II.1 A BRIEF REVIEW OF MAJOR FISHING AREAS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS

Total landings of finfish and invertebrates in 1993 were 2.4 million metric tons (t), a reduction of 19.5% compared to 1990 and below the average level of landings seen during the 1970s and 1980s. The main fisheries within Area 21 are: Atlantic cod, pollock, hake, Atlantic red fishes, Atlantic herring, Atlantic menhadin, Atlantic mackerel, plaice, halibut, haddock, crabs, lobsters, northern prawn, pink shrimps, American sea scallop, ocean quahog, clams and squids. The downward trend in landings from 1990 to 1992 can be attributed to the decline in catches of demersal fish, with nearly 50% of the drop being due to the reduced catch of Northern Atlantic cod. However, landings for all major species groups declined. The shift by demersal fisheries toward landing formerly low value species following the gadoid collapse continues, although the absolute quantities being landed have decreased markedly between 1990 and 1992, particularly for silver hake, Atlantic redfish, and pollack. Total landings of capelin declined significantly (from 183 792 t in 1990 to 30 978 t in 1992).

The problems encountered in managing stocks which extend beyond the 200 miles zone of coastal States continues. A key feature is the continuing fishing activities of non-Contracting Parties in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area. Of particular note is the problem caused by flag of convenience vessels. Despite declines in the size of stocks of several species in traditional areas, fishing effort has expanded at an alarming rate outside the 200-mile limit, in the Davis Strait and on the deep continental slope. Another management problem in Area 21 is getting timely data for stock assessments which has now been explicitly recognized in the management of Atlantic Canada's fisheries. Due to unavoidable delays in collecting and processing data, the most "recent" data that can be used in annual stock assessments is often two years old. It has been observed that incidences of misreporting by species and areas correspond with periods when quotas should have been limiting landings from specific stocks.

Total reported catches in 1993 were 10.7 million t, down slightly from 11.1 million t in 1992. The main fisheries in Area 27 are for cod, haddock, whiting, sole, mackerel, capelin, herring, hake, blue whiting, and plaice. Most of the demersal stocks continued to exhibit long-term downward trends due to excessive fishing pressure, undesirable fishing patterns (i.e., too much fishing on young fish and discarding) and poor recruitment, probably related to reduced spawning stock biomass and unfavourable environmental changes.

The level of exploitation of the North Sea cod, haddock, and whiting stocks is very high. Most of the catch consists of fish which are one or two years old, and fewer than one third of the fish alive at the start of the year survive to the end of the year. The fisheries are therefore very dependent upon newly-recruited young fish. The industrial fishery in the North Sea is targeted on small species like sandeel, Norway pout, and sprat for fish meal and oil production. Landings were around 1.8 million t in the mid-1970s and have fluctuated between 1.0 and 1.5 million t since then. Sandeel is the most important species and makes up more than 60% of the total in all years.

The Total Allowable Catch system has been used as the standard tool in managing the stocks in Area 27. As a general rule, agreed TACs throughout Area 27 have exceeded the TACs recommended by ICES and actual catches have exceeded the agreed TACs. Enforcement of management measures has not been adequate in all areas and problems arise from the fact that many of the regulated stocks are harvested in mixed fisheries. The reliability of reported landings statistics has deteriorated for some stocks as a result of management/enforcement problems which, in turn, has reduced the reliability of the scientific advice on those stocks. Discarding of undersized fish or due to low prices for specific sizes appears to be an increasing problem. Besides this obvious waste of resources this phenomenon makes the assessment of the stocks more difficult as data on the amount discarded are difficult to obtain.

ICES has in some cases in recent years departed from the practice of giving advice based on a TAC. For cod in the North Sea misreporting undermined the TAC system and ICES recommended an effort reduction with restrictions on the number of days each fishing vessel is allowed to fish in addition to TACs.

After increasing over 15 years to a high of 2.6 million t in 1984, landings in the area have decreased steadily to 1.7 million t in 1992 and then rose to 1.9 million t in 1993. Most of the decline was due to three US fisheries: Gulf menhaden, American oyster and calico scallop, which constituted 60% of landings from Area 31 in 1984, but only 35% of landings in 1992. Total landings from the remaining finfish fisheries of the region (i.e. excluding menhaden) were relatively stable at an average of about 620,000 t from 1982-1989 but increased to an average of about 715,000 t for 1990 through 1992. Over this period landings of sharks and rays, other pelagics, snappers, king and Spanish mackerel, and unidentified fishes have increased while other finfishes have remained stable or decreased slightly.

