FISHERIES

Established by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) at its Twelfth Session (1978, Resolution COFI/1/1) in accordance with Rule XXX-10 of the General Rules of the Organization and Rule VII of the COFI Rules of Procedure. Formerly known as the COFI Sub-Committee on the Development of Cooperation with International Organizations concerned with Fisheries. The Committee's name was changed during the Twelfth Session of COFI, 12 - 16 June 1978.

To assist the Committee in developing, with the help of the FAO Secretariat, a comprehensive programme to assist developing coastal states in managing and developing fisheries in their economic zones as recommended by the Conference at its Nineteenth Session and further defined by the Committee at its Twelfth Session; to make recommendations regarding the implementation and financing of that programme and to keep its execution under review; to report to the Committee and to undertake such other related tasks as the Committee may decide from time to time.

January 1967.

Originally decided by COFI at its First Session (1966). At its Tenth Session (1975), COFI decided to "authorize the Director-General to include other Member Nations as might be necessary to ensure adequate regional representation, with particular reference to developing countries".

The present membership is:

English, French, Spanish.

Those of COFI.

1967, 1969, 1973, 1976.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of this Body.

Established by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) at its Second Session (1967, Resolution COFI/2/2) in accordance with Rule XXX-10 of the General Rules of the Organization and Rule VII of the COFI Rules of Procedure.

To study the problems of fishery education and training and the most appropriate and effective action to be taken to overcome them and to report results to COFI.

April 1969.

Membership consists of such Members of the Committee on Fisheries as indicate a wish to participate in the work of the Sub-Committee.

English, French, Spanish.

Those of COFI.

1969, 1970, 1973.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of this Body.

Established by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) at its Sixteenth Session (1985) in accordance with Rule XXX-10 of the General Rules of the Organization and Rule VII of the COFI Rules of Procedure.

The terms of reference of the Sub-Committee as decided by COFI are the following:

The Sub-Committee shall provide a forum for consultations on technical and economic aspects of international trade in fish and fishery products including pertinent aspects of production and consumption. In particular, the work of the Sub-Committee will include:

a)     Periodic reviews on the situation and outlook of principal fishery commodity markets covering all factors influencing them;

b)     on the basis of special studies, discussion of specific fish trade problems and possible solutions;

c)     discussion of suitable measures to promote international trade in fish and fishery products and formulation of recommendations to improve the participation of developing countries in this trade, including trade-related services;

d)     in conjunction with the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, formulation of recommendations for the promotion of international quality standards and the harmonization of quality control and inspection procedures and regulations;

e)     consultation and formulation of recommendations for economically-viable fishery commodity development, including processing methods, the upgrading of products and production of final products in developing countries.

October 1986.

Open to all Member Nations of the Organization. Non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, or any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted by the Council of the Organization to Membership in the Sub-Committee.

The following countries attended the Fifth Session:

Observers: Russian Federation, Ukraine.

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Those of COFI.

1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998.

The Sub-Committee continued to monitor recent developments in world fish trade, and activities of FAO and other international agencies in this area. It reviewed the availability of fish supplies for fish trade in the future, possibilities for promoting joint ventures and investment of fisheries, and products and market opportunities for fish trade among developing countries.

(formerly called Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission (IPFC)
(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Established under an agreement drafted in Baguio, Philippines, in February 1948, and which came into force on 9 November 1948. The FAO Conference at its Fourth Session (1948) approved the establishment of this Body under the title "Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council" (IPFC). The Agreement was amended by the IPFC at its Ninth Session (1961) in order to bring it into line with the principles regarding such Bodies adopted by the FAO Conference at its Ninth Session (1957, Resolutions 43/57 and 46/57). The amendments were approved by FAO Conference at its Eleventh Session (1961, Resolution 27/61).

At its Seventeenth Session (1976), the IPFC changed its title and further amended the Agreement in order to change the functions of the Body in such a way as to enable it to take action directly related to fishery management and development in its area of responsibility. The amendments were approved by the FAO Council at its Seventy-second Session (1977, Resolution 4/72).

The Hundred and Seventh Session of the Council (Rome, 15-24 November 1994) changed the name of the IPFC to that above.

