to put special emphasis on the development of small-scale fisheries and the need to promote the participation of women in the fisheries sector, not necessarily implying that women should go fishing or be directly employed in the fish production; but that project effects on women and children in the fishing communities are taken into due consideration when projects and programmes are planned and executed.
In the discussion under item 14 my delegation made some remarks about the thematic evaluation of aquaculture. We will not repeat these remarks under this item but only underline that such evaluations should be carried out and presented in an independent manner.
Norway will stress the importance of bearing in mind that we have only one earth and that ail investment and development projects have to be based on the fact that the fish resources, although renewable, can easily be depleted. We ail have a responsibility for our common future and safeguarding the sustainability of our marine resources is of greatest importance. This we do in our opinion best through improved management of our fish resources through research, planning and coordination of development cooperation.
Angus Edward MACDONALD (Australia): My delegation welcomes the papers presented to the Commission on this item. Australia favours regular reporting by governments on the extent of implementation of the strategy and programmes of action approved by the 1984 World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development. We of course view the strategy as a guide, not intended to be binding on governments. We believe that regular reviews will not only help in determining the extent to which governments adhere to the provisions of the strategy, but will provide a continuing assessment of the relevance of the strategy itself.
Australia submitted its report to FAO in mid 1986, in which we advised that we had moved further towards developing fisheries management regimes for Australian fisheries. Government and industry management committees had been promoted and the Fishing Industry Policy Council of Australia continues to provide for high levels of consultation between government and industry on proposed fisheries measures. Australia manages the Australian fishing zone in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is prepared to advise other countries on management techniques as required, and within its capacity Australia is ready to help in training activities in this sector.
We particularly welcome FAO's reporting on international trade in fish and fishery products, regional fish marketing information services, international fish marketing indicators and the multilateral framework for consultation on international trade in fisheries products. Consistent with our position on agricultural trade liberalization, Australia supports a policy of freeing up trade in fish and fish products.
In conclusion I would like to associate my delegation with the remarks made by the New Zealand delegate concerning the role of FAO in fisheries activities in the South West Pacific region. We believe there is very considerable potential economic benefit to be gained by Pacific island countries in the fishing sector and we would urge FAO to be more actively involved in this region.
Jacobus J. NEETESON (Netherlands): I have four brief remarks: one. the establishment of exclusive economic zones has focused the attention of countries on the possibilities for increasing returns from fisheries. However, expectations of higher catches have hardly come true yet. The reasons for this include lack of knowledge about existing fish resources which may lead to too high expectations of catches, and second, inability of countries to exercise the necessary control for the correct management of their EEZ. Since it appears that the FAO regional committees for the management of fishery resources have proven their value, we suggest that these points receive more attention from these regional committees.
My second remark, the Netherlands delegation finds the strategy for fisheries management and development approved by the 1984 World Fisheries Conference a useful and guiding instrument for the development of fisheries. Likewise the programmes of action have contributed to the selection of priorities for our development cooperation programme. They also facilitate donor coordination and exchange of information, to which we attach high importance. The Netherlands has a major interest in Action Programme V: Promotion of the Role of Fisheries in Alleviating Under-nutrition, and has already supported several activities in this respect. One of these was in consultation with FAO: the workshop on fisheries and nutrition, held in June this year in the Hague. In the framework of Action Programme V our emphasis will be on including nutritional considerations in existing fishery activities. Such projects should firstly benefit the fishery community itself, both in terms of consumption and improvement of incomes. In our opinion fish should be considered as part of the total food package that is availabe to the people, and not just as a product that can remedy undernutrition. The role of women in this respect needs special attention.
My third remark, apart from Action Programme V, other priority areas being considered by the Netherlands are integrated development of small-scale fisheries, especially the reduction of post-harvest losses, inland fisheries and aquaculture, and improvement of organizational and management aspects.
Finally, we appreciate the priority attached by the FAO to fisheries development. In this respect we welcome that the FAO Sen award this year has been won by a fisheries expert in the person of my fellow-countryman Mr Scheffers.
Getachew TEKLEMEDEHIN (Ethiopia): Since I am the last man I will take my statement as brief as possible so that we can leave the room. The delegation of Ethiopia would like to join the other speakers before us to thank the Secretariat for a brief and clearly presented report.