The main fisheries within Area 31 are for small pelagics (menhadens, flyingfish, mackerels), large pelagics (tunas, billfishes and sharks), reef fish (snappers and groupers), coastal demersal fish (drums, weakfish, croaker), crustaceans (shrimps, lobsters and crabs) and molluscs (oysters, scallops and conch). The landings of bony fishes not identified were 299,677 t in 1993. There are some under-utilized resources like cephalopods (squid and octopus), small pelagics, deep water shrimps and deep water snappers which may lead to increases in landings, but it is unlikely, excepting cephalopods, that these increases will be significant in the near future.

The total of reported landings for Area 34 for 1993 were 2.9 million t a significant decrease from the 1990 peak of 4.1 million t. Apart from the higher than average landings reported between 1988 and 1991, annual totals varied between 2.5 million t and 3.3 million t throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The main fisheries in Area 34 are European pilchard, sardinellas, bonga, horse mackerels, mackerels, hakes, sea breams, shrimps, cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, squids) and tunas. The landings of bony fishes not identified were 233,266 t in 1993.

Catches were recorded by 21 coastal countries and more than 18 non-coastal countries, giving a markedly international character to many of the region's fisheries and the share of landings by non-African long-range fleets remains high. It has decreased from 67% of the catch during the period 1970-74 to 43% in 1975-79, and was 58% in 1980-84. This share remained at 58% in 1989 and 1990, partly reflecting policy decision by coastal states, but also the current difficulty of some African countries in fully exploiting the resources themselves, especially given the large fluctuations of pelagic offshore resources which are of principal interest to foreign fleets.

The total landings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea were 1.7 million t in 1993. A substantial decrease from around 2 million t between 1982 to 1988 was mainly due to the collapse of Black Sea stocks of small pelagics, whose landings dropped from 833,000 t in 1988 to 428,000 t in 1990, and continued to decline in 1991 to 257,000 t. The main fisheries in Area 37 are: anchovy, pilchard, sprat, horse mackerel, hake, whitings, mullets, sardinella, tunas cephalopods, crustaceans and molluscs. The landings of bony fishes not identified were 92,025 t in 1993.

The Compliance Agreement (see above paras. 13-17), requires that vessels above a certain size be registered and fly a national flag while operating on the high seas, and this question is currently being addressed by the General Fisheries Council of the Mediterranean (GFCM). In the case of the Mediterranean, the provisions of the Compliance Agreement apply to fisheries beyond territorial seas, and its application is complicated by the small dimensions of many fishing vessels. At least a quarter of the total fishing pressure is exerted by vessels of less than 7-9 t GRT; and more than 70% of the registered catch is taken by vessels at or below 15 t GRT. These figures are probably a significant under-estimate of the importance of small fishing vessels, whose catch and existence are seriously under-estimated in FAO databases.

Total landings in Southwest Atlantic remains fairly stable. Since mid 1980s the total annual landings have been around 2,000,000 t. The total landings in Area 41 were 2.2 million t in 1993. The main fisheries in Area 41 are Argentine hake, southern blue whiting, grenadiers, sardinella, mackerel, squid, tunas and shrimps. The landings of bony fishes not identified were 212,417 t in 1993.

The fluctuations in the total catches of certain species or groups of species can be considered to be within the normal limits prevalent since 1987. Total landings of Argentinian hake ( Merluccius hubbsi ) increased from 421,000 t in 1990 to 521,000 t in 1991, and then decreased to 455,000 t in 1992. This increase with respect to previous years, has been primarily due to an increase in catches by Argentinean and Uruguayan fleets, mostly as a result of an increase, more particularly in the availability, of the stock in the traditional fishing grounds. These are mostly located in the Common Argentinian-Uruguayan Fishing Zone, but some active fishing also goes on further south.

Landings of sardinella ( Sardinella brasiliensis ) increased slightly to a total of 65,000 t in 1991-92, but are still far below the figure of more than 100,000 t per year reached in the 1970s and early 1980s. Although this might be a sign of recovery with respect to 1990, when total catches dropped to only 32,000 t, the stocks continue to be in poor condition.

