Mme. Maria Manuela KWABA (Angola): Puisque c'est la première fois que je prends la parole, laissez-moi vous féliciter pour votre élection à la tête de cette Commission. Je suis convaincue que votre expérience et votre sagesse nous aideront à trouver des voies et moyens aux différents points prévus pour cette Commission.
Mes félicitations s'adressent également aux Vice-Présidents et au Secrétariat pour la qualité du travail qui se trouve dans le document C 91/25, plein de renseignements, objet de notre examen. M. le Président, parmi le large éventail de questions qui concernent la stratégie approuvée par la conférence mondiale sur les pêches, notre intervention va se limiter à quelques aspects des huit principaux identifiés.
Comme il est dit dans les paragraphes 11, 12, 13 et 14, l'Angola peut se joindre aux nombreux pays qui croient fermement que les idées directrices et principes contenus dans la Stratégie sont restés valables et utiles.
Dans mon pays, un plan directeur a été élaboré et s'étend jusqu'à l'an 2000. Le secteur des pêches fait annuellement une révision du plan et des programmes afin de les adapter à la Stratégie mondiale.
D'autre part, grâce à celle-ci, le pays a pu revoir tous les accords de pêche existant dans le cadre de la coopération bilatérale en vue de réduire les captures des bateaux étrangers en faveur des embarcations nationales.
M. le Président, en ce qui concerne l'élément 1 de la Stratégie, je vous informe que, durant les trois dernières années (1988, 1989 et 1990), environ 90.3 pour cent/an des captures sont destinés à la consommation humaine. Je ne veux pas dire par-là que les besoins de notre population sont satisfaits totalement; loin de là, parce que la grande majorité de celle-ci vit dans le milieu rural qui était difficile à atteindre à cause de la guerre. Seulement un faible pourcentage des captures est exporté.
M. le Président, grâce à l'assistance technique de la FAO, mon pays a mis en place un nouveau cadre juridique, adapté aux normes internationales. Notre Assemblée nationale va prochainement approuver la loi sur les pêches. Pour essayer de minimiser les principales difficultés contenues dans la deuxième partie du paragraphe 21, mon pays a sollicité l'assistance technique de la Banque mondiale.
Dans le deuxième élément de la Stratégie, nous considérons prioritaire la formation du personnel national, parmi lequel il faut inclure celui de la pêche artisanale sans lequel le pays ne pourra pas tirer le maximum des profits de ses ressources halieutiques.
Nous disposons de deux écoles de pêche pour la formation des techniciens nationaux de base et de moyen niveau. Et à partir de 1992, les jeunes cadres des pays de la SADCC pourront les fréquenter.
Le document C 91/25 nous informe que l'élément 3 de la Stratégie constitue une grande préoccupation des gouvernements des pays tant développés qu'en développement. Pour les pays en voie de développement en général, et l'Angola en particulier, cet élément, comme nous pourrons le constater, constitue notre point faible, ne disposant pas des moyens adéquats pour le contrôle, la fiscalisation des ressources et opérations de pêche, et conduisant à la réduction de nos stocks halieutiques. L'Angola, qui se trouve dans la même situation que les autres pays en voie de développement, demande une fois de plus, dans le cadre de la coopération bilatérale et multilatérale, le renforcement de l'appui financier, matériel et technique, pour résoudre l'aménagement rationnel et l'utilisation optimale des ressources halieutiques.
Le document C 91/25 met aussi l'accent sur la pollution et ses effets, la dégradation de l'environnement. La délégation angolaise appuie toutes les mesures prises ou à prendre pour surveiller et contrôler les menaces qui pèsent sur l'environnement. D'ailleurs, ce point est parmi les thèmes sur lesquels la FAO va s'attarder dans ses analyses. Monsieur le Président, la pêche artisanale a un grand rôle à jouer pour atteindre les objectifs économiques, sociaux et nutritionnels nationaux. Elle possède une grande réserve en hommes qui connaissent le secteur. Nous devons aussi reconnaître l'importance des femmes surtout dans la transformation et la commercialisation des poissons, sans oublier les activités connexes, notamment les charpentiers et les mécaniciens. Source d'emplois tout le long de la côte, ce secteur, la pêche artisanale bien sûr, exige très peu de ressources financières et matérielles par rapport à la pêche industrielle. En Angola, la pêche côtière a été définie parmi les priorités. Je profite de cette occasion qui m'est offerte pour informer la conférence qu'un organe a été créé pour s'occuper du développement de la pêche artisanale et aura comme objectifs: sa promotion, l'établissement des programmes d'actions socio-économiques visant le développement intégré des communautés de pêcheurs, et enfin l'élaboration d'un système national de captures, la recherche et la divulgation de l'information utile à la pêche côtière.
