The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (RSGA), is one of the few oceans that does not have a regional body to coordinate fisheries management and research, despite the importance of its biodiversity and the value that its fish stock adds to the economies of the coastal countries and the livelihoods of thousands of fishers and aquaculturists.

In response to a call made at the 28th session of the Committee on Fisheries (March 2009), and subsequently reiterated and endorsed by the 30th FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and North Africa (2010), FAO has supported the Arab and African coastal countries of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with the goal of establishing a regional fisheries management arrangement/organization (RFMA/O).

the coordination group (of which Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and PERSGA are members) will discuss FAO’s proposed final draft of the Convention to Establish a Regional Fishery Management Organization/Agreement in the Red sea and Gulf of Aden region, and they will review the draft convention agreement and related documents.