MissionObjectiveThe general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission.
The work of the Commission is guided by the following three principles:
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 StatutesThe WECAFC was established in 1973 by Resolution 4/61 of the FAO Council under Article VI (1) of the FAO Constitution. Its statutes were amended by the FAO Council at its Seventy-fourth Session in December 1978 and by the Hundred and Thirty-first Session of the FAO Council in November 2006.ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/DOCUMENT/wecafc/statutes.pdf ResolutionResolution of the members of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission on strengthening the implementation of international fisheries instrumentsftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/DOCUMENT/wecafc/resolution.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 to member countries for their implementation by dedicated Working Groups, established by the Commission.The Working Groups that were established or confirmed by the 14th session of the Commission in 2012 are the following:
Fishery scientists, experts, managers and decision-makers of member countries, Regional partner organizations and NGOs participate in the working groups, which have specific terms of reference and are time bound. The data used by the working groups to generate fishery management advice and recommendations are collected by the participating countries and NGOs. 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 2012/13 biennium, has its activities arranged under the following four components:
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 ![]() Workshops ![]() FAO/CRFM/CDEMA/CCCCC Regional Workshop on Formulation of a Strategy, Action Plan and ... Dec 10-12, 2012 WECAFC - Fifth Regional Workshop on the Assessment and Management of the Caribbean Spiny ... Sep 19-29, 2006 Commission reports ![]() Report of the Fourteenth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, Panama ... (2012) WECAFC - Report of the thirteenth session of the Commission and of the tenth session of the ... FAO/WECAFC (2009) Report of the twelfth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission and of ... FAO/WECAFC (2005) WECAFC - Report of the eleventh session of the Commission and of the eighth session of the ... (2004) WECAFC - Report of the tenth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission ... FAO (2001) WECAFC - Report of the ninth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission ... (1999) WECAFC - Report of the eighth session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1996) COPACO - Rapport de la septième session de la Commission des pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Rapport de la septieme Session de la Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ouest (1991) WECAFC - Report of the Seventh Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1991) WECAFC - Report of the Sixth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1988) COPACO - Rapport de la sixième session de la Commission des pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Commission des peches pour L'Atlantique CentreOuest (1987) COPACO - Rapport de la cinquième session de la Commission des pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-ouest (1986) WECAFC - Report of the Fifth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1985) COPACO - Rapport de la quatrième session de la Commission des Pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Commission des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1983) WECAFC - Report of the fourth session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1983) WECAFC - Report of the third session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1981) COPACO - Rapport de la troisième session de la Commission des pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Commission Des Peches pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1981) WECAFC - Report of the second session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission ... Western Central Atlantic Fisher Commission (1978) COPACO - Rapport de la deuxième session de la Commission des pêches pour l'Atlantique ... Commission des Peches Pour L'Atlantique Centre-Ovest (1978) Scientific Advisory Group reports ![]() Report of the fifth session of the Scientific Advisory Group, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 28-29 ... (2012) Report of the fourth session of the Scientific Advisory Group. Mérida, Mexico, 2-4 April ... WECAFC/COPACO (2007) WECAFC - Report of the third session of the Scientific Advisory Group. Bridgetown, Barbados, ... (2005) Working groups/Party reports ![]() Report of the Third Meeting of the WECAFC ad hoc Flyingfish Working Group of the Eastern ... FAO/WECAFC (2010) Report of and papers presented at the second meeting of the WECAFC Ad Hoc Working Group on the ... FAO Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2007) WECAFC - Report of the second meeting of the WECAFC Ad Hoc Flyingfish Working Group of the ... FAO/Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2002) WECAFC - Report of the first meeting of the WECAFC Ad hoc Flyingfish Working Group of the ... (1999) Report of the seventh session of the Working Party on the Assessment of Marine Fishery ... FAO/WECAFC (1998) Report of the Second Session of the Working Party on Fishery Economics and Planning. Belize, ... FAO/WECAFC/COPACO (1998) WECAFC - Report of the Fourth Meeting of the WECAFC Ad Hoc Shrimp and Groundfish Working Group ... (1996) WECAFC - Sixth Session of the Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources. St. ... (1991) WECAFC - National reports and selected papers presented at the First Session of the Working ... (1990) WECAFC - Report of the Sixth Session of the Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery ... (1990) WECAFC - Report of the First Session of the Working Party on Fishery Economics and Planning. ... (1989) WECAFC - Reports and selected papers presented at the Fifth Session of the Working Party on ... (1988) WECAFC - Report of the Fifth Session of the Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery ... (1987) WECAFC - Report of the Fourth Session of the Working Party on Fishery Statistics. Port of ... (1987) WECAFC - Report of the Fourth Session of the Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery ... (1985) WECAFC - National reports and selected papers presented at the Fourth Session of the Working ... (1985) WECAFC - National reports and selected papers presented at the third session of the Working ... (1983) Lesser Antilles reports ![]() WECAFC - Report of the thirteenth session of the Commission and of the tenth session of the ... FAO/WECAFC (2009) Report of and papers presented at the second meeting of the WECAFC Ad Hoc Working Group on the ... FAO Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission. (2007) Report of the twelfth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission and of ... FAO/WECAFC (2005) WECAFC - Report of the eleventh session of the Commission and of the eighth session of the ... (2004) WECAFC - Report of the tenth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission ... FAO (2001) WECAFC - Report of the ninth session of the the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission ... (1999) WECAFC - Report of the fifth session of the Committee for the Development and Management of ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1996) WECAFC - Report of the Fourth Session of the Committee for the Development and Management of ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1991) WECAFC - Report of the third Session of the Committee for the Development and Management of ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1988) Report and Proceedings of the Expert Consultation on Shared Fishery Resources of the Lesser ... Mahon, R.(ed) (1987) WECAFC - Report of the Second Session of the Committee for the Development and Management of ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1986) WECAFC - Report of the First Session of the Committee for the Development and Management of ... Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (1984) Technical Consultation Reports ![]() Expert Consultation Reports ![]() Technical papers ![]() Introduction to tropical fish stock assessment - Part 2: Excercises Sparre,P.; Ursin,E.; Venema,S.C. (1989) Circulars ![]() Interregional project for the development of fisheries ![]() Extension training of artisanal fishermen and other fisheries personnel in the WECAF region Brownell, W. (1978) Mapping of shelf areas for fisheries yield estimation (Western Central Atlantic Region) J.F. Caddy and D. Piaggesi (1982) Proceedings of the Working Group on Shrimp Fisheries of the Northeastern South America, Panama ... (1980) Proceedings of the Working Group on Shrimp Fisheries of the Northeastern South America, Panama ... (1980) ContactMr 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 |

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