Catches of squids increased consistently with respect to 1990, but are of the same order of magnitude at 700,000 t per year, as in the mid 1980s. Some improvements have been made with respect to the management of these squid stocks, particularly in the Falklands (Malvinas) area, where joint efforts are made to regulate the active offshore international fisheries that have developed in this area over the years.

Following the effective cessation of distant water fishing in 1990 in the EEZs of the then newly independent Namibia, and with increasing awareness of fisheries development in Angola, total reported landings between 1990 and 1993 in this highly productive area remained relatively constant (1,409,468 t, 1,429.055 t) at approximately 50% below the average 2.7 million t per year taken in the 1970s and 1980s. The main fisheries in Area 47 are: Cape horse mackerel, cunene horse mackerel, hakes, sardinellas, pilchard, round herring, Southern African anchovy, snoek, kingklip, sole, rock lobster, dentext, and squid.

While the relatively few species that accounted for both the major share of biomass and catches in the area continue to dominate, there have been some changes of note between 1990 and 1992, notably, the increase in landings of Southern African anchovy (up 186,000 t, or 92%) and the decline in catches of Cape hake (down 88,000 t, or 88%). Total landings of the two species of hakes from all of Area 47 dropped by 60,000 t (22%). All the hake stocks have been over-exploited, although the most southerly stocks seem to show some sign of recovery. Landings in 1991 and 1992 were 183,000 t and 208,000 t, respectively.

The Cape horse mackerel stock is currently considered in a healthy state and the policy is to maintain fishing at a high level. The anchovy stock is less valuable than pilchard and used mainly for fish meal production. Exploited almost entirely by coastal South African fleets, the anchovy stock yielded almost 373,000 t in 1989 and was considered to be fully exploited. Landings totalling 386,000 t were reported for 1992. Landings from the heavily exploited cunene horse mackerel, chub mackerel and Southern African pilchard stocks continued to decline. The high biomass of round herring( Etrumeus whiteheadi ) reported towards the end of 1989 failed to translate into significantly increased landings.

II.2 REGIONAL FISHERY BODIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS

Established by the Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 12 September 1964. The Council had been established in 1902 and the new Convention aimed to facilitate the implementation of its Programme. The Convention entered into force on 22 July 1968.

The area of competence of the Council as described in Article 2 of the Convention is the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas with emphasis on the North Atlantic. There is no precise delimitation of this area by lines of longitude and latitude. In practice ICES is primarily, but not exclusively, concerned with FAO Statistical Area 27 (Map 2).

The Council covers all living marine resources in its area of competence.

Membership of the Council is subject to the approval of three quarters of the Member States. The present members of the Council are: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, UK, and USA.

The main objectives of the Council are (a) to promote and encourage research and investigations for the study of the sea particularly those related to the living resources thereof; (b) to draw up programmes required for this purpose and to organize such research and investigation as may appear necessary; and (c) to publish or otherwise disseminate the results of its research and investigations. ICES itself is not a management body. It has an Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) which provides scientific information and advice, including recommendations for management measures (e.g. total allowable catches, minimum mesh sizes, etc.), to several international bodies dealing with fisheries in the North Atlantic Ocean (EC, IBSFC, NASCO, NEAFC) and to its Member States. Such information and advice concern fishery resources both within areas under national jurisdiction and on high seas.

FAO Statistical Area 27 in which ICES concentrates its activities.

The dotted line is the northern area of NEAFC.

Established by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Atlantic Fisheries, opened for signature in London on 18 November 1980 and entered into force on 17 March 1982.

The area of competence of the Commission is defined as the waters within those parts of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and their dependent seas which lie north of 36^oN latitude and between 42^oW longitude and 51^oE longitude; within that part of the Atlantic Ocean north of 59^oN latitude and between 44^oW and 42^oW longitude. The Baltic Sea and the belts and the Mediterranean Sea and its dependent seas are excluded from the Commission's area of competence. This area of competence coincides with most of FAO Statistical Area 27 (Map 3).

The Commission covers fishery resources of the Northeast Atlantic with the exception of marine mammals, sedentary species and, insofar as they are dealt with by other international agreements, highly migratory species and anadromous stocks.