Purpose

To promote the full and proper utilization of living aquatic resources through the development and management of fishing and culture operations, as well as through the related processing and marketing activities conforming to the objectives of its Members. Article IV of the Agreement lists the functions as follows:

(a) To keep the state of these resources and their related industries under review;

(b) to formulate and recommend measures and to initiate and implement programmes or projects to:

(i) create new fisheries and increase the production, efficiency and productivity of existing fisheries;

(ii) conserve and manage resources;

(iii) protect resources from pollution;

(c) to keep the economic and social aspects of fishing and aquaculture industries under review and recommend measures designed to improve the living and working conditions of fishermen and other workers in these industries, as well as to enhance the contribution of each fishery to social and economic goals;

(d) to encourage, recommend, coordinate and, as appropriate, undertake training and extension activities in all aspects of fisheries;

(e) to encourage, recommend, coordinate and, as appropriate, undertake research and development activities;

(f) to assemble, publish or otherwise disseminate information regarding the living aquatic resources and fisheries based on these resources;

(g) to implement such other activities as may be necessary for the Commission to achieve its purpose as defined above.

March 1949.

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization which accept the Agreement in accordance with Article X thereof. Other Nations 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 Commission's Membership.

The present membership is:

English, French.

Provisionally adopted at the First Session (1949), revised at the Ninth Session (1961) and amended at the Twelfth (1966), Sixteenth (1974), Seventeenth (1976) and Eighteenth (1978) Sessions.

Normally biennial.

Joint Working Party on Fish Technology and Marketing (FI-715) (English) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General for a two-year term of office.

Working Party on Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries (FI-770) (English) (3).

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General for a two-year term of office.

Working Party on Marine Fisheries (FI-706) (3).

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General for a two-year term of office (English).

Joint Working Party on Fishery Statistics and Economies (FI-707) (3).

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General for a two-year term of office (English).

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of these Bodies.

APFIC Committee on Marine Fisheries (FI-779) (English, French) (1).

• Coastal States in the South China Sea and contiguous and adjacent waters that are Members of the Commission.

Committee on Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries (FI-710) (1).

• All States that are Members of the Commission (English, French).

Achievements of APFIC during 1996-97 include five sessions of APFIC Subsidiary Bodies and an APFIC Symposium on Environmental Aspects of Responsible Fisheries. Amendments to the APFIC Agreement and Rules of Procedure were made and concurred by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Twelfth Session.

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Established under an Agreement drafted in Rome on 24 September 1949 and approved by the FAO Conference at its Fifth Session (1949), and which came into force on 20 February 1952. The Agreement was amended by the GFCM at its First Special Session (1963), with the subsequent approval of the Conference at its Twelfth Session (1963, Resolution 39/63), and further amended at the Thirteenth GFCM Session (1976), with the subsequent approval of the Council at its Seventieth Session (1976, Resolution 3/70) and lately amended by the Twenty-second Session (Rome 1997) with the subsequent approval of the FAO Council, November 1997.

To promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; to keep the economic and social aspects of the fishing industry under review and recommend measures for its development; to encourage, recommend and, as appropriate, undertake training, extension, research and development activities in all aspects of fisheries, including the protection of living marine resources (Article III of the Agreement).

July 1952.

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization which accept the Agreement in accordance with Article XI thereof. Other Nations 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 membership is:

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Special Session (1963) and amended at the Thirteenth Session (1976) and further amended at the Twenty-second Session (1997).

Normally Biennial. (Sessions convened by Chairman of the Commission).

Scientific Advisory Committee (FI-720) (Arabic, English, French, Spanish) (1)
(formerly known as the Committee on Fisheries Management)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the their countries.

Committee on Aquaculture (FI-754) (Arabic, English, French, Spanish) (2)
(formerly known as Working Party on Artificial Reefs and Mariculture)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by their countries.

Working Party on Fisheries Economics and Statistics (FI-718) (English, French, Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of the last two Bodies.

Achievement 1996-97

The First Session of newly-created Committee on Aquaculture was held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, in September 1996. Two Technical Consultations on Stock Assessment in the Western and Central and the Eastern Mediterranean were held, respectively, in Casablanca, Morocco in October 1996 and Nicosia, Cyprus, in December 1996. The GFCM Committee on Fisheries Management held its Tenth and last session in June 1997 in Rome. The Twenty-second Session of GFCM (Rome, October 1997) agreed on amendments to its Agreement and Rules of Procedure. The amendments dealt mainly with the establishment of an autonomous budget with contributions from Member Nations and the opening of Membership to a regional economic organization.

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Established by the Council at its Seventieth Session (1976, Resolution 4/70).