Ethiopia has given great emphasis to fishery development in its strategy of food self-sufficiency. There is a good potential for developing fish in my country. Ethiopia has many lakes, rivers and coastal fishing areas. Moreover, with the current emphasis given to the development of small and medium-scale irrigation schemes, a number of ponds, small-and medium-size dams have been constructed and more are under construction or are in the planning stage. These water bodies provide a great potential for developing fishing and fish farming. To this effect, to develop the fishery industry, the Government has taken a number of steps. Of these the most important ones are to organize farmers into producer cooperatives; organizing of marketing schemes or providing marketing facilities for fishermen; providing fishing materials such as boats, gear and other facilities on credit. In regard to this we are currently building a boat-building plant mainly catering for fishermen.
This brief outline of the activities we are doing, I hope will give an idea as to how much we are following the guidelines and the strategies developed by the Fisheries Conference.
As has been pointed out by the distinguished delegate of Bangladesh, time has now allowed to evaluate the implementation of the strategies as outlined.
I would like to thank those countries and organizations which have given assistance to the Government of Ethiopia in supporting our fishery development. We also want to indicate our great need for technical as well as financial assistance requirements in the future to develop our fishing industry.
Mme Anna Teresa FRITTELLI ANNIBALDl (Italie): Je serai très brève; je voudrais tout d'abord, Monsieur le Président, vous féliciter de votre éleccion,t féliciter le Secrétariat pour la qualité et la clarté de ce document. Je voudrais également unir ma voix aux délégations qui m'ont précédée pour rendre hommage à Monsieur Carroz.
Enfin, je ne veux pas manquer cette occasion de confirmer tout l'intérêt que mon pays, entouré par la mer, porte aux conclusions de la Conférence Mondiale sur la pêche. Le Plan général italien sur la pêche de 1981 se rallie déjà aux grandes lignes confirmées par la Conférence et nous nous efforçons de mettre en place dans notre pays tout ce que la Conférence a recommandé. L'aménagement de la pêche, l'aquaculture, la pêche artisanale et la formation sont l'objet de toute notre attention, et les activités que nous poursuivons dans le cadre de la coopération et du développement vont dans le même sens. Toute notre bonne volonté suit ce même chemin.
Mme Isabelle GANSORE (Burkina Faso): Permettez-moi tout d'abord de féliciter le Secrétariat pour la présentation du document que nous examinons actuellement.
La Conférence mondiale sur l'aménagement et le développement des pêches a eu des effets positifs sur l'orientation de la politique nationale en matière de pêches. Notre pays s'inspire beaucoup des résultats de cette Conférence dans l'élaboration de ses programmes en matière de pêche.
Pays enclave, les activités de peche au Burkina Faso se concentrent dans les rivières, fleuves, étangs. Au Burkina Faso, nous sommes conscients du rôleque peut jouer le poisson dans la nutrition. Nous tenons à remercier particulièrement la FAO et la Communauté économique européenne pour l'appuiqu'elles nous apportent.
S'agissant de la mise en oeuvre des différents programmes, il y a lieu de se réjouir de l'appui généralement satisfaisant qu'ils ont reçu. Nous voudrions insister sur l’importance,pour les pays sans littoral de laformation, organisation des pécheurs et de la planification et l'aménagement dos eaux. Nous appuyons les propos des délégués de la Zambie, de la Chine et de la France sur l'importance de l'aquaculture et sur la nécessité urgente de la tenue d'une Conférence mondiale sur le thème.
Enfin, nous faisons nôtre la déclaration du délégué du Ghana sur l'avenir incertain du Centre africain d'aquaculture basé au Nigeria. 1/
Evlogui BONEV (UNDP): I will be very brief. May I, at the outset, allow me to congratulate the FAO Secretariat for the excellent document C 87/24 prepared for the consideration at this Conference. Similarly I would like to thank the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department, Mr Lindquist, for his clear and enlightening introduction. As can be seen from the document, UNDP remains the major contributor to the implementation of the various programmes of the Strategy and Programmes of Action approved by the 1984 FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development.