Membership of the Commission is open to the founding members (Article 20). Accession to the Convention by other States is subject to the approval of three quarters of the Contracting Parties. The present Members of the Commission are: Denmark (in respect of Faroe Island and Greenland, the European Community, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Russian Federation.

The main objectives of the Commission are to provide a forum for Consultation and exchange of information on the state of fisheries resources in the Northeast Atlantic and on related management policies to ensure the conservation and optimum utilization of such resources, and to recommend conservation measures in waters outside national jurisdiction. The Commission is empowered to recommend measures applicable to the high seas concerning (i) the conduct of fisheries (ii) the control of fisheries and (iii) the collection of statistical information. In recent years, NEAFC has agreed on measures such as setting total allowable catches for certain species and establishing minimum fish sizes and mesh sizes. The recommendations formulated by NEAFC are subject to the objection procedure.

Area of competence of NEAFC. The dotted lines delimit the

FAO Statistical Area 27. The stripped areas are parts of

Statistical Area 27 not covered by NEAFC.

Established by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, concluded at Ottawa, Canada, on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979.

The area of competence of NAFO "the Convention Area" is defined as "the waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean north of 35^oN latitude and west of a line extending due north from 35^oN latitude and 42^oW longitude to 59^oN latitude, thence due west to 44^oW longitude, and thence due north to the coast of Greenland, and the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Davis Strait and Baffin Bay south of 78^o10'N latitude" (Map 4). This area coincides exactly with FAO Statistical Area 21. The Convention provides for the establishment of "Regulatory Area" which is that part of the Convention Area lying beyond the areas under the fisheries jurisdiction of Coastal States.

NAFO covers all fishery resources with the following exceptions: salmon, tunas and marlins, cetacean stocks managed by the International Whaling Commission or any successor organization, and sedentary species of the continental shelf.

The Convention is open for accession by other States. The membership of the Fisheries Commission is reviewed annually by the Organization's General Council and should consist of (a) Contracting Parties which participate in the Fisheries of the Regulatory Area, and (b) Contracting Parties which provide satisfactory evidence to the General Council of its expected participation in the fisheries of the Regulatory Area during the year of that annual meeting or during the following calendar year. The present Contracting Parties are: Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands & Greenland), Estonia, European Community, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, and the USA.

The main objective of the Convention as set out in its Preamble is to promote the conservation and optimum utilization of the fishery resources of the Northwest Atlantic area within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended coastal States jurisdiction over fisheries, and accordingly to encourage international cooperation and consultation with respect to these resources. The Fisheries Commission is responsible for the management and conservation of the fishery resources of the Regulatory Area. The Fisheries Commission, within the Regulatory Area, may adopt proposals for international measures of control and enforcement within the Regulatory Area for the purpose of ensuring the application of the Convention and execution of the main functions of NAFO. The Commission resolves on the allocations of the catches in the Regulatory Area to the Contracting Parties and maintains a scheme of joint international inspection for providing surveillance and inspection of international fisheries in the Regulatory Area. The proposals of the Fisheries Commission are subject to the objection procedure. The Convention provides that the Contracting Parties may invite the attention of any State not a Party to this Convention to any matter relating to the fishing activities in the Regulatory Area of the nationals or vessels of that State which appear to affect adversely the attainment of the objectives of this Convention.

The area of competence of NAFO

Established by the Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean, signed in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 2 March 1982 and entered into force on 1 October 1983.

The Convention applies to the salmon stocks which migrate beyond areas of fisheries jurisdiction of coastal States of the Atlantic Ocean north of 36^oN latitude throughout their migratory range. The area of competence of NASCO coincides with FAO Statistical Area 27 and part of Area 21 (Map 5). This area is subdivided into three regions serviced by three different commissions: (1) The North American Commission covers all maritime waters within areas of fisheries jurisdiction of coastal States off the east coast of North America; (2) the West Greenland Commission covers all maritime waters within the area of fisheries jurisdiction off the coast of West Greenland west of a line drawn along 44^oW longitude south to 59^oN latitude, thence due east to 42^oW longitude and thence due south; and (3) the North East Atlantic Commission covers all maritime waters east of the line mentioned above.

