The fisheries sector holds an important potential for food security and nutrition in the Near East and North Africa region. Total capture fisheries production (marine and inland) in the region has increased steadily from less than 0.5 million tonnes in the 1980s to the recent level of nearly 3.5 million tonnes.

Increasing demand for fish in the region, and particularly in the Gulf and Sea of Oman, means increased emphasis on the importance of regional cooperation to manage fisheries in a sustainable manner. Regional cooperation is needed in an area where fish stocks are shared and where the actions of one country have an impact on the fish stocks and environment in another.

Acknowledging the critical role of regional cooperation for sustainable fisheries, RECOFI Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) is organising its Ninth Meeting in Kuwait during 24 – 26 November, to support and promote the sustainable management of the region’s fishery stocks.

This meeting will discuss a number of important topics including RECOFI priority species; the kingfish and shrimp management plans; and the social and economic aspects of fisheries in the region.