APPENDIX A

AGENDA

  1. Opening of the Session
     
  2. Adoption of the Agenda and arrangements for the Session
     
  3. Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons/Designation of Drafting Committee
     

  4. Achievements of Major Programme 2.3 Fisheries 2000-2002
     

  5. Progress Report on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Related International Plans of Action (Capacity, IUU Fishing, Seabirds and Sharks)

    Making Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) of fishing vessels more effective
     

  6. Decisions and Recommendations of the Eighth Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, Bremen, Germany, 12-16 February 2002
     

  7. Decisions and Recommendations of the First Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, Beijing, China, 18-22 April 2002
     

  8. Outcome of the Technical Consultation on Improving Information on the Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries
     

  9. Conclusions and Recommendations of the FAO Expert Consultation on Identifying, Assessing and Reporting on Subsidies in the Fishing Industry, Rome, Italy, 3-6 December 2002
     
  10. Strategies for Increasing the Sustainable Contribution of Small-Scale Fisheries to Food Security and Poverty Alleviation
     
  11. Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management to Achieve Responsible Fisheries and to Restore Fisheries Resources and Marine Environments
     

  12. Review of Major Programme 2.3 Fisheries
  1. Any Other Matters
     
  2. Date and Place of the next Session
     
  3. Adoption of the Report

 

APPENDIX B

The detailed list of delegates and observers (names and addresses) is available from:

The Secretary

Committee on Fisheries

Fisheries Department

F.412; tel: 52847

The following attended:

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Afghanistan

Algeria

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Bangladesh

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Brazil

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Canada

Cape Verde

Chile

China

Colombia

Comoros

Congo, Democratic
   Republic of

Congo, Republic of

Cook Islands

Costa Rica

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Côte D'Ivoire

Denmark

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Eritrea

Estonia

European Community
   (Member Organization)

Fiji

Finland

France

Gabon

Gambia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Guatemala

Guinea

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Iraq

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Kenya

Korea, Republic of

Kuwait

Latvia

Lebanon

Libya

Lithuania

Madagascar

Malaysia

Mali

Malta

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mexico

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Nigeria

Norway

Oman

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Suriname

Sweden

Syria

Tanzania, United Republic of

Thailand

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States of America

Uruguay

Venezuela

Viet Nam

Zimbabwe

OBSERVERS FROM FAO MEMBER NATIONS

Albania

OBSERVERS FROM UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES NOT MEMBERS OF FAO

Russian Federation
Ukraine

PERMANENT OBSERVERS TO FAO

Holy See

REPRESENTATIVES OF UNITED NATIONS AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

International Labour Office

Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) or Bonn Convention (UNEP/CMS)

United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

World Bank

World Trade Organization

OBSERVERS FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Arab League

Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in Latin America and the Caribbean (INFOPESCA)

Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Arab Region (INFOSAMAK)

Commission Economique du Betail, de la Viande et des Ressources Halieutiques

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

Commonwealth Secretariat

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Commission (ECCO)

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

Intergovernmental Organization for Marketing Information and Cooperation Services for Fishery Products in Africa (INFOPECHE)

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

International Organization for the Development of Fisheries in Eastern and Central Europe (EUROFISH)

International Pacific Halibut Commission

International Whaling Commission

Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization

Latin American Organization for Fisheries Development

Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific

North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Regional Fisheries Committee for the Gulf of Guinea

South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

Southern African Development Community

Sub-Regional Fishery Commission for West Africa

OBSERVERS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Associated Country Women of the World

Association des Organizations Nationales d'Entreprises de Peche

Association Ouest Africaine pour le Developpement de la Peche Artisanale

Birdlife International

European Bureau for Conservation and Development

Fisheries Development Council International

Greenpeace International

International Coalition of Fisheries Associations

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers

International Cooperative Alliance

International Council of Women

International Federation for Home Economics

International Fishmeal and Oil Manufacturers Association

International Foundation for Conservation of Natural Resources

International Oceans Institute

International Transport Workers' Federation

Marine Stewardship Council

Organization for Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries

Traffic International

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

World Conservation Trust

World Conservation Union

World Federation of Trade Unions

World Fish Center

World Forum Of Fish Harvest and Fish Workers

World Forum of Fisher Peoples

World Wide Fund for Nature

 