The Convention is open for accession by any State that exercises fisheries jurisdiction in the North Atlantic Ocean or is a State of origin for salmon stocks provided, it is approved by the Council. The present members of NASCO are: Canada, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Community, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, and the USA.

The objective of NASCO is to contribute to the conservation, restoration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks in the North Atlantic. In recent years, some regulatory measures have been adopted by the three Commissions. The dramatic increase in the production of farmed Atlantic salmon (from less than 30,000 tons in 1984 to more than 320,000 tons in 1994) is a major concern for the Council since farmed fish are known to escape in large numbers and spawning of these fish has been demonstrated over wide geographical areas. Spawning between wild and farmed salmon has also been observed and there is real concern about the possible genetic effects on the wild stocks. There is also concern about disease and parasite transfers and other environmental impacts. Steps have been taken since 1991 to minimize the threats to wild salmon stocks from salmon aquaculture. In 1994 the Council adopted a Resolution, containing measures to minimize genetic and other biological interactions and the risk of transmission of diseases and parasites to the wild stocks. This subject is monitored by the Council annually.

The area of competence of NASCO. The dotted lines delimit

FAO Statistical Areas 21 (on the left) and 27 (on the right)

Established by the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and Belt, signed at Gdansk on 13 September 1973 and entered into force on 28 July 1974.

The area covered by the Convention "the Convention Area" is all the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Belts, excluding internal waters bounded in the west by a line from Hasenore Head to Gniben Point, and from Korshagae to Spodsbierg and from Gilbierg Head to the Kullen (Map 6).

The Convention applies to all fish species and other living marine resources in the Convention Area.

The Convention is open for accession to any State interested in preservation and rational exploitation of living resources in the Baltic Sea and the Belts, provided that such a State is invited by the Contracting States. The present membership consists of Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Russian Federation and Sweden (until July 1996 from which date the EC will assume responsibility).

The main objectives of the Convention is to preserve and increase the living resources of the Baltic Sea and the Belts and to obtain the optimum yield, in particular, to expand and coordinate studies towards these ends and to put into effect organizational and technical projects on conservation and growth of the living resources on a just and equitable basis as well as take other steps towards rational and effective exploitation of the living resources. The Commission has the duty to keep under review the living resources and the fisheries in the Convention Area and to prepare and submit recommendations concerning inter alia the regulation of fishing gear, closed seasons, closed areas, and the total allowable catch and its allocation among Contracting Parties. The decisions of the Commission are subject to objection procedure. The total allowable catches for herring, sprat, cod and salmon as well as their allocations among member States are annually set by the Commission.

The area of competence of IBSFC and Baltic subdivisions for reporting purposes

Established by an Agreement drawn up in Rome on 24 September 1949 under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution and approved by the FAO Conference at its Fifth Session in 1949. The Agreement entered into force on 20 February 1952. It was amended in 1963 and 1976.

The area of competence of the Council is the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and connecting waters. This area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 37 (Map 7).

The Agreement applies to all living marine resources in the area covered by the GFCM. At its Tenth Session in 1976 the Council noted that since the establishment of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in 1966, this body had also had a mandate for the monitoring and management of tuna resources of the Mediterranean as an adjacent sea to the Atlantic. The Council acknowledged the work done by ICCAT in connection with Mediterranean tuna resources and expressed willingness for increased collaboration with ICCAT. Since 1990 the two bodies have held regular Expert Consultations on Stocks of Large Pelagic Fishes in the Mediterranean.

Membership of GFCM is open to Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO. Other States that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may be admitted as members by a two-thirds majority of the Council's membership. The present members of GFCM are: Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Romania, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and former Yugoslavia.

The main objectives of the Council are to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources in its area of competence. The Council is empowered to formulate and recommend appropriate management measures including the regulation of fishing methods and fishing gears, the prescription of the minimum size for individuals of specified species, the establishment of open and closed seasons, and the regulation of the amount of total catch and fishing effort and their allocation among members. The management measures adopted by the Council are subject to objection procedure. Currently, the countries bordering the Black Sea are negotiating a convention for the Black Sea fisheries.

Area of competence of GFCM

Established by Resolution 1/48 of the FAO Council at its Forty-eighth Session held in Rome in June 1967 under Article VI (2) of the FAO Constitution. Its Statutes were promulgated by the Director-General on 19 September 1967 and were amended by the FAO Council in November 1992.