To promote, coordinate and assist national and regional fishery and limnological surveys, as well as to promote research and development programmes for the rational utilization of inland fishery resources; to assist Member Governments in establishing the scientific basis for regulatory and other measures; to assist in the development of aquaculture, recreational fishing, catching, marketing and utilization of fish; to encourage education and training; to assist Members in formulating national and regional programmes to help achieve the objectives referred to in the Statutes.

March 1979.

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members serviced by the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present membership is:

English, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1979).

1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1995.

Working Party on Fishery Resources (FI-777) (Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General.

Working Party on Fishery Technology (FI-778) (Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General.

Working Party on Aquaculture (FI-759) (Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) selected by the Director-General.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of these Bodies.

Conducted assessment of inland fishery resources in Latin America and the Caribbean, supported aquaculture development, including fish health management and fish nutrition, and recommended actions to improve the marketing of inland fishery and aquaculture products in the Region through a meeting of each of its three Working Parties (on Fishery Resources, Aquaculture and Fishery Technology) as well as an Ad Hoc Technical Consultation.

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Established by the Council at its Twenty-sixth Session (1957, Resolution 2/26).

To promote improvements in inland fisheries and to advise Member Governments and FAO on inland fishery matters.

April 1960.

Open to all Member Nations in the European Region.

The present membership is:

English and French interpretation into German at sessions provided by the Government of Germany.

Adopted at the First Session (1960).

Biennial.

Subsidiary Bodies

Sub-Commission I - Biology and Management

• Working Party on Introduction of Exotic Species into Europe (FI-790) (1) (English)
• Working Party on Fishing Gear Selectivity (3)^{5 6}
• Working Party on Crayfish (1)^{5 6}
• Working Party on Ageing of Coarse Fish (1)^{5 6}
• Working Party on Stocking (FI-788) (1)⁵
• Working Party on Fishery Resources (FI-777) (1)^{5 6}
• Working Party on the Influence of Fishery Management Practices on
  the Environment (1)⁵
• Working Party on Brackishwater Fisheries and Aquaculture (1)^{5 6}

Sub-Commission II - Aquaculture

Sub-Commission III - Protection of the Aquatic Resources

• Working Party on Aquatic Resources Management in Aquaculture (1)^{5 6}
• Working Party on Fish-Farm Effluents (FI-789) (1)⁵
• Working Party on Effects of Physical Modifications of the Aquatic Habitat on Fish Populations (FI-728) (1)⁵ (English and French)

Sub-Commission IV - Social and Economic Issues

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of the first three Sub-Commissions.

Most EIFAC Subsidiary Bodies meet on an ad hoc basis during Plenary Sessions of the Commission. Experts are nominated by Member Nations and serve in a personal capacity. The work is usually undertaken by correspondence or Working Parties may occasionally meet informally at the convenor's request.

The Nineteenth Session of the Commission, as well as a Symposium on recreational fisheries, was held in Dublin, Ireland from 11 to 19 June 1996. It decided to amend its structure by creating a new Sub-Commission on Social and Economic Issues. The Symposium proceedings were published by Fishing New Books as "Recreational Fisheries, Social, Economic and Management Aspects". The next Symposium on Water for Sustainable Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture (Portugal, 1998) was announced and a Call for Papers issued in July 1997. EIFAC Working Parties met and gave advice on Brackishwater Fisheries and Aquaculture in February 1996, on Eel in September 1996, and on Introduction and Stocking in August 1997. The results of the Working Party on Effects of Physical Modifications of the Aquatic Habitat of Fish Populations were published by Fishing News Books as "Rehabilitation of Rivers for Fish". An Executive Committee meeting was held in Rome, Italy, from 29 to 10 April 1997. Publication of an EIFAC Newsletter was continued, and an EIFAC Internet homepage was created (www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/FISHERY - Regional Bodies - EIFAC).

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Established by the Council at its Forty-eighth Session (1967, Resolution 2/48).

Purpose

a)     To promote, assist and coordinate national programmes over the entire field of fishery development and conservation;

b)     to promote research and development activities in the area through international sources, in particular through international aid programmes;

c)     to examine management problems, with special emphasis on the management of offshore resources.

September 1968.

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present membership is:

English, French.

Adopted at the First Session (1968) and amended at the Fifth Session (1977).

1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1994.

Committee for the Management of Indian Ocean Tuna (FI-734) (English, French) (1)

• Members (governments) which are coastal countries in the Indian Ocean, which fish for tuna in the region or which can contribute substantially to the knowledge of the Indian Ocean tuna stocks.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of this Body.

Committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries Resources of the Gulfs
(FI-738) (Arabic, English) (1)

• Coastal countries in Gulf areas (Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf [Gulf lying between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arabian Peninsula]), Members of the Commission.

Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean (FI-780) (English, French) (1)

• Coastal countries in the Southwest Indian Ocean area, Members of the Commission.

Subsidiary Bodies Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Bay of Bengal (FI-782) (English) (1)

• Coastal countries in the Bay of Bengal area, Members of the Commission.

No sessions of the main Body were held. However, the Subsidiary Bodies met to discuss their future role in line with the recommendations made by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) at its Twenty-second Session. Both the Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries Resources of the Gulfs and the Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean recommended that their Committees be transformed from Article VI to Article XIV Bodies under the FAO Constitution.

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Established by the Director-General following the decision of the Conference at its Twenty-seventh Session (1993).

To promote cooperation with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation of optimum utilization of tuna and tuna-like species, to keep under review the conditions and trends of the stocks and to gather, analyse and disseminate scientific information, catch and effort statistics and other data relevant to the conservation and managagement of the stocks and to fisheries based on the stocks; to encourage, recommend and coordinate research and development activities in respect of the stock and fisheries, including activities connected with transfer of technology, training and enhacement; to adoption of conservation measures to ensure the conservation of stocks and to promote the objective of their optimum utilization; to keep under review the economic and social aspects of the fisheries based on the stocks, bearing in mind, in particular, the interests of developing coastal states.

December 1996.

Open to all Members and Associate Members of FAO that are Coastal Nations or Associate Members situated wholly or partly within the area; Nations or Associate Nations whose vessels engage in fishing in the area for stocks covered by the Agreement and regional economic integration organizations of which any Nation referred to above is a Member and to which that Nation has transferred competence over matters within the purview of the Agreement establishing this Commission.

The present membership is:

English, French.

Adopted at the Second Session of the Commission (1997).

Annual.

Permanent Scientific Committee. (FI-734 a) (English, French)

• Each Member of the Commission nominates a representative, and an alternate if needed. The representative may be accompanied by experts and advisers. The Commission may also invite experts in their individual capacity.
• The Commission may also establish Sub-Commissions to deal with one or more of the stocks covered by the Agreement establishing the Commission.

The IOTC Agreement came into force on 25 November 1995. The Commission adopted its Rules of Procedure, established a Permanent Scientific Committee pursuant to Article XII.1 of the Agreement, elected to have the Headquarters of the Commission in Seychelles, agreed in principle to the Headquarters Agreement and approved the Scale of Contributions for 1998. The Commission further selected a Secretary for appointment by the Director-General.

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Established by the Council at its Sixty-first Session (1973, Resolution 4/61).

To assist in international cooperation efforts for the conservation, development and utilization of living resources, especially shrimp, of the Western Central Atlantic.

October 1975.

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present membership is:

English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1975). Amended at the Second Session (1978).

1975, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1995.

Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources (FI-767) (English, Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) selected by the Director-General.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of this Body.

Working Party on Fishery Economics and Planning (FI-772) (English and Spanish) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) selected by the Director-General.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of this Body.

Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Lesser Antilles (FI-766) (English, French) (1)

• Open to coastal states, Members of the Commission in the area.

No session of the main Body was held. However, seven sessions of its Subsidiary Bodies were convened to increase knowledge on shrimp, ground-fish and spiny lobster fisheries in the region, and for training in fish stock assessment and quality assurance in fish and fish products. Working Parties were held on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources and Fishery Economics and Planning.

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Established by the Director-General following the decision of the Council at its Forty-eighth Session (1967, Resolution 1/48), to replace the Regional Fisheries Commission for Western Africa (RFCWA) abolished by the Conference at its Fourteenth Session (1967).

