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The work of the Commission is guided by the following three principles:
- promote the application of the provisions of the FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries and its related instruments, including the precautionary approach and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management;
- ensure adequate attention to small-scale, artisanal and subsistence fisheries; and
- coordinate and cooperate closely with other relevant international organizations on matters of common interest.
- to contribute to improved governance through institutional arrangements that encourage cooperation amongst members;
- to assist its members in implementing relevant international fisheries instruments, in particular the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its related International Plans of Action;
- to promote, coordinate and, as appropriate, undertake the collection, exchange and dissemination of statistical, biological, environmental and socio-economic data and other marine fishery information as well as its analysis or study;
- to promote, coordinate and, as appropriate, strengthen the development of institutional capacity and human resources, particularly through education, training and extension activities in the areas of competence of the Commission;
- to promote and facilitate harmonizing of relevant national laws and regulations, and compatibility of conservation and management measures;
- to assist its members in and facilitate, as appropriate and upon their request, the conservation, management and development of transboundary and straddling stocks under their respective national jurisdictions;
- to seek funds and other resources to ensure the long-term operations of the Commission and establish, as appropriate, a trust fund for voluntary contributions to this end;
- to serve as a conduit of independent funding to its members for initiatives related to conservation, management and development of the living resources in the area of competence of the Commission.
WECAFC area of competence - High seas, National waters
WECAFC MapsThe designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) are for illustration only and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.
WECAFC Jurisdiction zones
WECAFC Depth zones
ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/DOCUMENT/wecafc/resolution_1_131.pdf LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish. Organizations involved Membership is open to coastal States whose territories are situated wholly or partly within the area of the Commission or States whose vessels engage in fishing in the area of competence of the Commission that notify in writing to the Director-General of the Organization of their desire to be considered as members of the Commission.
Current membership: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, European Union, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Boliv Rep of Venezuela.
StructurePrincipal bodyThe main governing body is the Commission. It is composed of all members. Meetings of the Commission are normally held every two years.Scientific Advisory Group (SAG)The SAG is constituted of five scientists with suitable scientific qualifications and experience in fisheries who serve in their personal capacity. The SAG provides scientific advice to the Commission and its ad hoc working groups, assesses and reports to the Commission on the status of stocks in the area covered by the Commission and accesses the situation, trends and prospects of fisheries in the region. The SAG meets every two years in the year when the Commission meets.Working groupsFishery management advice and recommendations, based on the best available scientific information, are provided for members to implement through ad hoc working groups, established by the Commission. The groups were decided:- on basis of ecosystem boundaries (e.g. Working Group on Shrimp and Groundfish Fisheries in the Brazil-Guianas Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem);
- on species/stocks (e.g. Working Group on Caribbean Spiny Lobster; Queen Conch and Flying Fish); or
- on specific subjects/issues (e.g. Working Group on Anchored Fish Attracting Devices in the Lesser Antilles).
The working groups meet on a regular basis, the timing of which is decided by the members.SecretariatThe Secretariat is provided by FAO. It is based in the Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC). The WECAFC is a member of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network, which meets biennially. Activities and meetingsThe work programme of the WECAFC, that was approved by the Commission for the 2006/07 biennium, has its activities arranged under the following themes:
- Fisheries assessment and management.
- Capacity building.
- Technology/knowledge transfer.
- Coordination and liaison (with regional and international institutions and programmes/projects
Commission sessions
WECAFC - Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission - 13th Session (FI-739-13) - ...
Oct 21-24, 2008
WECAFC - Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission - 12th Session (FI-739-12) - ...
Oct 25-28, 2005
WECAFC - Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (11th Session) (FI-739-11) - ...
Oct 21-24, 2003
Scientific Advisory Group
WECAFC - Scientific Advisory Group - 5th Session (SLAC-749-5)
Oct 27-29, 2011
WECAFC - Scientific Advisory Group - 4th Session (SLAC-749-4)
Apr 02-04, 2007
WECAFC - Scientific Advisory Group - 3rd Session (SLAC-749-3)
Apr 25-27, 2005
WECAFC - Scientific Advisory Group (2nd Session) (SLAC-749-2)
Apr 28-30, 2003
Working groups
Commission reports
FAO/WECAFC (2009)
FAO/WECAFC (2005)
(2004)
FAO (2001)
(1999)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1996)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1991)
Rapport de la septieme Session de la Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ouest (1991)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1988)
Commission des peches pour L'Atlantique CentreOuest (1987)
Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-ouest (1986)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1985)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1983)
Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1983)
Commission Des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1981)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1981)
Western Central Atlantic Fisher Commission (1978)
Commission des Peches Pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1978)
Scientific Advisory Group reports
WECAFC/COPACO (2007)
(2005)
Working groups/Party reports
FAO/WECAFC (2010)
FAO Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2007)
FAO/Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2002)
(1999)
FAO/WECAFC/COPACO (1998)
FAO/WECAFC (1998)
(1996)
(1991)
(1990)
(1990)
(1989)
(1988)
(1987)
(1987)
(1985)
(1985)
(1983)
Lesser Antilles reports
FAO/WECAFC (2009)
FAO Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2007)
FAO/WECAFC (2005)
(2004)
FAO (2001)
(1999)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1996)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1991)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1988)
Mahon, R.(ed) (1987)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1986)
Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1984)
Technical Consultation Reports
Expert Consultation Reports
Technical papers
Sparre,P.; Ursin,E.; Venema,S.C. (1989)
Circulars
Interregional project for the development of fisheries
Brownell, W. (1978)
J.F. Caddy and D. Piaggesi (1982)
(1980)
(1980)
Mr Raymon van Anrooy
FAO Secretary to WECAFC
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Subregional Office for the Caribbean (FAO-SLC)
2nd floor , United Nations House, Marine Gardens, Hastings
Christ Church
BB11000
Barbados
Telephone: +1(246) 426-7110/11; Ext.249
Fax: +1(246) 427-6075
Email: WECAFC-Secretariat@fao.org