The area of competence of the Committee is defined as all the waters of the Atlantic bounded by a line drawn as follows: from a point on the high water mark on the African coast at Cape Spartel (lat. 35^o47'N, long.5^o55'W) following the high water mark along the African coast to a point at Ponta da Moita Seca (lat.6^o07'S, long.12^o16'E) along a rhumb line in a northwesterly direction to a point on 6^o south latitude and 12^o west longitude, thence due north to the Equator, thence due west to 30^o west longitude, thence due north to 5^o north latitude, thence due west to 40^o west longitude, thence due north to 36^o north latitude, thence due east to 6^o west longitude, thence along a rhumb line in a southeasterly direction to the original point at Cape Spartel. This area mostly coincides with FAO Statistical Area 34 (Map 8).

The Committee covers all living marine resources within its area of competence.

The members of the Committee are selected by their Director-General of FAO from Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO in Africa whose territory borders the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Spartel to the mouth of the Congo River as well as such other Member Nations and Associate Members fishing in the area, carrying out research, or having fisheries interest thereof whose contribution to the work of the Committee the Director-General deems to be essential or desirable. The present members of CECAF are: Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, European Community, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, USA and Zaire.

The objectives of the Committee are to promote within its area of competence the optimum utilization of the living aquatic resources by the proper management and development of the fisheries and fishing operations, the development of marine brackish water aquaculture and the improvement of related processing and marketing activities in conformity with the objectives of its members. The Committee does not have regulatory powers but can adopt recommendations on management issues.

Area of competence of CECAF

The Convention for the Establishment of a Sub-Regional Commission on Fisheries was signed by Cape-Verde, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal in Dakar, Senegal, on 29 March 1985. Guinea became a member of the Commission in 1987. The Convention has not yet entered into force.

The Convention does not define the precise area covered by the Commission but references are made to "Sub-Region" and the EEZs of the Contracting Parties.

The Convention covers all fishery resources within its area of competence.

The Membership of the Commission is as follows: Cape-Verde, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal. The Convention is open for accession to other States in the sub-region.

The main objective of the Commission is to harmonize the long-term policies of Member States in the preservation, conservation and exploitation of the fisheries resources for the benefit of their respective populations. The Commission consists of the Conference of Ministers, the Coordinating Committee, and the Permanent Secretariat. The Conakry Convention concerning determination of conditions for foreign access to exploitation of the living resources in off-shore areas of SRCF Member States was signed by the Commission's Member States in 1989.

The Convention was signed at Dakar, Senegal, on 5 July 1991. The institutional framework of the Convention comprises the Conference of Ministers, the Bureau and the Secretariat. The Convention entered into force on 12 July 1995.

The area covered by the Convention is not defined in precise terms. Under Article I the convention applies to the African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean and then it defines "regions" as the area comprising those States. This area coincides with parts of the FAO Statistical Areas 34 and 47.

The Convention applies to all fishery resources.

The Convention is open for ratification, approval or acceptance only by the following States: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape-Verde, Congo, Côte-d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zaire.

The main objectives of the Convention are to enable the Parties inter alia to (i) promote an active and organized cooperation in the area of fisheries management and development in the region, and (ii) take up the challenge of food self-sufficiency through the rational utilization of fishery resources, within the context of an integrated approach that would embrace all the components of the fishing sector. Under Article 3, Parties should combine their efforts to ensure the conservation and rational management of their fishery resources and take concerted action for the assessment of fish stocks occurring within the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of more than one Party. In addition, contracting Parties should endeavour to adopt harmonized policies concerning the conservation, management and exploitation of fishery resources, in particular with regard to the determination of catch quotas and, as appropriate, the adoption of joint regulation of fishing seasons.

Established by the Convention Concerning the Regional Development of Fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea, signed at Libreville, Gabon, on 21 June 1984. The Convention has not yet entered into force.

The area of competence of the Committee is defined as the Central and Southern Gulf of Guinea.

The species covered by the Committee are all living resources within its area of competence.

The Convention is open for signature and accession to States bordering the Gulf of Guinea. The present members of the Committee are as follows: Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, and Zaire.