M. le Président, ma délégation félicite la FAO pour le FIPIS qui est devenu opérationnel, et appuie la collaboration multinationale pour l'aménagement des pêches en vue d'harmoniser les systèmes conjoints de contrôle et de surveillance.
Ma délégation appuie aussi les observations et les recommandations de la dix-neuvième session du Comité des pêches de la FAO contenues dans le Chapitre IV, ainsi que les observations du Conseil de la FAO à sa quatre-vingt -dix-neuvième session.
Adnan Kh. AL-RASHOOD (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful, on behalf of the Kuwait delegation, I should like to begin by expressing my sincere thanks to the Secretariat who have prepared this very important document, C 91/25.
We are meeting here to discuss this document. It is for us to try to register progress in the implementation, management and the development of fisheries. However, it is regrettable to note, also, that what I am talking about now may differ from what other people are going to talk about. I can only talk about the disastrous situation which prevails on our shores, the shores of Kuwait. I refer to a serious problem for the whole of mankind. At all times Kuwait has given considerable importance to the management and development of fisheries. Kuwait was one of the first countries in the Gulf Region to prepare a policy and strategy aimed at guaranteeing an integral and harmonious development of its fisheries. Kuwait has also been among the first countries to fulfil their obligations and to pay their contributions to FAO because of the crucial importance of this sector.
We prepared legislation and regulations governing fisheries in our country. We have defined those areas where fishing is forbidden. We have defined the varieties of fish to be caught and also the type of vessels to be used.
We have also forbidden the use of certain types of gear because of their disastrous effects. In the 1980s and 1990s we followed a strategy aimed at improving fishery development and management. This strategy was adopted by the Government of Kuwait and then reported to FAO.
Our Fisheries Research Centre in Kuwait is also engaged in considerable research concerning the fisheries resources of our country. This Centre is of considerable renown in the Gulf Region and in the Middle East as a whole.
Unfortunately, in 1990, my country was occupied by Iraq. I am sure you are fully acquainted with the various actions engaged in by the occupying forces, who did not hesitate to destroy all our infrastructure and our achievements.
What the occupying army was not able to pillage, it destroyed. As you know, a lot of mines were laid along our shores. We carried out many studies and we were engaged in a lot of work which was burnt. Our libraries and documentation centres were destroyed.
You also know of the other damage that was done. You know that the Iraqi régime poured tons of oil on to our shoreline and along the ocean adjoining Kuwait.
You understand the repercussions of such action. This was crowned by the crime of the century when the occupying army of Iraq burned our oil-wells and this led to an unprecedented ecological disaster in our region. It led to the destruction of all forms of life in the country.
Kuwait is always among the first countries to support the actions of FAO, and we wish to endorse the words of our brethren and colleagues in saying that we shall always be ready to contribute our assistance to the Organization and to countries needing our assistance. When a strategy is adopted for fisheries in the years to come, I hope you will take into due account the situation in Kuwait and neighbouring countries so that you will be able to help us repair what has been destroyed, both as regards technical aspects and also in order to help us carry out the necessary studies.
We trust that you will be able to provide us with the experts we need to restore our documentation, statistics and data on fishery resources. All the Gulf countries have considerable need of technical assistance from FAO if they are to combat pollution which has had such a cruel effect. We believe this will be part of one of the resolutions to be adopted by this Commission.
Nedilson Ricardo JORGE (Brazil): First allow me to express my satisfaction at seeing you in the Chair conducting our work under this item. Next, I should like to thank FAO's Secretariat for having prepared this comprehensive and very informative document.
The Brazilian Government is worried about the attempts made by some developed countries to impose on developing countries their fishing techniques and technologies disguised as being environmentally safer. However, my Government shares the views of those who give importance to training and to transferring knowledge, skills and technology in order to assist developing countries to improve their management and sustainable development of their fisheries.
With respect to large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing, I should like to stress once again the strong opposition of the Brazilian Government to this kind of fishing practice.
In order to be brief I will refer only to the two aspects I have just mentioned.
Tara Nath BHATTARAI (Nepal): First of all, allow me to take this opportunity to join with other delegates in congratulating the Secretariat on presenting a comprehensive and high-quality report on the subject, document C 91/25.
We should like to endorse the views expressed by the delegate from Senegal, particularly regarding the need to emphasize the importance of inland or continental fisheries, management and development. We endorse this view because, being a landlocked country, our fisheries management and development is concerned with inland fisheries only, which has been contributing significantly to the socio-economic upliftment of some parts of the rural community and to food and nutrient supplement for many rural communities.
The progress achieved by us in this type of fisheries, particularly in research and development, has been quite significant. The large potential for hydro-power generation in the country, which is attracting heavy investment in the construction of dams, will open up a new venue for inland fisheries development and management. So we think that the Strategy for Fisheries Management and Development should also consider the needs of inland fisheries and continental fisheries.