APPENDIX C

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

COFI/2003/1

Agenda and Timetable

COFI/2003/2

Achievements of Major Programme 2.3 Fisheries 2000-2002

COFI/2003/3-Rev.1

Progress in the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and related International Plans of Action

COFI/2003/4

Making Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fishing Vessels more Effective

COFI/2003/5

Decisions and Recommendations of the Eighth Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade

COFI/2003/6

Decisions and Recommendations of the First Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture

COFI/2003/7

Outcome of the Technical Consultation on Improving Information on the Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries

COFI/2003/8

Conclusions and Recommendations of the FAO Expert Consultation on Identifying, Assessing and Reporting on Subsidies in the Fishing Industry

COFI/2003/9

Strategies for Increasing the Sustainable Contribution of Small-scale Fisheries to Food Security and Poverty Alleviation

COFI/2003/10

Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management to Achieve Responsible Fisheries and to Restore Fisheries Resources and Marine Environments

COFI/2003/11

Planned Activities for the Period 2004-2009, as regards Major Programme 2.3 Fisheries

COFI/2003/12

Preliminary Information on Programme of Work and Budget Proposals for 2004-2005, as regards Major Programme 2.3 Fisheries

 

COFI/2003/Inf.1

List of Documents

COFI/2003/Inf.2

List of Participants

COFI/2003/Inf.3

Statement by the Deputy Director-General

COFI/2003/Inf.4

Annotations/Guide Notes on Agenda Items

COFI/2003/Inf.5

Report of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, Italy, 26 February – 2 March 2001

COFI/2003/Inf.6

Follow-up to the Recommendations of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, Italy, 26 February – 2 March 2001

COFI/2003/Inf.7

Report of the Expert Consultation on Catalyzing the Transition away from Overcapacity in Marine Capture Fisheries, Rome, Italy, 15-18 October 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.8

Report of the Expert Consultation to Review Port State Measures to Combat IUU Fishing, Rome, Italy, 4-6 November 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.9

Report of the Norway-FAO Expert Consultation on the Management of Shared Fish Stocks, Bergen, Norway, 7-10 October 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.10

Report of the Eighth Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, Bremen, Germany, 12-16 February 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.11

Report of the First Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, Beijing, China, 18-22 April 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.12

Report of the Expert Consultation on Identifying, Assessing and Reporting on Subsidies in the Fishing Industry, Rome, Italy, 3-6 December 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.13

Report of the Expert Consultation on Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, Reykjavik, Iceland, 16-19 September 2002

COFI/2003/Inf.14

The World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 and its implications for Fisheries

COFI/2003/Inf.15

Statement of Competence and Voting Rights submitted by the European Community

 

APPENDIX D

OPENING STATEMENT BY MR DAVID A. HARCHARIK,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to the Twenty-fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI).

It is enheartening to see so many Governments represented here today, but also several inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. Your presence here confirms not only the ever-increasing importance of fisheries in the world, but also the role of COFI as a global forum for addressing the many critical challenges confronting the sector.

It is a pleasure to note in this respect, that the excellent achievements of the Committee were recognized by the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002. The Johannesburg Plan expressly highlights the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its related International Plans of Action (IPOAs), as well as the Technical Guidelines for the implementation of the Code, which COFI has so actively crafted and promoted over the years. Congratulations.

Since your last session, a new Director for Fishery Policy and Planning, Mr Jean-François Pulvénis de Séligny Maurel, has been appointed. He is well known to many of you due to his participation in several sessions of the Committee as the Head of the Delegation of his country, Venezuela. Mr Pulvénis has an extensive background in fisheries, and is already contributing as a strong member of FAO’s fisheries team. Also on the podium today are Assistant Director-General, Mr Ichiro Nomura, and his close associates of the Fisheries Department, whom I believe need no introduction.

