Secretariat

GFCM EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Executive Secretary is responsible for the implementation of the policies and activities of the GFCM. On behalf of GFCM contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, he manages the Secretariat, administers the GFCM autonomous budget, ensures coordination with relevant FAO Departments, promotes the role of the GFCM in relevant fora, secures extra-budgetary funds, and maintains formal relationships with countries and partners.

Miguel BERNAL
GFCM Executive Secretary

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FISHERIES

The Fisheries team is responsible for coordinating actions to improve fisheries management and the conservation of living marine resources, in line with the GFCM workplan and the GFCM 2030 Strategy. It leads activities to enhance knowledge and scientific advice (stock assessment work, development and implementation of management plans, surveys-at-sea, research programmes); supports efforts towards sustainable small-scale and recreational fisheries, including socio-economic aspects; and oversees work on marine spatial planning (establishment of fisheries restricted areas, protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems etc.) and interactions between fisheries and the marine environment and ecosystems (bycatch monitoring programmes, adaptation strategies for non-indigenous species and climate change, marine litter, etc.). The team helps manage the BlackSea4Fish project, and the MedSea4Fish project, aimed at increasing scientific cooperation at the subregional level.

Elisabetta Betulla MORELLO Fishery Resources Officer	Margherita SESSA Programme and Liaison Officer
Anna CARLSON Fishery Officer for Socio-economic Issues	Hüseyin OZBILGIN Fishery Officer, BlackSea4Fish Project Coordinator Black Sea Unit
Pilar HERNÁNDEZ Fishery Officer, Subregional Coordinator for the Western Mediterranean  Western Mediterranean Technical Unit	Marin MIHANOVIC Fishery Officer, Subregional Coordinator for the Adriatic Sea  Adriatic Sea Technical Unit

The Fisheries team is supported by the following specialists: Paolo CARPENTIERI (Fishery Resources Monitoring, Scientific Surveys and Bycatch), Henning WINKER (Framework for the provision of advice), John Gabriel RAMIREZ TELLEZ (Framework for the provision of advice), Ziad SAMAHA (Fisheries and Environment), Aurora NASTASI (Fisheries and Environment), Fabio GRATI (Recreational Fisheries), Constance VERLHAC (Small-Scale Fisheries), Lena WESTLUND (RPOA-SSF), Ibrahim ABDELGAWAD (Fisheries Support) and Edgar MUSHEGHYAN (Fish Forum).

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AQUACULTURE

The Aquaculture team is responsible for sustainable aquaculture development, in line with the workplan adopted by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Aquaculture (CAQ) and the GFCM 2030 strategy. The team works with a range of partners to address aquaculture governance and coastal integration, allocated zones for aquaculture (AZA), interactions with the environment, animal health and market issues. It also provides technical assistance and training opportunities; and oversees the work of the newly established Aquaculture Demonstration Centres (ADCs), which aim to promote sustainable aquaculture practices at subregional level.

The Aquaculture team is supported by the following specialists: Linda FOURDAIN (AZA Establishment, GIS Application and Statistical Analysis), Georgios PAXIMADIS (Responsible Practices, Certifications and Marketing) and Alexandria SCHUTTE (Knowledge Management).

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LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL

The Legal and institutional team advises on legal and institutional matters, including partnerships and cooperation with contracting parties, cooperating non-contracting parties and other non-contracting parties. In line with the Compliance Committee (CoC) workplan, the team regularly assesses levels of compliance with GFCM recommendations. It also collaborates in the fight against (IUU) fishing and deals with aspects of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).

The Legal and Institutional team is supported by the following specialists: Ahmed SILIMAN (Compliance Coordination) and Ani NACHKHATASHVILI (Black Sea Issues).

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DATA MANAGEMENT

The Data management team is in charge of the management and processing of fisheries and aquaculture data, as well as all related technological issues. This also includes the providing support to contracting parties for the transmission of data and information in accordance with binding GFCM recommendations. In line with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), CAQ, CoC Working Group on the Black Sea (WGBS) workplans, the team deals with aspects related to the fisheries Data Collection Reference Framework (DCRF) and the aquaculture data network (SIPAM); and it also supports MCS activities.

The Data team is supported by the following specialists: Laurent DUBROCA (Fisheries Data Quality),  Elisa MORENO DE LA CRUZ (Data Compliance) and Selvaggia COGNETTI DE MARTIIS (Fisheries Information Management).

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PUBLICATION AND COMMUNICATION

The Publication and communication team manages GFCM publications, communication materials and other activities. It also provides language support to the Secretariat, including translation and editing.

The publication and communication team is supported by the following specialists:  Adèle PEENAERT (Communication Coordination), Ysé BENDJEDDOU (Publications and Documentation Coordinator), Berna CETIN (Communication), Intissare AAMRI (Communication) and Matthew KLEINER (Publications).

Other specialists also collaborate on an occasional basis: Claudia AMICO (Filmmaking), Clémentine Laurent (Small-Scale Fisheries), Chantal MÉNARD (Communication Projects) and Sinziana DEMIAN (Communication Projects).

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PROGRAMME, ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

The Programme, administration and finance team supports GFCM activities of all kinds,  ensuring the necessary resources are made available to carry out agreed plans. Their key tasks include recruitment, logistics and operational backstopping, travel organization, procurement, fund-raising support and financial monitoring.

Claudia ESCUTIA Programme Associate	Oksana BALASHOVA Office Assistant
Abla KADIRI Programme Assistant	Svetozar GRADEV Office Assistant
Matteo STARNONI Programme Assistant

The Programme, Administration and Finance team is supported by the following specialists: Paolo DE DONNO (Operations), Andrea LEONE (Finance), Marie HELL (Programme and administration) and Giulia CHAKKALAKAL (Programme).

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SECURITY

The Security team is responsible for ensuring the overall security of the GFCM headquarters and maintaining the safety of GFCM personnel and visitors.

The Security team is supported by Alfredo RISINO, Sergio SORACE and Ermanno SORDI.

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