The purpose of the Committee shall be to promote the optimum utilization of the living aquatic resources of the area defined under paragraph 1 above, 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.

a)     to keep under review the state of these resources and of the industries based on them;

b)     to promote the collection, interchange, dissemination and analysis or study of statistical socio-economic, biological and environmental data and other marine fishery information;

c)     to establish the scientific basis for regulatory measures leading to the conservation and management of marine fishery resources, to formulate such measures through Subsidiary Bodies, as required, and to make appropriate recommendations for the adoption and implementation of these measures;

d)     to encourage, recommend and coordinate training and extension activities in all aspects of marine fisheries;

e)     to assist Member Governments in formulating programmes to be implemented through international aid sources to achieve the objectives described in (a), (b), (c), (d), above;

f)     to keep under review the economic and social aspects of the marine fishing industry and of marine and brackish water aquaculture operations, and recommend any measures aimed at the development of that industry and those operations in order to ensure the contribution of the fishery to national, social and economic goals;

g)     To promote and encourage the utilization of the most appropriate fishing craft, gear and techniques;

h)     to promote and encourage in cooperation with other regional bodies, as appropriate, activities concerned with the processing, preservation and marketing of fish and fish products;

i)     to collaborate with Member Governments in formulating programmes to be implemented through local and/or external sources to help achieve objectives described in sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) above;

j)     to promote liaison and cooperation among and with competent institutions within the sea served by the Committee, insofar as the Purpose Constitution, the General Rules, regulations and facilities of the Organization permit, and

k)     to carry out such other activities as may be necessary for the Committee to achieve its purpose, as defined above.

New Terms of Reference were approved by the One Hundred and Second Session of the Council held in Rome, Italy from 9 to 20 November 1992.

March 1969.

Member Nations and Associate Members selected by the Director-General from among Member Nations and Associate Members in Africa whose territories border the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Spartel to the mouth of the Congo River, and those Member Nations and Associate Members fishing or conducting research in the sea area concerned or having some other interest in the fisheries thereof, whose contribution to the work of the Committee the Director-General deems to be essential or desirable.

The present membership is:

Angola, Canada, Portugal and United Kingdom attend as observers.

English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1969) and amended at the Fifth Session (1977).

1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1995.

Sub-Committee on Management of Resources within the Limits of National Jurisdiction (FI-742) (English, French, Spanish) (1)

• Open to all Members of CECAF whose territories border the Eastern Central Atlantic.

Sub-Committee on Fishery Development (FI-743) (English, French, Spanish) (1)

• Open to all Members of CECAF.

Working Party on Resources Evaluation (FI-744) (English, French) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) nominated by the Director-General.

Working Party on Fishery Statistics (FI-785) (English, French) (1)

• Experts appointed by their respective Governments.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of these Bodies.

Continued to monitor the state of marine fisheries resources in the region through its Working Party on Resources Evaluation and the Sub-Committee on Management of Resources within the Limits of National Jurisdiction.

No session of CECAF was held in the 1996-97 biennium. However, at its Tenth Session held in Lom�, Togo, from 8 to 11 December 1997, the Sub-Committee on Management of Resources within the Limits of National Jurisdiction recommended to the Committee to abolish all the Subsidiary Bodies of CECAF, and to establish a scientific Sub-Committee on Resources Evaluation. CECAF will decide on this issue at its next (Fourteenth) Session.

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Established by the Director-General following the decision of the Council at its Fifty-sixth Session (1971, Resolution 1/56).

To promote, coordinate and assist national and regional fishery surveys and research and development programmes designed to rationally utilize inland fishery resources; to assist Members in establishing the scientific basis for regulatory and other measures; to assist in the development of fish culture and stock improvement; to promote the use of the most effective fishing craft, gear and techniques; to encourage education and training; to assist Members in formulating programmes to help achieve the objectives referred to in the statutes.

November/December 1972.

Membership consists of African Member Nations and Associate Members selected by the Director-General on the basis of their active interest in inland fishery development in Africa and of their potential contribution to the effective discharge of the functions of the Committee.

The present membership is:

United Kingdom attends as an observer.

English, French.

Adopted at the First Session (1972) and amended at its Third (1977) and Fifth (1983) Sessions.

1972, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1994 and 1997.

Working Party on Aquaculture (FI-746) (English, French) (1)

• Members of the Working Party.

Working Party on Stock Assessment (FI-747) (English) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) selected by the Director-General.

Working Party on Floodplain Fisheries (FI-748) (English, French) (1)

• Members of the Working Party.

Sub-Committee for the Development and Management of the Fisheries of Lake Victoria (FI-711) (English) (1)

• Member Nations of CIFA bordering Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda).

Working Party on Pollution and Fisheries (FI-708) (English) (3)

• Experts (individuals serving in personal capacity) selected by the Director-General.

Sub-Committee for the Protection and Development of the Fisheries in the Sahelian Zone
(FI-787) (English, French) (1)

• Sahelian Nations who are Members of CIFA (Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal) and other Nations whose territories are situated wholly or in part in the Sahelian Zone.