Mr Chairman,

We have tried to construct an agenda for your meeting that would allow you the oppurtunity of considering a selection of the most important fisheries issues that have arisen since your last session. One of those is the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as the basic global reference tool for the sustainable development and management of fisheries and aquaculture. While there have been some successes in the application of the Code, much still needs to be done. I hope your deliberations will lead to the identification of mechanisms and strategies to overcome the constraints that still hinder effective implementation of the Code and its related instruments.

Another priority concern is illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and inappropriate control of fishing vessels seriously jeopardize the transition to responsible fisheries in many regions of the world. The Committee is asked to exchange experiences on ways and means of achieving enhanced monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of fishing operations, including the use of new technologies for vessel monitoring systems (VMS) that are cost effective and efficient.

Mr Chairman,

The Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, at its Eighth Session, reviewed important recent events and issues concerning international trade, and is seeking guidance from COFI particularly with regard to CITES and fish trade related issues, safety and quality, as well as the traceability of fish products. We appreciate the valuable support and assistance of the Government of Germany in facilitating the work of the Sub-Committee, and we look forward to COFI’s guidance on the issues addressed by the Sub-Committee.

At its last Session COFI decided to establish a Sub-Committee on Aquaculture to provide a forum for consultation and discussion on this rapidly growing and vitally important food-producing sector. As a result of the kind hospitality of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the financial support of the Government of Italy, the First Session of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture was held in Beijing in April 2002. We would appreciate COFI’s counsel on how to fund activities in the priority areas identified at the First Session.

Over the past four years, the Committee has been discussing the problem of fishery status and trends reporting. Indeed, vastly improved information is now required in order to monitor progress towards the goals for fisheries set in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation – namely: the restoration of depleted stocks, the application of the ecosystem approach in fisheries, the implementation of the IPOAs on fishing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and global reporting and assessment of marine environments. Approval of the Draft Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries by your Committee would greatly contribute towards the attainment of required information, and hence towards the common goal of obtaining the fullest benefits from the world’s fisheries without compromising long-term sustainability.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our efforts to help Members develop and manage their fisheries and aquaculture are part of a greater endeavour to improve livelihoods in local communities. The Committee has had a continuing concern for this very important sub-sector. Your guidance on how to improve the role of small-scale fisheries for food security and poverty alleviation will be received with great interest.

In recent years, the ecosystem approach has taken centre stage in international fisheries and is likely to be even more important in the years ahead. The Committee addressed this issue at its last session, in planning for the Reykjavik Conference on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem. That Conference, organised in collaboration with the Government of Iceland and cosponsored by Norway, was held in October 2001. It culminated in the adoption of the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem. The ecosystem approach to fisheries was again flagged at the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002. The Committee may wish to suggest ways and means to promote the application of ecosystem approaches to the management of fisheries at national and regional levels.

It is also important to highlight the need for human capacity-building and institutional strengthening related to fisheries, an issue that has been stressed by the Sub-Committees on Fish Trade and Aquaculture and given prominence at the Fourth Session of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research (ACFR) in December 2002. Without training or access to facilities and skilled instructors and analysts, and without effective support for on-the-job experience, it would be virtually impossible to achieve improved and sustainable fisheries productivity and to meet the targets set in our Programme of Work and Budget and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. We appeal to governments, donors, partner agencies and organizations to support and collaborate with us as we strive to improve human and institutional capacity in the fisheries sector.

Mr Chairman,

The outcome of your deliberations on all of these major issues of concern in world fisheries will help frame your recommendations on the formulation of the FAO Programme of Work and Budget 2004-2005.

The achievement of our objectives in fisheries, and the fulfilment of our Members’ expectations depend on adequate financial resources for the Fisheries Department’s Regular Programme but also on extra-budgetary contributions to Field Programme activities. Of particular importance in this regard are FishCode, the Fisheries Department’s global partnership programme for implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme. These Trust Fund initiatives have received important contributions from the Governments of Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those Governments, as well as all other Governments, organizations and agencies that have provided resources to fisheries activities. I should also like to appeal strongly for increased contributions and support.

Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although the Committee has a full agenda, I hope that delegates will be able to find time to participate in the series of side events that have been organized in parallel with the Session, and also to visit the exhibition in the Atrium.

In concluding, I wish to assure you that FAO greatly values your experienced advice and good counsel. I wish you a constructive and highly successful Session.

Thank you.

 

APPENDIX E

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AD HOC EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL FOR ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSALS TO CITES

(Adopted by COFI, see paragraph 48)

1. FAO will establish an ad hoc Expert Advisory Panel for the Assessment of Proposals to Amend CITES Appendices I and II.

2. The Panel shall be established by the FAO Secretariat in advance of each Conference of the Parties, according to its standard rules and procedures and observing, as appropriate, the principle of equitable geographical representation, drawing from a roster of recognized experts, to be established, consisting of scientific and technical specialists in commercially-exploited aquatic species.

3. The Panel members shall participate in the Panel in their personal capacity as experts, and not as representatives of governments or organizations.

4. The Panel will consist of a core group of no more than 10 experts, supplemented for each proposal by up to 10 specialists on the species being considered and aspects of fisheries management relevant to that species.

5. For each proposal the Panel shall:

6. In preparing its report, the Panel will consider the information contained in the proposal and any additional information received by the specified deadline from FAO Members and relevant RFMOs. In addition, it may ask for comments on any proposed amendment, or any aspect of a proposed amendment, from an expert who is not a member of the Panel if it so decides.

7. The Advisory Panel shall make a report based on its assessment and review, providing information and advice as appropriate on each listing proposal. The Panel shall finalize the advisory report no later than ?? days1 before the start of the CITES Conference of the Parties where the proposed amendment will be addressed. The advisory report shall be distributed as soon as it is finalized to all members of FAO, and to the CITES Secretariat with a request that they distribute it to all CITES Parties.

10. The general sequence of events will be as follows:

 

APPENDIX F

FAO WORKPLAN ON CITES AND COMMERCIALLY-EXPLOITED AQUATIC SPECIES

(Adopted by COFI, see paragraph 48)

The Twenty-fifth Session of COFI agreed on the following guidelines for an experts’ process to be followed by the FAO Secretariat.

i) One Expert Consultation should be convened to address the following issues:

A second Expert Consultation should be convened to address:

ii) FAO should continue to monitor and participate, where appropriate, in the on-going CITES process to amend Resolution Conf. 9.24, with a view to facilitating further progress.

 

APPENDIX G

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) AND THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES)

(No consensus was reached on this text, see paragraph 48)

Addendum to document CL 124/7

RECOGNIZING the primary role of sovereign States, FAO and regional fisheries management organizations in fisheries conservation and management,

RECOGNIZING further that the mission of FAO with respect to fisheries is to facilitate and secure the long-term sustainable development and utilization of the world’s fisheries and aquaculture resources,

NOTING IN PARTICULAR FAO’s three medium-term strategic objectives for fisheries namely: - Promotion of Responsible Fisheries Sector Management with priority given to the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Compliance Agreement, International Plans of Action, - Promotion of Increased Contribution of Responsible Fisheries and Aquaculture to World Food Supplies and Food Security and, - Global Monitoring and Strategic Analysis of Fisheries.

RECOGNIZING also the role of CITES in regulating international trade in species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by international trade and those that may become threatened with extinction unless international trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation as well as other species which must be subject to regulation in order that international trade in specimens of certain species threatened with extinction may be brought under effective control,

RECOGNIZING further that for marine species, the CITES Secretariat has an obligation to consult inter-governmental bodies having a function in relation to those species “especially with a view to obtaining scientific data” and “to ensuring co-ordination with any conservation measures enforced by such bodies.”

TAKING account of the results of the 8th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade held in Bremen, Germany from 12 – 16 February 2002 (which was endorsed by the Twenty-fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) held in Rome from 24 to 28 February 2003) and in particular Paragraph 18 and Appendix F of the report of that meeting (FAO Fisheries Report No. 673).