The main objectives of the Convention inter alia are (i) to determine a concerted attitude towards the activities of foreign fishing vessels and give priority to the needs of fishing vessels originating from member countries; (ii) to harmonize the national regulations with a view to having a unified regulation fixing the conditions of fishing and the control of fishing operations in the area covered by the Convention, and (iii) to collect the maximum scientific, technical and economic data on fishing operations.

Established by Resolution 4/61 of the FAO Council at its Sixty-first Session held in Rome in November 1973 under Article VI (1) of the FAO Constitution. The Statutes of the Commission were amended by the FAO Council at its Seventy-fourth Session in December 1978.

The Commission's area of competence is defined as all marine waters of the Western Central Atlantic bounded by a line drawn as follows: from a point on the coast of South America at 10^oS latitude in a northerly direction along this coast past the Atlantic entry to the Panama canal; thence continue along the coasts of central and north America to a point on this coast at 35^oN latitude; thence due east along this parallel to 42^oW longitude; thence due north along this meridian to 36^oN latitude; thence due east along this parallel to 40^oW longitude; thence due south along this meridian to 5^oN latitude; thence due east along this parallel to 30^oW longitude; thence due south along this meridian to the Equator; thence due east along the Equator to 20^oW longitude; thence due south along this meridian to 10^oS latitude; thence due west along this parallel to the original point at 10^oS latitude on the coast of South America. This area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 31 and part of Area 41 (Map 9).

The Commission has competence to deal with all living marine resources.

The membership of the WECAFC is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as members. The present members of the Commission are: Antigua and Burbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA, Venezuela.

The main objectives of the Commission are to facilitate the coordination of research, to encourage education and training, to assist Member Governments in establishing rational policies and to promote the rational management of resources that are of interest for two or more countries. The Commission does not have any regulatory powers and can only perform advisory functions on management.

Area of competence of WECAFC. The dotted line delimits FAO Statistical

Area 31 (in the north) from FAO Statistical Area 41 (in the south)

Established by Resolution 25/61 adopted by the Council of FAO at its Eleventh Session in November 1961 under Article VI (1) of the FAO Constitution. Its Statutes were promulgated by the Director-General of FAO on 17 May 1962.

The geographic area covered by the Commission includes the waters of the South West Atlantic. There is no precise definition of this area by lines of longitude and latitude. In 1968 the Commission established a statistical area which, at that time, coincided exactly with FAO Statistical Area 41 (Map 10). It also requested the Secretariat to provide statistical information on two adjacent areas which are shown as striped on the same map. FAO Statistical Area 41 has since then undergone two changes: (i) the southern boundary of Area 41 has been moved upward, and (ii) the south west boundary has been modified since 1982 as a result of the boundary agreement between Chile and Argentina.

CARPAS covered all marine living resources.

The members of CARPAS are Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Membership is restricted to FAO Member Nations which belong to the American Continent and have coasts bordering on the Western Atlantic Ocean south of the Equator.

The main objectives of CARPAS are to develop organized approach among members for the management and regional exploitation of marine and inland fishery resources, and to encourage training and cooperative investigation. CARPAS does not have regulatory powers. This body has not been active since 1974.

Map10

CARPAS Statistical Area. The two adjacent areas are shown as stripped.

Established by the Agreement "Tratado del Río de la Plata y sus Frente Maritimo", signed by Argentina and Uruguay in 1973.

The area of competence of the Joint Technical Commission is referred to in the Agreement as the Common Fishing Zone of the Contracting Parties in the South Atlantic (Map 11).

All marine living resources of the Common Fishing Zone are covered by the Commission.

The membership of the Commission consists of Argentina and Uruguay.

The main objectives of the Commission are to adopt and coordinate plans and measures relevant to conservation, preservation and the rational exploitation of living resources and to protect the maritime environment in the Common Fishing Zone. The Commission has regulatory powers setting quotas for each Party in the Common Fishery Zone.

Area of competence of CTMFM

*This map is a reproduction of the map printed in the official publication of CTMFM, `Frente Maritimo' in June 1994.

Established by the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, signed in Rio de Janeiro, on 14 May 1966 and entered into force on 21 March 1969. The Convention was amended in 1984 and 1992.