Antonio BAYAS F. (Chile): El Gobierno de Chile participa de los principios del Plan de Acción y Ordenación de los Recursos y Desarrollo Pesqueros, comparte los planteamientos del documento C 91/25 mediante el cual la FAO informa a esta Conferencia sobre los resultados y aplicación por gran parte de los países miembros del citado Plan de Acción.
Mi delegación apoya el mencionado documento, especialmente en lo que respecta a la regulación de pesca de altura. La Subsecretaría de Pesca de mi país está implementando una serie de medidas, tanto técnicas como de carácter legal, con objeto de obtener una ordenación racional de los recursos pesqueros.
En aras del tiempo, no me referiré a otros asuntos que ya han sido tocados por otras delegaciones que me antecedieron en el uso de la palabra. Particularmente, compartimos varios de los aspectos expresados por las distinguidas delegaciones de España y Australia. Consciente con los principios de ordenación y explotación racional de los recursos pesqueros, Chile fue el segundo país que procedió a firmar la Convención para la provisión de pesca con redes de enmalle y deriva en el Pacífico Sur.
Sra. Ana María NAVARRO ARRUE (Cuba): A nombre de la delegación de Cuba permítame saludarlo a usted, al Presidente elegido y al Vicepresidente, deseándoles éxitos en la conducción de esta importante Comisión II.
Agradecemos muy sinceramente los esfuerzos realizados por la Secretaría en la presentación de este documento conciso que a la vez nos brinda una valiosa información acerca del rumbo positivo de las acciones realizadas por los países en favor de la Estrategia para la Ordenación y el Desarrollo Pesqueros.
Nuestro reconocimiento también al Sr. Lindquist por la valiosa presentación de este tema en la mañana de hoy.
No existen dudas sobre la eficaz orientación y la valiosa contribución que la Estrategia ha brindado a la mayoría de nuestros países. Este instrumento ha representado un valioso aporte a los programas y planes nacionales de diversos países. No existen dudas además que la Estrategia ha desempeñado un importante papel en la orientación de los cambios a adoptarse dentro del sector pesquero y muchos países han planteado que sus planes nacionales se han visto enriquecidos con su adopción y otros han vuelto a formular sus planes después de la Conferencia Mundial, con el objeto de proceder acorde a las orientaciones contenidas en la Estrategia.
En el caso de Cuba, y para nuestra satisfacción, la aprobación de esta Estrategia para la Ordenación y el Desarrollo Pesqueros reafirmó la voluntad política en materia de pesca adoptada por nuestro Gobierno hace 30 años, es decir, los parámetros de la Estrategia reafirmaron la validez de nuestro programa nacional, por lo que siempre hemos afirmado que la Estrategia constituye un instrumento válido, por sus planes y objetivos generales, por su empuje y acción orientadora.
Cuba confiere gran importancia a las actividades pesqueras, habida cuenta de que este sector representa un rubro importante en las acciones que se llevan a cabo en el Plan Alimentario Nacional y representan además una valiosa fuente de divisas necesarias para la economía nacional.
A la pesca en Cuba se le confiere una importante prioridad y el programa nacional está debidamente insertado en el sistema de desarrollo integral de la economía nacional.
Mi delegación desea aprovechar esta oportunidad para agradecer la colaboración eficiente que siempre ha recibido del Departamento de Pesca de la FAO y, sobre todo, la colaboración prestada en sentido general por la FAO a nuestro país a través de importantes proyectos y asistencia técnica en el sector de la pesca.
Concedemos gran importancia además a la capacitación como componente de los programas de asistencia al desarrollo.
Nuestro país en distintas ocasiones ha revelado su creciente preocupación por el efecto de la contaminación y el deterioro ambiental sobre la pesquería en nuestra zona y en el mundo. En nuestro caso, y confiamos que el resto de los países también lo haga, tomamos las medidas necesarias o previstas para el seguimiento y control de las amenazas al medio ambiente.
Acogemos con beneplácito los progresos realizados en la aplicación de la Estrategia, hecho que además se ha demostrado a través del segundo informe, cuya contribución fue más amplia y sustanciosa que el primer informe realizado.
Apoyamos en este sentido las observaciones y recomendaciones formuladas por el Comité de Pesca en su 192 período de sesiones, así como las observaciones formuladas por el 99° Consejo de la FAO el pasado junio de 1991.
Compartimos la preocupación de la distinguida representación de México con respecto a la reducción del Presupuesto del Programa de Pesca de la FAO, por la incidencia que este hecho revertirá sobre los países en desarrollo que tanto necesitan de la ayuda y cooperación de la FAO.
Finalmente, hacemos un llamado para que los recursos que los países puedan ofrecer al desarrollo de este importante sector no se escatimen, si se tiene en cuenta que la preservación y conservación de los recursos pesqueros en el mundo es responsabilidad y deber de todos.