NOTING that CITES cannot replace traditional fisheries management and the particular importance of consulting all relevant bodies associated with the management of the species when considering amendments to CITES appendices.

ALSO TAKING account of the Decision of the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES regarding the development of an MOU to establish a framework for cooperation between CITES and FAO,

BELIEVING that there is a need to strengthen the process in CITES for scientific evaluation of proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II concerning commercially-exploited aquatic species and improve communication between fisheries agencies and CITES authorities at the national level .

FAO AND CITES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THEM HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

  1. The Fisheries Department of FAO and the CITES Standing Committee will send each other general information of common interest.
     
  2. FAO will be invited as an observer to meetings under the auspices of CITES or its Committees that are of common interest and CITES will be invited as an observer to meetings of common interest held by the Fisheries Department of FAO, the FAO Committee on Fisheries or its subcommittees.
     
  3. FAO and CITES will cooperate as appropriate to promote capacity building in developing countries for issues relating to commercially-exploited aquatic species listed on CITES appendices.
     
  4. FAO will continue to provide advice to CITES and be involved in the process of revision of the CITES listing criteria.
     
  5. CITES will inform FAO of all proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II concerning commercially-exploited aquatic species related to those species. Such information shall be provided to FAO as soon as possible to allow FAO to carry out a scientific and technical review of such proposals in a manner it deems appropriate and for the resulting output to be transmitted to the CITES Secretariat who will consider it in its deliberations to provide recommendations to the Parties to CITES regarding such proposals.
     
  6. In order to ensure coordination of conservation measures, CITES will incorporate to the greatest extent possible the results of the FAO scientific and technical review of proposals to amend the Appendices, the responses from all the relevant bodies associated with management of the species in question, as well as the substance of the preambular paragraphs of this memorandum in its advice and recommendations to the CITES Parties.

This Memorandum may be cancelled by either signatory by giving notice to the other in writing at any time.

Director General, FAO  _______________________________ Date: ___________
 
Chair, Standing Committee of CITES _____________________ Date: ___________

 

APPENDIX H

STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING INFORMATION ON STATUS AND TRENDS OF CAPTURE FISHERIES

PART 1:     INTRODUCTION

1. Knowledge of the status and trends of capture fisheries and fishery resources, including socio-economic aspects, is a key to sound policy-making and responsible fisheries management. It is necessary at the national level for the maintenance of food security and for describing social and economic benefits of fisheries. Fisheries policy-making and management is a dynamic interdisciplinary process that needs to take account of the status and trends of fisheries. Information on the status and trends of fisheries is also essential for assessing the validity of fisheries policy and for tracking the performance of fisheries management.

2. There is a high level of public interest for information on the status and trends of fisheries. More accurate and timely information should result in a better-informed public that supports efforts to manage fisheries in a responsible manner. Disseminating timely and readily understandable information on the status and trends of fisheries should help to ensure transparency in fisheries management, as called for by the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Paragraphs 6.13 and 7.1.9).

3. Application of the precautionary approach, based on the best scientific evidence available, is a key element of efforts to achieve responsible fisheries. This requires making information on the status and trends of fisheries available in a manner that supports policy making and fisheries management.

4. Information on the status and trends of fisheries is either needed for, or consistent with, many international instruments concerning fisheries, including:

5. The Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries was approved by consensus at the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) on 28 February 2003. It may be referred to as the FAO Fishery Status and Trends Strategy.

PART 2:     NATURE AND SCOPE

Nature of the Strategy

6. This Strategy has been elaborated within the framework of the Code of Conduct, as envisaged by Article 2 (d) and (e). The provisions of Article 3 of the Code of Conduct apply to the interpretation and application of this document and its relationship with other instruments. All concerned Members and non-members of FAO and fishing entities are encouraged to support its implementation.

7. This Strategy applies to the assembly and dissemination of information on the status and trends of fisheries. Data collection and research needs for monitoring the status and trends of fisheries are established by other international instruments, such as those noted in Paragraph 4 and existing obligations of States to report fisheries statistics to FAO under Article XI of the FAO Constitution. While this Strategy does not establish new legal obligations, it does propose to significantly invigorate data collection and research and it provides impetus for fulfilling those that already exist. This impetus should include additional support from relevant international organizations, whether governmental or non-governmental, and financial institutions (development partner agencies) for capacity building in developing countries.