As per Conference Resolution 13/97, consultations will be held on the future of these Bodies.

Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika (FI-712) (English, French) (1)

• Member Nations of CIFA surrounding Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia).

Provided the major forum for consultations and exchange of experiences on inland fisheries in Sub-Saharan Africa; promoted development of aquaculture; facilitated the establishment of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, an autonomous body funded by its Members, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and encouraged the creation of similar organizations to manage the fisheries resources of other large African lakes. As per Conference Resolution 13/97, decided to abolish six out of its seven Subidiary Bodies, retaining the Sub-Committee for Lake Tanganyika.

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Established by the Director-General following the decision of the Conference at its Eleventh
Session (1961) as the Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research (ACMRR). Statutes revised by the Council in 1993 to change name to ACFR and amend the scope and terms of reference.

To study and advise the Director-General on the formulation and execution of the Organization's work in respect of all aspects of fisheries research, including conservation and management of marine and inland fishery resources, increasing fish productivity through enhancement of wild resources and through aquaculture, improving the means of converting fishery resources into human food and study the dynamics of fishing communities and the socio-economic consequences of Government fishery policies. Special attention is provided to the fisheries aspects of oceanographic research and to the impacts of environmental change on the sustainability of fisheries. By agreement with the Director-General and in accordance with Resolution 15, adopted at the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Unesco, the Committee also acts as the advisory body to that Commission on the fisheries aspects of oceanography.

1997.

Composed of not more than thirteen fisheries experts appointed in their personal capacity by the Director-General of FAO. When acting as advisory body to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, following consultations between FAO and IOC, the Director-General may, on the basis of the recommendations by the Bureau of IOC, appoint one or two additional Members in accordance with Resolution 15.

English.

Adopted at the First Session (1963), revised at the Eleventh Session (1985). Revised by the Council in 1993 to make them more comprehensive, extended to cover inland fisheries as well as marine resources.

Biennial.

To be established as and when required, subject to the availability of funds.

The Committee made an appreciation of FAO’s role in international fisheries and aquaculture research and contributed to stategic planning for FAO‘s research activities. The Committee identified a number of research topics that need to be emphasized in the future in order to fill critical scientific gaps and which highlight the need for a shift in emphasis from a programme of research that, in the past, had been predominantly concerned with fisheries resources to one with substantial emphasis on the human dimension of fisheries. The Committee proposed the establishment of three Working Groups to undertake in-depth studies on: Implications of Globalization for Trade and Benefits; Status Reporting Methodology and Data Needs; and New Research Methods, Traditional Knowledge and Approaches, respectively.

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Established by the Conference at its Tenth Session (1959, Resolution 23/59) as a "Continuing Working Party on Fishery Statistics in the North Atlantic Area". The Council, at its Fifty-first Session (1968, Resolution 1/51) altered the title to Coordinating Working Party on Atalantic Fishery Statistics. The Council, at its One Hundred and Eighth Session (1995), amended the title to that above and revised the statutes.

The Coordinating Working Party on Fisheries Statistics (CWP) has as its purpose to (i) keep under continuous review the requirements for fishery statistics for research, policy-making and management, (ii) agree standard concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies for the collection and collation of fishery statistics, and (iii) make proposals for the coordination and streamlining of statistical activities amongst relevant intergovernmental organizations.

May 1960.

Composed of experts nominated by intergovernmental organizations which have a competence in fishery statistics. The following shall be the participating organizations initially:

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Statistical Office of the European Communities (EU/Eurostat)
International Whaling Commission (IWC)
South Pacific Commission

Participating organizations may admit other intergovernmental organizations having competence in fishery statistics. Participating organizations may withdraw from the Working Party.

Each of the participating organizations may nominate up to five experts in accordance with their respective internal procedures.

English.

The Working Party adopted new Rules of Procedure at its Sixteenth Session in 1995.

1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997.

During the period under review, the CWP started working under its new statutes with a global remit. Major issues addressed at the Seventeenth Session in 1997 included improvement of the reliability of catch statistics, remote vessel monitoring systems, exchange and dissemination of statistics, harmonisation amongst agencies databases, norms and standards for fishery statistics, and bycatch and discard issues. Further consideration was given to the implications for fishery statistics resulting from the UN Fish Stock Agreement and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Inter-sessional activities focussed on elimination of discrepancies among agency databases by agreed adoption of the most reliable data.