R.C.A. JAIN (India): At the outset, I would like to compliment the Secretariat for circulation of a concise, yet very informative, document C 91/25 on the Agenda, Strategy for Fisheries Management and Development - Progress Report. The document has ably summed up the progress achieved in regard to the eight major elements identified in the 1984 FAO World Fisheries Conference as part of a strategy for fisheries management and development. The implementation of the strategy has made possible the realization of economic, social and institutional goals and led to rational management and optimal utilization of fishery resources, greater self-reliance in fisheries management, development of small-scale fisheries in rural fishing, betterment of the status of the fish farming communities, larger investments in fisheries and increased international cooperation in fisheries projects and trade in fish.
India has vast fishery resources. Through scientific exploitation, fish production, which was only 75 million tonnes in the early 1950s, has since gone up to 3.8 million tonnes, which represents nearly a fivefold increase. There has also been a phenomenal growth in the export of marine products from the country. The value of exports of marine products during the year 1990-91 reached an all-time high of Rupees 8.9 billion.
Development of aquaculture has also received the desired attention through the propagation of semi-intensive and intensive aquaculture in tanks and ponds through fish farmers' development agencies, extensive fish farming in reservoirs through cooperatives, and the development of a requisite infrastructure for the production of quality fish seeds. The strategy for development of marine fisheries aims at modernization of the traditional and mechanized sectors, judicious mix of imported and indigenous vessels, specific deep sea fishing through chartered vessels, joint ventures and 100 percent export-oriented units for the optimum exploitation of the fisheries resources in the Indian EEZ and joint ventures in tuna purse-seining and processing for exploitation of deep sea fishery resources.
The role played by the small-scale fisheries in providing food for domestic consumption and employment and the need to improve the welfare of marine and inland fishing communities is well recognized. Priority is given in the national fisheries development plans for protection of small-scale and traditional fishermen communities and steps are taken to improve not only their fishing efficiency but also their socio-economic conditions. The role of women and involvement of youth and educated unemployed are the other two aspects receiving the attention of many countries including India.
Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to introduce new methods for rational management and optimum use of the fisheries resources in the developing and developed countries. There is also a need for an adequate scientific data base, formulation and implementation of management systems for sustaining fisheries exploitations. There is also a need for identifying clearly the research priorities and objectives for better stock assessment.
The value of fish trade has more than doubled during the late 1980s and the developing countries contributed to over 47 percent of the world total. There is a continued need for steep reduction in trade barriers, both tariff and non-tariff, for greater diversification of the products and improved access to market information and intelligence.
There is a need for greater coordination and exchange of information between the agencies, donors and financing institutions within the fisheries sector as a means of promotion of investment in fisheries management and development. Private sector investment also needs to be encouraged in fish production and marketing and provision of support services on a non-commercial nature. Many bilateral and other agreements have recognized the value of joint ventures and similar cooperative programmes, particularly in the transfer of technology and training of personnel fisheries.
In the context of world food security, the role of FAO in sustainable fisheries management and development assumes still greater importance. In this context, reduced outlays for fisheries sector in the Programme of Work and Budget for the 1992 and 1993 call for considerable augmentation from other extrabudgetary sources. The efforts of FAO also need to be complemented by other organizations such as ADB, IFAD, UNDP, WFP and other international organizations especially for providing more support for development of aquaculture, small-scale fisheries, artisanal fisheries, etc. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
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D.P.D. VAN RAPPARD (Netherlands): The Netherlands delegation welcomes the Progress Report which provides an important contribution to the development of a national fisheries policy in many countries but it also gives a useful outline of the impact and implementation of the Strategy until 1990.
My delegation also welcomes and endorses COFI recommendations in it. As mentioned by Germany and the United Kingdom, the Netherlands is of the opinion that the Strategy has to be flexible and could be adapted to the varying circumstances. This applies in particular in relation to the environment and sustainable development.
In developing a management policy, these matters should be taken into consideration sufficiently. Where technically possible my country prefers a multi-species approach to achieve this. A free access to markets will contribute to the development of the fisheries sector. Like many delegations, the Netherlands endorses the importance of attention to socio-economic factors in developing fishery policies and asks for the protection of interests in the artisanal fisheries.
Finally, my country supports the idea to improve the implementation of the Strategy by means of a publication. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
P. Natigor SIAGIAN (Indonesia): Indonesia welcomes document C 91/25. As mentioned in the document we are also of the view that the guidelines and principles contained in the Strategy have been, and still are, of value and use in helping to prepare our review plans and programmes for the fisheries sector.
Mr Chairman, in the other document of the Conference, C 91/19, regarding the work programme of action, it was mentioned that the numbers of fish will fall, meaning that the small fishermen, around 50 million plus their families, will suffer. This is a large subgroup of the poorer farmers in the world. It is therefore very logical, Mr Chairman, that the developing countries to which the majority of these poorer fishermen belong take the necessary steps to facilitate and to secure the acceleration of an improvement programme for their betterment; for these fishermen and their families' well-being.