8. In this Strategy, the reference to States includes the European Community in matters within its competence.

Scope of the Strategy

9. The Strategy is global in scope and is designed to cover all capture fisheries in inland and marine waters, including all industrial, commercial, subsistence and recreational fisheries. It includes issues concerning species introductions (deliberate or unintentional), wild stock enhancement, wild fish destined for on-growing or fattening in captivity, and stock recovery.

10. The Strategy does not apply to aquaculture because aquaculture has distinctive requirements that need to be addressed specifically for this increasingly important sector.

11. The main focus of the Strategy is on information concerning the fishery resources and the primary fisheries sector, including socio-economic information.

PART 3:     OBJECTIVE

12. The overall objective of the Strategy is to provide a framework for the improvement of knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends as a basis for fisheries policy-making and management for the conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources within ecosystems.

13. The Strategy will be implemented through arrangements between States, directly or through their participation of regional fishery organizations, and FAO working cooperatively to assemble information on the status and trends of fisheries, and using modern information technology to manage and disseminate it. These arrangements should be established at various geographic scales, ranging from local, to national, to regional, and they should be linked to form a global system under the auspices of FAO. Wherever, and whenever, possible, existing organizations should be used as the basis of the arrangements.

14. Global efforts to assemble and disseminate comprehensive information (e.g., through the FAO Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS)) on the status and trends of fisheries are currently hindered because a complete inventory of the fisheries and fish stocks of the world does not exist. A key element of the Strategy is to prepare such inventories, which would be implemented in FIGIS.

15. Consistent with Article 5 of the Code of Conduct, the capacity of developing countries should be duly taken into account in implementing the Strategy. The capacity of developing countries, particularly the least-developed among them, small island States, and countries whose data collection systems are in a critical condition, needs to be greatly enhanced so that they can fulfil existing commitments to collect fisheries statistics and to conduct fisheries research, thus allowing them to more fully participate in the Strategy.

PART 4:     GUIDING PRINCIPLES

16. The arrangements for implementation of this Strategy should be based on the six guiding principles highlighted in the paragraphs that follow.

Sustainability

17. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should be viable in the long term. As a consequence: (1) adequate funding should be provided at the national, regional and global levels, taking into account the resources available to countries, regional fishery bodies and FAO; and (2) the programme should consider the particular needs of developing countries which may require large investments in training and capacity building, to facilitate the formulation of appropriate national programmes or strategies.

Best Scientific Evidence

18. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should contribute to the best scientific evidence available. Protocols for assuring the quality of scientific information should be applied wherever and whenever practicable and appropriate. Such protocols should take account of the need to consider knowledge of participants in the fisheries, as well as traditional knowledge.

Participation and cooperation

19. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should adopt mechanisms for inclusion of all relevant participants in the preparation, analysis and presentation of fishery information. Relevant participants may include, inter alia, fishers, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations. States should, in accordance with international law, cooperate with other States in developing and maintaining such fishery information, as appropriate, either directly, or through appropriate intergovernmental organizations, including regional fishery bodies. States should provide feedback on the status and trends of fisheries to all relevant participants.

Objectivity and Transparency

20. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should contribute to providing the best scientific evidence available (Paragraph 18), and to transparency, in support of Article 6.13 of the Code of Conduct, while respecting any confidentiality requirements. Uncertainty associated with status and trends information should be expressed.

Timeliness

21. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should result in information being provided in a timely manner.

Flexibility

22. Arrangements for assembling and disseminating information on the status and trends of fisheries should be flexible enough to permit adjustments as necessary to ensure that they effectively support fishery policy-making and management through the provision of appropriate information.

