Report of the fao Workshop for the Development of a Global Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) Italy, Rome, 7-9 December 2011

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. No. 1018

Report of the FAO Workshop for the Development of a
Global Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Rome, 7–9 December 2011

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2013

ABSTRACT

FAO. 2013
Report of the FAO Workshop for the Development of a Global Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. Rome, 7–9 December 2011. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. No. 1018. Rome, FAO. 41 pp.

The Workshop for the Development of a Global Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), which was held at the headquarters of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in Rome, Italy from 7 to 9 December 2011.

The Workshop was organized in response to the need for implementation and development of a Global Database for VMEs. The main objectives of the workshop were to i) determine what types of data and information need to be collated to be most useful in facilitating decision-making for regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements RFMO/As and states (and industry) in relation to management of impacts on VMEs; and ii) to determine a development strategy for options for developing the FAO VME database based on stakeholder input.

The workshop was attended by a range of stakeholders, participating in their personal capacity, including representatives of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements (RFMO/As), intergovernmetnal and non-governmental orgranizations and scientific institutes.

Participants discussed five different topical areas 1) overview of RFMO/As VME-related activities, 2) overview of industry perspectives and inputs, 3) experience in VME-related databases and 4) tools and frameworks for the database, and 5) VME database options, priorities and a roadmap. Break-out group discussions pertaining to industry, management and science issues, and addressing database requirements are included under the relevant sections. Main conclusions where agreed upon which pave the way for the development of the VME database.

Table of Contents


Preparation of this document
Abstract
Abbreviations and acronyms

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
		Data
		Development
		Products and services
OPENING OF THE SESSION AND WELCOME
		Background
		Workshop objectives
		Appointment of the Chairperson
		Adoption of the Agenda
SESSION 1: OVERVIEW OF RFMO/A VME-RELATED ACTIVITIES
		Presentation – Contribution from RFMOs: summary of responses to questionnaire, by Odd Aksel Bergstad
		General discussion
			Diversity of VME identification processes and methodologies and challenges
			Data inputs and challenges
			Scope and design of the database
SESSION 2: OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES AND INPUT
		Presentation – VME Risk Areas: How to capture the experience of the fishing industry and combine that with science information in ABNJ Deep-sea Fisheries, by Graham Patchell
		Presentation – Data from the industry in the North-East Atlantic, by Pascal Lorance
		Discussion
SESSION 3: EXPERIENCE IN VME-RELATED DATABASES
		Presentation – Data sources and types used by ICES and NAFO WGDEC and the development of an integrated database of VME records for the North Atlantic, by Francis Neat
		Presentation – Developing linkages between the EBSA data repository, the OBIS information system and the VME database, by Patrick Halpin
		Other information presented
		Discussion
SESSION 4: TOOLS AND FRAMEWORKS FOR THE DATABASE
		Presentation – Overview of frameworks and tools for the database, by Marc Taconet
		Presentation – Some initial proposals of information products: structure, contents and functionalities for the VME database, by Fabio Carocci
		Discussion
		Other information presented
DEMONSTRATION OF POSSIBLE TOOLS
		Presentation – Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS), by Aureliano Gentile
		Presentation – D4Science and iMarine infrastructures, by Anton Ellenbroek
		Discussion
DISCUSSION GROUP SUMMARIES
		Science discussion group
			What do you hope to gain from the FAO VME database?
			What can you contribute to the FAO VME database?
			Are there any other existing initiatives that may be important to connect to the VME database?
		Management and policy discussion group
			What do you hope to gain from the VME database?
			What can you contribute to the VME database?
			Are there any other initiatives that may be important to consider?
			Other points of discussion
		Industry discussion group
			What do you hope to gain from the FAO VME database?
			What can you contribute to the FAO VME database?
			Are there any other existing initiatives that may be important to connect to the VME database?
FAO VME DATABASE OPTIONS, PRIORITIES AND ROAD MAP
		Summary of the group discussions
			Technical group report
			Governance group report
		Discussion
			Use of the VME database
			Sustainability and engagement of RFMO/As
			Networking
ROADMAP/MILESTONES
		VME-database milestones
APPENDIXES
A.	Annotated Agenda
B.	List of participants
C.	RFMO/As experiences in VMEs: Questionaire for RFMO/As
D.	RFMO/As experiences in VMEs: Analysis of the responses to the questionnaire
E.	Breakout discussion groups
F.	Governance, data sharing policies, networking, sustainability as per the outcome of the Governance Subgroup (Session 5)
G.	Different levels of products for the VME database
H.	Summary of the information to be included in the VME database

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