In connection with the above it is also obvious that the Government has and will be implementing necessary legislation and reguations to safeguard these poorer fishermen.
With regard to Strategy 1 we wish to inform you, Mr Chairman, that the Fishery Sub-sector contributions to the Indonesian GDP is relatively small and following the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea the Government has enacted a law on EEZ and through this law access has been given to foreign fishing vessels to exploit the resources in the Indonesian EEZ. During the period of 1986 to 1988 the total number was 1 374 vessels operating in the Indonesian EEZ out of which 871 were foreign vessels. To accelerate and provide broader opportunities to national fishing companies to expand their fishing in EEZ zones, efforts were made to encourage existence of own enterprises, national fishing companies and joint ventures to invest in EEZ.
Further, due to the remarkable increase of the number of foreign vessels operating in the Indonesian EEZ, measures should and will be taken to control these vessels. National data indicates to us that there is a significant increase in foreign fishing vessels operating in the Indonesian EEZ since then. It decreased from 871 to 503 in 1990, and simultaneously an increase of national vessels went from 499 in 1988 to 1 455 in 1990.
With regard to Strategy 3 the national management and optimum use of these resources, we wish to inform the Organization that most existing regional fisheries cooperation between Indonesia and its neighbouring states and distant water fishing nations form the function of providing services such as information exchange, data gathering analysis, consultation, coordination of programmes and joint planning. These have not yet received full cooperative planning, on (1) establishment of standards regulations and allocation of costs and benefits; and (2) the management of fisheries resources, exploration and exploitation.
The proclamation of the EEZ presents some problems as a consequence of the necessity for establishing control and surveillance and monitoring measures. In order to manage these fisheries resources and to obtain the benefits that can be obtained from the utilization of these fishery resources in the EEZ, the Government has been developing fisheries protection through the implementation of the NCS system. In this regard we note the assistance of the UNDP/FAO in the regional project for ASEAN from NCS of fisheries in EEZ of the ASEAN countries, undertaken with the main emphasis on training activities. This project is located in Indonesia - Jakarta.
With regard to the international trade in fish and fishery products, we wish to inform you that measures have been taken by our Government in pursuance of the export promotion programme in the field of promoting the productive element and in improving the quality of exported products to meet the standard requirements of importing countries.
With regard to economic and technical cooperation in international fisheries management and development, we wish to inform that within the developing countries, under the auspices of ASEAN, a programme has been carried out in the sharing of development of appropriate technology, expertise, research, training, resource management and trade promotion. Attention has also been given to the timely gathering and exchange of data and information with other regional countries in order to enhance coordination in fisheries management development.
We feel there is a need for establishing closer cooperation between FAO and other regional organizations or bodies concerned with fisheries, and in recognition of the need of participation in the increasing of our commitments to technical participation and commitments to technical support. Indonesia is involved and contributes as a member country to the several regional projects.
Finally, we are of the view that institutional coordination to support fisheries development should be encouraged.
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Jamil Mohammad JAMIL (Iraq) (Original language Arabic): We wish to express our thanks to the Organization for this excellent document, C 91/25. We fully support the contents of the document relating to fisheries management and development. Of course these documents have been ratified in the World Conference.
You are aware, of course, of the very great importance of the fisheries sector to coastal developing countries, though this importance might vary in landlocked countries. However, fish is still a very important commodity in the Iraqi food basket. It is, as you know, an alternative to red meat, which is expensive compared to fish.
In my country, Iraq, our aquacultural policies during the past two decades have concentrated on the development of small-scale fisheries and craft fisheries, although I do admit that we have not gained much in this field. We know that according to the Strategy we have to improve small-scale fisheries and rural fishing and, as I said, we do not have long coastal fisheries. We depend on inland fisheries in the Tigris and Euphrates, and also in some natural lakes in our territory, as well as artificial lakes and other water courses in the south of the country.
Mr Chairman, despite the great efforts made and still being made by FAO in regard to measures relating to coastal and other fisheries in different parts of the world, we in Iraq feel that we are still in need of advisory services in order to adapt the technology relating to fisheries developments and to implement such new practices in our inland fisheries in rivers and lakes. We also need advisory services and consultancies relating to ways and means of conserving natural resources and protecting our environment. These, of course, are related to inland fishing.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I should like to thank you for this very excellent document and to thank you for your attention.
Mme. Maria DE LOURDES DUARTE (Cap-Vert): Tout d'abord veuillez nous excuser d'avoir allongé la liste des orateurs et permettez-nous tout de même de féliciter M. Linquist pour la présentation du document.