PART 5:     REQUIRED ACTIONS

Need for capacity-building in developing countries

23. States, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and financial institutions, should address developing country needs for financial and technical assistance, technology transfer, training and scientific cooperation, in order to build capacity to implement cost-effective and sustainable fishery data collection, data processing, analysis and reporting, and exchange information. Capacity building is necessary to fulfil national needs, the needs of regional fishery bodies and arrangements, existing obligations for reporting fisheries data to FAO, and so that developing countries can more fully participate in, and benefit from, the Strategy.

Data collection systems in small-scale fisheries and multispecies fisheries

24. States, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and financial institutions should recognize that many small-scale fisheries and multi-species fisheries, particularly in developing countries, are not well monitored and awareness needs to be raised on the importance of monitoring these fisheries. They are probably underestimated and therefore underrepresented in current fisheries status and trends information, and consequently they are not adequately considered in the development of plans and policies for fisheries.

25. States should, with support from development partner agencies and assistance from FAO, where necessary, enhance their capacities to collect data to ensure that the coverage of fisheries information is as complete as possible and covers all sectors, in particular the data necessary to evaluate small-scale and multi-species fisheries.

26. States should participate in and support the development of cost-effective methods for acquiring and validating data on small-scale and multispecies fisheries, including rapid appraisal methodologies and other approaches for data-poor situations and participatory processes that closely associate the fishers and their organizations to the data collection schemes. Regular surveys at appropriate frequencies rather than continuous monitoring may be more feasible, particularly for some inland and small-scale fisheries.

27. States should cooperate through their regional fishery organizations and regional programmes, if necessary with the cooperation of FAO, to develop and adopt effective and pragmatic standards and systems for data collection, which should be compatible with FAO systems.

28. FAO, with support from member States and development partner agencies, should address the special data collection and assessment needs for small-scale and multispecies fisheries, including the use of meetings of experts to develop innovative approaches and guidelines.

Expanding the scope of information on status and trends of fisheries, including the need to incorporate ecosystem considerations into fisheries management

29. States should approach the implementation of the Code of Conduct, in particular as this relates to Article 7 (Fisheries Management), especially Article 7.4.2 and Article 12 (Fisheries Research), by consideration of ways to expand the scope of status and trends reporting to meet the responsibilities recommended therein for research and the dissemination of information on the effects of climatic, environmental and socio-economic factors on fishery conservation and management.

30. States, directly or through participation in regional fisheries organizations, should consider broadening the collection of information on the status and trends of fisheries to support further development of fisheries management incorporating ecosystem considerations.

31. FAO, with support of Members, and with full participation of regional fishery organizations should further address the issue of indicators of sustainable development, as a follow-up to the Australia-FAO Technical Consultation on Sustainability Indicators in Marine Capture Fisheries (Sydney, Australia, January 1999).

Global inventory of fish stocks and fisheries

32. States should participate in, or support coordinated efforts for the compilation of a global inventory of fisheries and fish stocks (biological management units) or stock-complexes as a basis to improve the completeness of available information on the status and trends of fisheries and for inclusion in FIGIS.

33. As a first step towards development of the inventory, States should collaborate with FAO to develop the definitions, form, content, methods and implementation (including the definition and allocation of responsibilities and the estimation of costs) of a programme for the compilation of a global inventory of fisheries and fish stocks (or stock-complexes), noting the requirements for, and coordinating efforts with, the actions being undertaken through IPOAs.

34. FAO, with support of its Members, either directly or through regional fishery organizations, should consider establishing a process for scientific oversight of fishery status and trends information, including the global inventory of fish stocks and fisheries, the global reviews of fishery status and trends prepared for the biennial State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) and the ongoing FAO submissions to the Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS).

FIGIS participation, structuring and capacity-building

35. States should support, both directly or through participation in regional fisheries organizations, development of Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS), by:

36. States should, either directly or through their participation in regional fisheries organizations, provide FIGIS with the best scientific information available. The assurance of information quality could be established by review processes at the national or regional level.

37. States should support FAO and other FIGIS partners, as appropriate, in the organization of and participation in pilot projects and workshops, to further develop and implement FIGIS, to develop training materials, and to conduct training.

