FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Regional fishery bodies (RFB)

Regional Fishery Bodies Summary Descriptions

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)

Mission
Area of competence
Species and stocks coverage
Legal framework
Languages
Organizations involved
Structure
Activities and meetings
Publications
Contact

MissionObjectivesThe Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) is an intergovernmental fisheries science and management body. The NAFO was founded in 1979 as a successor to ICNAF (International Commission of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries) (1949-1978). The NAFO's overall objective is to contribute through consultation and cooperation to the optimum utilization, rational management and conservation of the fishery resources of the Convention Area.
In the amended Convention adopted in 2007, still to be ratified, the objective had been revised as follows: "… ensure the long term conservation and sustainable use of the fishery resources in the Convention Area and, in so doing, to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources are found". FunctionsBased on scientific advice from the Scientific Council, the NAFO adopts a comprehensive range of management and conservation measures. In addition, it also has in place a strong scheme to monitor, survey and control the international fisheries, which is administered by the Standing Committee on International Control (STACTIC).
The NAFO's conservation and enforcement measures are updated annually by the Fisheries Commission. Some important regulations regarding the management, control and monitoring of NAFO's fishery resources are:

Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for commercial fish stocks (including multiyear management plans).
Effort allocation scheme.
Gear requirements, area and time restrictions, 12 coral and sponges protection zones, 5 seamount closures, minimum fish size, bycatch requirements and measures for the conservation and management of sharks.
Authorization to fish, vessel requirements, vessel register and chartering arrangements, vessel monitoring system (VMS) and independent observers on each vessel.
Recording, reporting and communication of catches.
Inspection and surveillance scheme at sea.
Port inspection programme. In 2009, new Port State Control Measures were introduced .
Product labelling requirements.
Scheme to promote compliance by non-contracting parties vessels including IUU vessel list.

Since 2004 the NAFO has published a compliance report. Enforcement of the NAFO Fishery Regulations lies under national responsibility. The NAFO holds statistical data on fishery catches by species, area and nation since the 1960s.

The NAFO is an active member of Coordinating Working Party of Fisheries Statistics (CWP), Fishery Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS/FIGIS), ASFA (Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts), International Fisheries Commissions Pension Society (IFCPS), North Atlantic Fishery Management Organizations (NARFMO) and Regional Secretariats Network.

In addition, the NAFO has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The cooperation with ICES is reflected in a joint shrimp stock assessment (NIPAG) and the shared working groups on "Harp and Hooded Seals", and on "Reproductive Potential". NAFO also works with NEAFC to manage the transboundary pelagic redfish stock in Subarea 2 and Div. 1F + 3K.

The NAFO also co-sponsors joint scientific symposia, most recently with the ICES for Marine Mammals and ICES and PICES for Reproductive and Recruitment Processes.

Representatives from the NAFO are nominated at the Annual Meeting to attend meetings of other RFMOs. At times, special invitations are extended to the NAFO to partake in special UN and UN-related events. Area of competenceThe international fisheries managed by the NAFO take place outside the 200-mile exclusive economic zone. This is called the NAFO Regulatory Area. The NAFO Convention Area, however, is not restricted to international waters; it also covers the 200-mile zones under national jurisdiction.

NAFO area of competence - High seas, National waters

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Species and stocks coverage

The NAFO Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries applies to most fishery resources of the Northwest Atlantic except salmon, tunas/marlins, mammals as these are already under the responsibility of other intergovernmental regional fisheries management bodies. It also does not apply to sedentary species such as many shellfish over which coastal States exercise sovereign rights.
The NAFO sets quotas and TACs for 19 stocks comprising 11 different species. The NAFO manages the pelagic redfish stock in Subarea 2 and Div. 1F +3K in conjunction with NEAFC.

Legal frameworkEstablished 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. On 28 September 2007, after a two-year process, the NAFO adopted the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. This constitutes the first formal step towards a reformed Convention for the NAFO. The adopted text has now to be ratified by at least three-fourths of the NAFO contracting parties to become legally binding. The ratification is still in progress. LanguagesEnglish. Organizations involved

Member: Canada, Cuba, Denmark, European Union, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Ukraine, United States of America.

* Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, France in respect of Saint Pierre et Miquelon. StructureGeneral CouncilThe General Council supervises and coordinates the organizational, administrative, financial and other internal affairs of the Organization, including the relations among its constituent bodies and external relations of the Organization. Each contracting party is a member and appoints to the Council up to three representatives. The chairperson of the General Council also serves as president for the NAFO. The General Council has set up the Standing Committee, STACFAD (Finance and Administration). The amended Convention adopted in 2007, still to be ratified, merges the General Council and Fisheries Commission into the Commission. Fisheries CommissionThe Fisheries Commission is responsible for the management and conservation of the fishery resources of the regulatory area (waters outside the EEZs). It annually decides on the NAFO fishery regulations, TACs and quotas (NAFO conservation and enforcement measures). Fisheries Commission has set up the Standing Committee STACTIC (International Control) which reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of and compliance with the conservation and enforcement measures. Scientific CouncilThe Scientific Council and the science component of the NAFO are an integral parts of the Organization. Scientists from NAFO member States contribute to the assessment of fish and ecosystems in the NAFO Convention Atrea by conducting scientific surveys and evaluating other relevant information. The Scientific Council meets several times each year to discuss its findings, coordinate its research activities and prepare the scientific advice for the Fisheries Commission and coastal States.

The information used by the NAFO scientists includes but is not limited to catch statistics from NAFO contracting parties as well as data gathered on commercial and research vessels and landing ports. Standing committees of the Scientific Council are STACFIS (fisheries science), STACPUB (publications), STACFEN (fisheries environment), and STACREC (research coordination).

The Scientific Council also organizes workshops and symposia that are open to the scientific public worldwide. The most prominent scientific publication of the NAFO is the Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science. SecretariatThe Secretariat provides administrative services to the Organization and is located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Its chief administrative officer is the executive secretary who is appointed by the General Council. Activities and meetingsNAFO activities take place under the direction of its three constituent bodies, General Council, Scientific Council, and Fisheries Commission, supported and coordinated by the Secretariat. The NAFO annual report summarizes the discussions and decisions. The meeting schedule is accessible on the NAFO Web site.

Publications The NAFO regularly publishes the annual Meeting Proceedings of General Council and Fisheries Commission, and Scientific Council Reports. Other annual publications are the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures, and the Annual Report.

The NAFO Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Science provides an international forum for the primary publication of original research papers, with emphasis on environmental, biological, ecological and fishery aspects of the living marine resources and ecosystems. In addition, The NAFO publishes Scientific Council Studies that contain review papers of topical interest and importance.

Contact

NAFO

P.O. Box 638

Dartmouth - Nova Scotia

B2Y 3Y9

Canada

Telephone: (+1) 902 4685590

Fax: (+1) 902 4685538

Email: info@nafo.int

Web site: http://www.nafo.int/



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