Le Gouvernement du Cap-Vert considère la pêche comme un secteur stratégique pour le développement du pays car les ressources halieutiques en constituent la principale ressource. Le développement de ce secteur détermine la création d'un grand nombre d'emplois dont l'effet multiplicateur sur l'économie contribue à l'amélioration de la diète alimentaire et à la viabilisation d'autres secteurs tels que l'agriculture et l'élevage. Les produits de la pêche et leurs dérivés constituent un important élément pour l'équilibre externe du pays. Ce secteur est un pôle d'attraction de l'investissement externe qui, associé au capital national, peut contribuer de façon significative à l'insertion stratégique du Cap-Vert dans le système économique mondial.
La stratégie adoptée par la Conférence mondiale des pêches en 1984 est un précieux instrument aussi bien pour nos pays en développement que pour les pays développés, surtout insulaires et côtiers, si bien qu'elle demeure valable. Nous estimons, nous aussi, qu'elle doit faire ultérieurement l'objet de mise à jour, compte tenu du nouveau concept de développement durable et de l'intégration des femmes. A cet égard nous appuyons la déclaration de la Norvège.
La politique du Gouvernement pour ce secteur s'appuie sur cette stratégie, les principaux objectifs étant l'augmentation et la diversification de la production, l'augmentation de la production des industries de transformation et de conservation, l'amélioration de la capacité du secteur de générer des effets multiplicateurs en stimulant l'investissement dans ce secteur situé en aval et amont, de façon à augmenter l'efficacité de l'investissement sectoriel, le développement de la Coopération internationale et la signature d'accords de pêches particulièrement au niveau régional basés sur les principes de la réciprocité, la création d'un appareil productif moderne capable de répondre aux sollicitations du marché international, le développement de la recherche scientifique et la création d'un institut national pour le développement des pêches. Sur le plan économique, le Gouvernement utilisera plutôt des instruments d'intervention indirecte, notamment le crédit, le taux d'intérêt et la politique de revenus et de prix. Le Gouvernement entreprendra encore la révision et l'adéquation de la législation existante de façon à la rendre plus efficace.
Encore une fois nous tenons à manifester notre préoccupation pour la diminution des ressources allouées à cet important secteur, en espérant qu'une meilleure attention lui sera accordée dans le prochain biennium 1994-95.
Avant de terminer nous aimerions souligner, tout en appuyant les déclarations précédentes, les points suivants: la poursuite de l'appui et des interventions de la FAO, l'importance de la Coopération régionale et internationale dans le développement des pêches, le renforcement des capacités nationales en matière de recherche et de formation à tous les niveaux des opérateurs concernés.
Ms C. FORTHOMME (Secretary, Commission II): We have received a written statement from the EEC, with a request that it be inserted in the Verbatim Records.
Gian Paolo PAPA (CEE) : Les priorités du programme de coopération de la Commission, relatives à la pêche et à l'aquaculture, sont issues d'une analyse basée sur un dialogue continu avec les administrations des pêches maritimes des pays ACP et non ACP sur les programmes lancés en 1984 par la Conférence mondiale sur le développement mondial et l'aménagement des pêches, et sur la consultation avec nos pays membres. Ils insistent sur l'aide, le planning et le renforcement des institutions concernant les pêches, la recherche, l'aquacultlure, l'appui à la valorisation et l'aide aux pêches artisanales. L'idée de base est d'aider à maximiser les bénéfices potentiels que les pays en voie de développement peuvent tirer de leurs ressources halieutiques.
Pour des raisons historiques, la Commission des Communautés européennes a eu traditionnellement de nombreux liens avec l'Afrique au sud du Sahara. Ces liens sont toujours très importants et se reflètent en +/- 127 millions
d'ECUS* (154 millions de dollars E.-U.), ou plus de 50 pour cent du total du programme de coopération dans le secteur pêche, investis dans cette partie du monde.
Sur un total approximatif de 246 millions d'ECUS* (298 millions de dollars E.-U.), investis dans des projets de pêches et d'aquaculture, quelques 40 millions d'ECUS* (48 millions de dollars E.-U.), ou à peu près 16 pour cent, sont alloués aux deux priorités du programme communautaire, qui correspondent en gros au Programme d'action N° I, lancé par la Conférence de 1984.
A présent, seules quelques activités sont en cours dans le secteur de transformation en aval, avec comme but de valoriser les produits de la pêche. Cependant, le souhait des pays en voie de développement de prendre une part toujours plus importante dans le commerce international, par l'utilisation d'espèces plus nobles destinées aux marchés du Nord et les efforts continus afin d'obtenir une plus grande autosuffisance alimentaire, se traduit par un certain nombre d'orientations et de résultats concrets du Programme d'action IV. Par ailleurs, ces deux objectifs sont souvent en conflit et on peut trouver des situations où l'accès au poisson n'est pas tellement une question de disponibilité physique mais bien de pouvoir d'achat.