38. FAO should continue to develop FIGIS, using modern information and communication technology, as a partnership between FAO, regional fisheries organizations, and national organizations, and other organizations that can make a positive contribution to the System.

Development of criteria and methods for ensuring information quality and security

39. States should participate in the development of criteria and methods to ensure information quality and security for the purposes of best scientific evidence, in accordance with internationally agreed standards and practices, through mechanisms for data verification, and in a manner consistent with applicable confidentiality requirements. States should apply the agreed criteria and methods.

40. FAO, with support of, and participation by, Members should facilitate the development of practical guidelines for quality assurance, transparency and security of fishery information.

Development of arrangements for the provision and exchange of information

41. States, directly or through their participation in regional fisheries organizations, should seek and agree on arrangements to facilitate the provision and exchange of information on the status and trends of fisheries with FAO, as appropriate. These arrangements should address the roles and entitlements of the partners, including in relation to information quality, transparency and confidentiality.

The role of working groups in assessing the status and trends of fisheries

42. Working groups composed of fishery experts and set up by countries or regional fishery organizations that meet to assess the status and trends of fish stocks and fisheries and which conduct their work according to terms of reference which specify the scope of their activities, are an important mechanism for enhancing the quality and transparency of scientific information. They can also provide important opportunities for capacity building.

43. States, directly or through participation in regional fisheries organizations in their respective jurisdictions and regional programmes, should formalize arrangements for working groups to analyse fisheries data and fish stocks information towards the evaluation of their status and trends. The periodicity of these working group meetings would depend on available human and financial resources and the nature of the fisheries and the fish stocks concerned.

44. States and development partner agencies should work with FAO to ensure the participation of fishery experts from around the world in working groups, particularly where these working groups contribute to capacity building in developing countries. The TCDC and other FAO programmes could be used for this purpose.

Sustaining data collection, information on the status and trend of fisheries

45. States should monitor their systems for data collection, analysis and reporting. States should ensure the sustainability of these systems to meet the needs of fishery policy making and management and the agreed requirements of regional fishery organizations and FAO and take corrective actions as appropriate.

PART 6:     PROMOTION AND IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS

General call for improving information on the status and trends of fisheries

46. States, regional fishery bodies and international institutions should develop and implement mechanisms for the improvement of fisheries information, the application of research to enhance the availability of best scientific evidence, and the adoption of a continuing process for the enrichment of fishery status and trends information to support conservation, management and sustainable use of fishery resources at local, regional and global levels.

The role of States

47. States should evaluate the actions they need to take to improve information on the status and trends of fisheries, address these needs on a priority basis, and report on the improvements they make, as part of their biennial report to FAO on the Code of Conduct.

The role of regional fishery organizations

48. Regional fishery bodies, within the limits defined by their conventions and to the extent mandated by their members, should participate in the implementation of this Strategy, by providing support to their members, participating in global programmes and decisions on the development and adoption of standards and guidelines for information on the status and trends fisheries, becoming a partner in FIGIS.

The role of FAO

49. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, and as part of its Regular and Field Programme activities, support States and regional fishery bodies in the implementation of this Strategy.

50. FAO will, as and to the extent directed by its Conference, support member States’ implementation of this Strategy, through in-country technical assistance projects using Regular Programme funds and by use of extra-budgetary funds made available to the Organization for this purpose. For better conservation and management of fishery resources, FAO should prepare a specific programme for establishing effective and sustainable systems for data collection, processing and analysis in developing countries, including in particular the least-developed among them.

51. FAO will, through COFI, report biennially on the state of progress in the implementation of the Strategy.

Role of development partner agencies and non-governmental organizations

52. International and national development partner agencies, should give priority to the provision of financial and technical assistance to developing countries, in particular the least-developed among them and small island developing states, and countries whose data collection systems are in a critical condition, for capacity building and information system development, as necessary for implementation of this Strategy.

53. Non-governmental organizations (national, regional and international) concerned with fisheries, fisher-folk and the aquatic environment and research into these, should encourage implementation of the Strategy through appropriate support, information methods development and capacity building and participation.

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1 To be discussed with the CITES Secretariat

 


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