Seoul. The Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue recognized the mechanisms implemented by General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) to foster ongoing cooperation in the Mediterranean as a practical and effective tool to enhance synergies towards the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

This came in the aftermath of a joint presentation delivered by GFCM and UNEP/MAP at the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies on Accelerating Progress Towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets that took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 26-29 September 2016.

In light of the tangible outcomes achieved through the GFCM-UNEP/MAP cooperation, the SOI Global Dialogue acknowledged indeed the importance of sharing lessons and cases of best practices on regional-scale cooperation, such as the Mediterranean one. The most salient successes of GFCM and UNEP/MAP’s mutual work include the definition of common indicators, increased complementarity in the use of area-based management tools, the organization of joint meetings and the development of joint regional strategies to tailor the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDG 14 to the Mediterranean specificities.

The SOI Global Dialogue, which focusses on mechanisms to improve coordination between regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies, considered that such regional dialogue was a crucial element for the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDG 14. The importance for other regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies to consider adopting similar tools in the quest for efficient mechanisms to promote scientific collaboration and implement the ecosystem approach was strongly emphasized. Participants in Seoul stressed the need to continue global dialogue with regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies on accelerating progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDG 14, acknowledging that the Mediterranean Sea stands out as an area where such dialogue could take place at the regional level in the near future.

This important meeting, convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, was a unique opportunity for GFCM and UNEP/MAP to showcase the successful experience of their collaboration which has been taking place since the signature, in 2012, of a memorandum of understanding. The event was attended by more than eighty participants representing various regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies, in addition to the CBD, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNEP as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, selected countries, academia and universities. GFCM was represented by Mr Abdellah Srour, Executive Secretary, and Mr Nicola Ferri, legal and institutional officer, and UNEP-MAP was represented by Mr Gaetano Leone, Coordinator.

The presentation delivered at the side event can be downloaded here. 

More information on SOI Global Dialogue is available at: www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=SOIOM-2016-01.