Cependant, la demande de valorisation des captures et d'amélioration des revenus de la pêche a eu un impact positif sur le programme de coopération communautaire. Un projet préparatoire destiné à mobiliser les institutions et l'expertise de l'Afrique occidentale dans le secteur de transformation en aval vient d'être prolongé pour une nouvelle année. Ceci, tout comme d'autres activités, est important pour développer un climat de confiance parmi des centaines de petits opérateurs de la filière, parmi lesquels beaucoup sont des femmes. D'autre part, une coordination et une coopération avec d'autres initiatives, telles que le réseau de transformation en aval de la FAO et INFOPECHE, le service d'information et de conseil en matière de commercialisation des produits de la pêche à Abdijan, sont également développées.
La coopération relative à l'aquaculture continue à être importante dans le cadre des travaux thématiques, particulièrement en Asie avec un programme de coopération régionale alors que les programmes d'aquaculture en Afrique et en Amérique latine sont toujours limités, vu la nature encore peu confirmée de l'activité. C'est ainsi que, dans les deux derniers continents, on estime que ce sont des programmes à plus long terme traitant les problèmes des systèmes agricoles entiers, ou de formes intégrées d'aquaculture-agriculture, qui constituent un préalable à l'établissement d'une véritable aquaculture.
1 ECU =1,21 dollar E.-U.
(31.10.1991) =1 531 lires italiennes
L'ECU (European currency Unit) est une unité panier composée de montants spécifiques des monnaies d'Etats Membres de la Communauté. Il fait partie du Système monétaire européen (SME) et est couvert par les réserves de Banques centrales. Dans le stade final de la création de l'Union monétaire européenne (EMU), il devrait y avoir une monnaie européenne unique.
Depuis les premiers projets de pêche artisanale lancés par la Communauté il y a plus de 10 ans, la compréhension des besoins de ce sous-secteur a évolué considérablement. L'expérience avec cet aspect du programme communautaire confirme que de tels projets doivent tenir compte d'une extrême complexité sociale, institutionnelle et technique, et que ceci nécessite une approche intégrée et holistique avec une participation approfondie des bénéficiaires dès le départ. L'aide à la pêche artisanale représente à peu près 27 pour cent du total des ressources allouées au secteur, et les projets les plus récents essaient d'adopter cette approche intégrée. Cela veut dire que toute la gamme des facteurs, partant des facteurs naturels jusqu'aux facteurs sociaux, économiques et d'environnement politique, doit être prise en compte si le soutien extérieur a pour objectif de créer des activités viables au bénéfice des petites communautés de pêche, y compris les femmes.
En effet, une grande partie de l'évolution de la manière d'approcher ce sous-secteur extrêmement important a été facilitée par les travaux et documents de la FAO ainsi qu'une évaluation conjointe ACP/CEE du programme de coopération en matière de pêche de la Communauté. Ceci a conduit à l'adoption, en 1990, par le Conseil des Ministres AFP/EC des principes de base sur les projets concernant la pêche. Une version plus générale de ces principes de base a été récemment soumise à la deuxième consultation des bailleurs de fonds en matière de pêche à Paris. Ils ont été établis en vue d'une meilleure coopération et d'une réduction des conditions divergentes imposées par les bailleurs de fonds aux administrations des pays en voie de développement. Conjointement avec les membres de la Communauté européenne, cette démarche a ultérieurement mené à l'établissement de directives pour la préparation et la mise en oeuvre des projets de pêche. Ce document est disponible au Service d'évaluation de la Direction générale du développement.
La compréhension de la spécificité de la pêche en tant que secteur de ressources naturelles, de son potentiel et de ses limitations ainsi que de la population qui en vit, fut une des bases de la stratégie formulée en 1984. Une grande partie de ce qui a été débattu à l'époque reste d'actualité même si on utilise actuellement une terminologie quelque peu différente en insistant, par exemple, plus sur des concepts d'intégration et d'environnement, puisque le secteur ne peut évoluer que dans un environnement sain.
La Commission a hautement apprécié les efforts de la FAO vis-à-vis de l'UNCED afin de maintenir la stratégie des programmes d'action. Elle continue à travailler en collaboration étroite dans ce domaine.1
A.H. LINDQUIST (Assistant Director-General, Fisheries Department): First of all I wish to thank you for all the information received. It will be studied very carefully by the Officers in the Fisheries Department and by the Organization and, as you know, all that you said will be available in the Verbatim.
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1 Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès verbal.
COFI, the Committee on Fisheries, was mentioned several times here, and as the interventions were of a very high technical quality I had the feeling sometimes I was sitting here at COFI; and I think this is a very good sign.
The delegate of Poland said at the beginning that the impetus of this Strategy, on which there was remarkable agreement, has not been lost, and I think this very first statement was confirmed by all the other following 33 interventions and by the written statement from the EEC. It was very encouraging to listen to all your positive statements, both in the morning and in the afternoon, and I think from the material it was quite obvious that the Strategy was not only for the developing countries but also for the developed countries; not only for those who are receiving but also those who are giving funds for work.
