General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

A new Bureau for the GFCM


14/12/2018

Rome, Italy In the mark of the forty-second session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which was resumed on Friday 14 December 2018, the GFCM elected its new Bureau for a two-year renewable mandate.

Roland Kristo, from Albania, was appointed as GFCM Chairperson. Mr Kristo holds a PhD from the Agricultural University of Tirana and has a 22-year experience in the fisheries sector. In addition to serving as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, he is also the Chairperson of the Coordination Committee for Economic, Technical and Scientific Research (CCETSR) within the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration. Prior to his current position, he was the head of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Department as well as lecturer at the Agricultural University in Tirana and chairperson of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Fisheries Research in Albania. Within FAO and GFCM, Roland Kristo has worked as a national coordinator for the regional project Adriamed and served as first vice-Chairperson of the Compliance Committee (CoC) of the GFCM from 2011 to 2012.

Mr Kristo succeeds to Stefano Cataudella, whose capacity and knowledge led the GFCM through an important period of growth. The GFCM gratefully acknowledged his expert guidance, close rapport with countries and partners as well as effective leadership during the years of his mandate.

Alongside its new Chairperson, the GFCM also appointed Nadia Saichi Bouhafs (Algeria) and Imad Lahoud (Lebanon) as first and second vice-chairpersons, respectively. On this occasion, the GFCM expressed its deepest gratitude to its outgoing Bureau for the excellent work carried out.

The GFCM warmly welcomes the members of its new Bureau wishing them successful achievements during their mandate.