COFI:AQ/1/2002/Inf.6

The Twenty-fourth Session of the Committee on Fisheries was held in Rome, Italy, from 26 February to 2 March 2001. This document provides the sections relevant to aquaculture development, monitoring, management and the establishment of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, as appeared in the Report of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI).

A. PROPOSED COFI SUB-COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE

1. This agenda item was introduced by the Secretariat with additional clarification by the Chairman of the Expert Consultation on the proposed COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, and discussed on the basis of document COFI/2001/5. The Committee also had access to COFI/2001/Inf.8 (Report of the FAO Expert Consultation on the Proposed Sub-Committee which includes the Bangkok Declaration and Strategy on Aquaculture Development beyond 2000). The Committee noted past discussions concerning the establishment of the Sub-Committee and appreciated the recent work by the Secretariat in organizing and convening the Expert Consultation (Para. 54).

2. There was recognition of the increasingly important role that aquaculture was playing in global fish production, and food security by providing opportunities for economic development in Member States. Many Members noted the proactive role FAO had to play in responsible aquaculture development in collaboration with other centres of excellence. The Committee raised issues of common global concern on aquaculture development, such as environmental and economic implications, consumer and food safety aspects, interactions between aquaculture and capture fisheries, the role of culture-based fisheries, sea ranching, general institutional and development needs for sustainable aquaculture management (Para. 55).

3. With regard to the establishment of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, discussions focused on the financial implications, terms of reference, issues to be addressed and areas of future work (Para 56).

4. Concerning the financial implications, many Members stressed the necessity and urgency of establishing the Sub-Committee. They indicated that funding should preferably come from FAO's Regular Programme and urged that the Fisheries Department should be given a "real growth" budget allocation in the next biennium. Several Members expressed the view that the funding for the Sub-Committee from the Regular Programme budget should not be at the expense of other programmes of the Fisheries Department (Para 57).

5. In order to reduce the financial burden on FAO's Regular Programme budget, China, Italy, Norway, and the United States of America made offers of financial assistance. The delegation of China offered to host the First Session of the Sub-Committee in conjunction with the meeting of the World Aquaculture Society and an international aquaculture exhibition in Beijing in April 2002, and opted to cover some of the local costs. The delegation of Norway offered support for the Second Session in Norway, also in conjunction with an international exhibition on aquaculture in August, 2003. Norway's support would include covering some net additional costs to the Secretariat (provision of technical secretariat, documentation, etc.), direct meeting costs (interpretation and translation, meeting facilities, etc.) and support for participation of some delegates from developing countries. The delegation of the United States of America offered to consult with the aquaculture industry with a view to hosting a subsequent session of the Sub-Committee and the delegation of Italy indicated that it would join international efforts to provide additional funding for the Sub-Committee. China acknowledged the offer of other Members to host subsequent meetings of the Sub-Committee and noted that the holding of the Sub-Committee's sessions in different countries would permit delegations to observe and share experiences from other areas (Para. 58).

6. There was general agreement on the terms of reference as outlined in document COFI/2001/5. However, there might be a need to clarify them further in the light of the development of the Sub-Committee. In order to ensure coverage of the needs of all Members it was recommended that the terms of reference should be kept flexible and should be revised as the aquaculture sector developed. The terms of reference for the Sub-Committee are given in Appendix E (Para. 59).

7. Several Members emphasized that the Sub-Committee should complement the work of regional fishery bodies, minimize duplication of effort and thus maximize resources. The observer from the Russian Federation requested FAO to consider the feasibility of his country becoming a member of the Sub-Committee (Para. 60).

8. The Committee unanimously agreed with the recommendation of the Expert Consultation that the priority areas to be addressed by the Sub-Committee should include aquaculture development, statistics, implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, environmental aspects of aquaculture development, regional cooperation, aquaculture management, aquaculture and coastal zone management, and national and regional aquaculture capacity building. Some Members stressed the importance of the Sub-Committee in analysing issues pertaining to safe aquaculture and technological development for cultivation of species (Para. 61).

9. The Committee agreed to establish the Sub-Committee, and gratefully acknowledged the offers from China, Norway, the United States of America and Italy to facilitate the convening of the sessions (Para. 62).

B. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES AND RELATED INTERNATIONAL PLANS OF ACTION

10. The Committee acknowledged the role played by the Code of Conduct in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The linkage between improved conservation and management and utilization within the fisheries sector was also recognized as critical in supporting national policies directed towards enhanced food security and the creation and maintenance of social and economic opportunities (Para. 21).

11. The Committee noted that the implementation of the post-harvest provisions of the Code of Conduct had been relatively slow by FAO and Member countries. It further noted that FAO could play an important role in facilitating international dialogue to examine mechanisms such as information exchange and verification that would contribute to enhancing responsible post-harvest practices (Para. 23).

12. Many Members stated that the provisions of the Code of Conduct formed the basis for policy development and the revision of national fisheries legislation. In most cases this action was in recognition of the importance of responsible fisheries and aquaculture to sustainable development. Some Members expressed their desire to use such policy initiatives to promote a culture of responsible fisheries (Para. 24).