This proves the importance that UNDP attaches to this sector of development. UNDP's Fourth Five-Year Programming Cycle has started this year, i mentioned in my statement during the general debate at Plenary that the majority of the country and the regional programmes funded by UNDP had already been approved by its Governing Council. These programmes have been designed by the recipient governments themselves, with the assistance of the UNDP Resident Representatives' offices in the respectivo countries, and in close cooperation with the country representatives of our partner agencies, particularly with the major ones like FAO.
The sectoral priorities and objectives reflected in these programmes are established by the recipient governments themselves. Thus, the disťinguishedelegates who expressed regret concerning the reduced UNDP allocations for 1987, appealing to UNDP to give higher priority to fisheries development, should look into the procedures of their country coordinating institutions, in most cases the planningauthority, - in order to ascertain whether this sector could be given the priority they feel it deserves. One of UNDP'S greatest merits in this respect is perhaps that it gives good and neutral advice, but it is left to the sovereign governments themselves to decide on priorities. This is in answer to the comments by the distinguished delegate of Bangladesh and to the comments of other countries who have referred to the reduced UNDP allocations in 1987. 1 should, however, invite the attention of those delegates to paragraph 29 of the document which may help raise their expectations, as 1987 is not yet overnd possibly projects in this sector are still in the process of apparaisal and approval.
In concluding,I should like to state clearly that whatever statistics or forecasts you may see in the documents regarding UNDP support for one or another sector, these data are nothing but a reflection of the priorities and the importance attached to the respective sectors by the recipient governments themselves.
Finally, I should like to thank those delegations who referred favourably to UNDP, we appreciate their cooperation with UNDP/FAO in implementing fisheries development projects and thank them all for their pledge to further strengthen their support for our common endeavours.
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1/ Texte reçu avec demando d'insertion au procès-verbal.
Armili H. LIDQUIST (Assistant Director-General a. i., Fisheries Department): On behalf of the Secretariat, I should like to express gratitude for the overwhelming information we have received on the fishery situation in the different countries. This information will of course be used within the Fisheries Department and it will be used when updating our files on the situation in different countries. Likewise, it was very important and interesting for us to know where the main interests are in fisheries development. 1 also wish to express thanks for the many guidelines we got for our future work in very many different fields. I will not even try to summarize them.
A number of offers have been made here, for which we are very grateful: for example, training opportunities, as offered by Poland, by Chile, by Czechoslovakia, the Republic of Korea, and others. They will be considered when we are discussing training possibilities. We were also very grateful for the activities offered by different countries; for example, for regional cooperation or for hosting meetings and so on.
Turning now to the Programmes of Action, they reflect, as has been said - and I wish to underline this - with the exception of the UNDP, the preferences of the donor agencies. We are trying to do our best to show what is important; and what we have learned tonight is another argument to show to the donors. That is of the greatest importance. The Programmes of Action are concerned with regional activities. Therefore it would not be possible to have a list for the next meeting of the latest regional activities of developing countries. Of course, we could perhaps make a compromise and see in each region which were the least developed countries. I think the Delegate from Bangladesh put forward this idea.
Ninety eighty-seven is not yet finished, as the observer from UNDP mentioned. These are not the final figures for 1987. There were specific questions about the Mediterranean Aquaculture Programme (MEDRAP) - in new phases formulated now with the support of Italy. With regard to the Eastern Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (CECAF), several delegations have expressed the wish that everything should be done to continue its activities and projects there. We have every hope that something positive will develop and we have approached different donors. As we have heard, the present President of CECAF, who comes from Spain, has made her own efforts too. So although we cannot be entirely sure, weare fairly positive that something will happen and that there will be continuation.
Finally, there was the question of ARAC, the Aquaculture Centre in Algeria. The project, as such, has been evaluated by a UNDP Evaluation Mission. I understand that its extension will be supported, with some modifications. Other donors will be asked to participate in this activity. These are the most important questions which 1 wanted to answer.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): In the name of all members of the Commission, I should like to thank you very much for all the information you have been good enough to provide us with during this meeting. We have just finished this agenda item. The interventions have been serious and constructive. As it is very late, I shall not sum up everything that has occurred during this meeting. However, I believe the'Secretariat will take note of the comments which have been made and they will reflect all points reflect all points of view in the report of the Drafting Committee which will be submitted to you later. I should like to thank all delegates for their constructive cooperation.
The meeting rose at 21.00 hours
La séance est levés à 21h 00
Se levanta la sesión a las 21.00 horas