The area of competence of the Commission is defined as "all waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the adjacent seas". There is no precise delimitation of this area by lines of longitude and latitude. This rather broad definition was established in order to encompass all waters of the Atlantic Ocean in which tunas were likely to be found. This area corresponds in most part to FAO Statistical Areas 41, 47, 48 (part of it), 31, 34, 37, 21 and 27 (Map 12).

The species covered by the Commission are the tuna and tuna like fishes (the Scombrioformes with the exception of the families Trichiuridae and Gempylidae and the genus Scomber) and such other species of fishes exploited in tuna fishing in the Convention Area as are not under investigation by another international organization.

The membership of ICCAT is open to any State which is a Member of the United Nations or of any Specialized Agency of the United Nations. The Paris Protocol of 1984 amending Article XIV on membership (not yet in force) also allows intergovernmental economic integration organization constituted by States that have transferred to its competence over the matters governed by the convention to become a member. The present members of ICCAT are: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea (Rep. of), Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, Sao Tomé and Principe, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The main objective of the Convention is to maintain the populations of tuna and tuna-like species found in the Atlantic at levels which permit the maximum sustainable catch for food and other purposes. The Commission's functions inter alia include: (i) to study the populations of tuna and tuna-like fishes, (ii) to collect and analyse statistical information relating to the current conditions and trends of the tuna fishery resources of the Convention Area, and (iii) recommend studies and investigations to the Contracting Parties. The

Commission has regulatory powers and so far has recommended a number of measures on catch quotas, minimum weight of fish and limitation of incidental catches. It has a scheme for Port Inspection as well as an Infraction Committee. The regulatory measures adopted by ICCAT are subject to objection procedure.

FAO Statistical Areas 21, 27, 31, 34, 37, 41, 47 and 48 covered by ICCAT

Established by the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the South Atlantic, drawn up in Rome on 23 October 1969, and entered into force on 24 October 1971. On 19 July 1990, a Conference of Plenipotentiaries adopted a Protocol for the Termination of the Convention. In accordance with the Protocol, the Convention shall terminate when all Contracting Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Protocol with the Director-General of FAO. The Convention has not yet been terminated.

The area of competence of the Commission is defined as all waters bounded by a line drawn as follows: beginning at a point 6^o04'36" south latitude and 12^o19-48" east longitude, thence in a northwesterly direction along a rhumb line to a point at the intersection of the meridian 12^o east with the parallel 6^o south, thence due west along this parallel to the meridian 20^o west, thence due south along this meridian to the parallel 50^o south, thence due east along this parallel to the meridian 40^o east, thence due north along this meridian to the coast of the African continent, thence in a westerly direction along this coast to the original point of departure. This area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 47 and part of areas 51 and 58 (Map 13).

The species covered by the Commission are all fish and living resources subject to arrangement with other bodies.

As noted above the Convention is in the process of being terminated. No session of the Commission has been held since 1990. On 19 July 1990 when the Protocol to terminate the Convention was adopted the membership consisted of Angola, Bulgaria, Cuba, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Iraq, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, and former USSR. So far only Angola and Cuba have formally deposited instruments of acceptance of the Protocol.

The ICSEAF area of competence. The dotted lines delimit FAO Statistical Areas 51

(on the east) and 58 (on south east)

Established by the Agreement on Cooperation in Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic, signed at Nuuk, Greenland on 9 April 1992. It entered into force on 7 July 1992.

The area of competence of the Commission is the North Atlantic. There is no precise delimitation of this area by lines of longitude and latitude. In practice, this area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 27 (Map 14).

The species covered by NAMMCO are all marine mammals within its area of competence.

As of January 1994 the members of the Commission were as follows: Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway. Other States may also adhere to the Agreement subject to the consent of the existing signatories.

The objective of the Commission is to contribute through regional consultation and cooperation to the conservation, rational management and study of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. The Commission consists of (a) a Council; (b) management Committees; (c) a scientific Committee; and (d) a Secretariat. Management Committees, with respect to stocks of marine mammals within their respective mandates (i) propose to their members measures for conservation and management, and (ii) make recommendations to the Council concerning scientific research. All decisions of the Council and Management Committees are taken by the unanimous vote of those members present and casting an affirmative vote.

FAO Statistical Area 27 where NAMMCO concentrates its activities