13. The Committee noted the growing importance of aquaculture development in many countries. Some Members indicated that aquaculture production was assuming a role of increasing importance and that its development should be pursued within a responsible framework. In promoting aquaculture, FAO was urged not to overlook those countries that historically did not practice aquaculture but which had suitable conditions for its development (Para. 28).

14. Members commented that the guidelines prepared by FAO in support of the application of the Code of Conduct were important aids in facilitating its implementation. The Committee took note that regional and national guidelines in support of implementation had also been elaborated. Some developing Member countries drew attention to the need to ensure that the FAO guidelines addressed developing country issues since these countries were intended as the primary recipients of such guidelines (Para. 31).

C. MEDIUM-TERM PLAN 2002-2007

15. The Committee reviewed this item on the basis of document COFI/2001/10 and a table indicating the Medium-Term Plan Resources for the Fisheries Programme provided for its consideration by the Secretariat. It welcomed the Medium-Term Plan for Fisheries and identified the expected results of the programme. Furthermore, the Plan provided a good summary of the activities to be undertaken in relation to the strategic objectives of FAO. Many Members recommended that biennial data on budget proposals be made available in conjunction with the Medium-Term Plan so as to assist the Committee in its provision of constructive advice on programme priorities (Para. 112).

16. The Committee reviewed a number of areas where changes or improvements in the orientation of work planned could enhance the utility of the Medium-Term Plan. Several Members expressed serious concerns about the lack of balance among regions in resource allocation and stressed the need for increased allocations to developing countries for policy and technical assistance. The Committee therefore recommended that in future the programme should ensure a correct balance among regions, among programme activities and between normative and operational work, taking into account the above stated concerns of developing countries, as well as the many demands for normative work. It also recommended that the use of various instruments such as guidelines and plans of action be assessed and harmonized to ensure that the most appropriate tool was used in future initiatives. Finally, decisions to establish long-term activities should not be based only on commitments for the short-term development phases of the work proposed (Para. 113).

17. In its review of the Plan, the Committee pointed to several areas which it felt should continue to receive priority attention, in particular, work on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the International Plans of Action. The Committee noted with satisfaction the emphasis placed on activities of the Fisheries Department contributing to the Organization's strategies B, C and E and encouraged their continuation. Many Members underlined its support for activities in the area of institutional capacity building in developing countries and many Members called for increased support to be given to such activities. The Committee recalled its approval to establish a sub-committee on aquaculture, noting that this formed part of its larger commitment to ensure continued, balanced work in support of aquaculture and highlighted the need for additional resources in this connection (Para. 114).

18. The Committee underscored FAO's comparative advantage in fisheries and, in this respect, reiterated its strong demand that a higher share of FAO budget be allocated to the Fisheries Programme. It also discussed a number of areas where it felt additional resources could be productively employed. In addition to an increased emphasis on work which the Committee considered a long-term commitment such as the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the IPOAs, it concluded that more resources should be set aside for several specific areas in relation to the general aim of promoting improvements in global fisheries management. The areas referred to by many Members include the management of small-scale fisheries; the development of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management; trade aspects including fish quality and safety considerations; fishing gear selectivity and waste reduction; resources assessment and monitoring; fish disease control and management and harvest and post-harvest of under-exploited resources such as mesopelagic stocks; as well as the special requirements of the small island developing States (SIDS) (Para. 115).

19. Some Members commented that often a number of agencies within their Government were involved in FAO matters. Effective coordination among these national agencies to ensure that each Member delegation to FAO bodies support its resource allocation approach in all relevant FAO bodies may help achieve a reallocation of FAO programme resources. Several Members suggested that a reasonable portion of arrears paid should be allocated to the FAO Fisheries Programme (Para. 116).

20. Some Members supported the allocation of increased resources to strengthen the work of the regional fishery bodies. The Committee pointed to opportunities that greater collaboration between FAO and regional fishery bodies could contribute to more cost effective implementation of some activities such as resource monitoring and assessment (Para. 117).

APPENDIX E

TERMS OF REFERENCE
OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE

The Terms of Reference of the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, based on the recommendations of the Expert Consultation, would be as follows:

"The Sub-Committee shall provide a forum for consultation and discussion on aquaculture and advise COFI on technical and policy matters related to aquaculture and on the work to be performed by the Organization in the subject matter field of aquaculture. In particular the Sub-Committee shall:

(a) identify and discuss major issues and trends in global aquaculture development;

(b) determine those issues and trends of international importance requiring action to increase the sustainable contribution of aquaculture to food security, economic development and poverty alleviation;

(c) recommend international action to address aquaculture development needs and, in this regard:

(i) to advise on mechanisms to prepare, facilitate and implement action programmes identified, as well as on the expected contribution of partners;

(ii) to advise on the liaison with other relevant groups and organizations with a view to promoting harmonization and endorsing policies and actions, as appropriate;

(iii) to advise on the strengthening of international collaboration to assist developing countries in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

(d) advise on the preparation of technical reviews and of issues and trends of international significance;

(e) address any specific matters relating to aquaculture referred to it by its Members, the Committee on Fisheries or the Director-General of FAO".