The need for cooperation in order to manage and develop fisheries was mentioned, I think, by nearly all the delegates, and fisheries resources should be used in such a way that fisheries could be sustained; and this, of course, is the whole purpose of fisheries management.
Special reference was made to the management of the high-seas, to coastal areas and to inland waters; and the trans-sectorial approach, which is needed, was stressed.
This is needed of course for the management of coastal areas. It is not fishery alone which affects coastal fisheries but all human activities. I would like to comment on the three sea areas, namely high-seas, coastal areas, and inland waterways, in a little more detail. There will be a technical consultation on high-seas fisheries. The Director-General has considered this carefully and FAO has taken the lead on this issue together with the UN office of the law of the sea. A Technical Consultation will be held next year and there will also be an Inter-Governmental Consultation on this issue. The results will then be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee on fisheries in 1993. We appreciate the positive comments which have been made on that. The Agenda will soon be sent to all interested countries. You may recall that several of our officers visited a number of countries to receive their views, which have now been incorporated.
Then there was the question of a related matter, that is, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. The next Diplomatic Conference has been tentatively set for 15-19 June next year, subject of course to the agreement of the Conference. As regards the large-scale pelagic driftnet fisheries, there were a great number of interventions, and I wish to draw your attention to Agenda Item 22 of this Conference, during which a record of the activities of the Secretariat will be given, and this will be later this week. As regards coastal areas management, this is, as you know, a main theme for UNCED and the Organization has been very active in preparing a background document for this purpose.
The competing use of coastal areas is of major concern. In this context I also wish to mention what we have been doing in the field of marine mammals, which has been mentioned, and it concerns both the coastal areas and the high seas. We are participating jointly with UNEP in a Programme and Coordinating Committee on marine mammals and a scientific commentary. We are going to publish identification sheets of citations.
We have published a study on the biological impacts of all types of gill nets on marine mammals and we have also published a document - a book, actually - on the interaction between marine mammals and fisheries.
When it comes to inland waterways, a number of interventions were made and we are putting particular stress on this from the Secretariat side: As you have seen in the Programme of Work and Budget and the Medium-Term Plan, inland fisheries are by no means forgotten, although naturally marine fisheries always tend to be the big brother. As regards the future reporting by the Secretariat on the Strategy, it has been noted that several delegations said that this should be done at four-yearly intervals, as it is now. It was also noted that the next review should contain some sort of updating of the Strategy itself. This would of course have to be discussed at the next COFI Meeting, which will be in 1993, because the Secretariat itself cannot review the strategy; it has to be done by a technical body, but the Secretariat will prepare for the discussions during COFI. The Secretariat also noted that a publication of the national views which have been given to us has been endorsed, and we have also noted that countries should have an opportunity to clear their own contributions. Of course, this publication is something different from the chapter which we are preparing for the so-called SOFA. Several delegations stress the need for more information on resources combined with multi-specious approaches, and I think this is in general line with the strategy. Norway announced that the Dr Fridtjof Nansen Programme will continue with a new Dr Fridtjof Nansen, which is of course very happy news because this kind of review of resources has been carried out in many developing countries. It has been useful for the planning of their marine fisheries. Those are the main points which were mentioned.
CHAIRMAN: I have been told that I must sum up. Having listened to Mr Lindquist, I am still debating whether there is any need to sum up because he took over that responsibility as well. There are a few issues which I have flagged which I will present to you now in summing up. Almost all delegates expressed their satisfaction with the document presented and the frequency of reporting. FAO will try to improve on the format as they proceed, and on the content and focus. This is a natural process, of course, as they proceed with their activities. To my mind, the most important focus is on the environmental aspect, sustainability, protection of ecosystems and the ecological balance, which was highlighted by most delegates. It is like a central thread running through the entire fabric of this document. Even if you look at the larger aspects, this particular Conference highlighted at the various fora the question of sustainability, impact on environment and the necessity to highlight those things. We are glad to observe that the issue has captured that particular aspect, and the fact that several delegates highlighted and emphasized it would certainly be an encouragement for the FAO to take a special interest in it.
The management of aquatic resources was another area which was highlighted. Some countries may have developed their own management capabilities while others may not. It was generally indicated that FAO, as much as possible, developed and transferred the technology of management and also tried to find more ways of imparting that knowledge to Member Nations, so that the management aspect of aquatic resources could be kept constantly in focus. Naturally, countries have their own priorities. Sometimes they may lose sight of some of these main areas. So it is a responsibility of FAO, as
indicateci by several delegates, not to lose sight of this, which is not exploitation per se but the management of the aquatic resources available for the use of Member Nations.
One or two delegates mentioned the budgetary restrictions, the fact that money is not adequate for this particular programme, and I hope the Secretariat and the ADGs concerned have taken note and will see to what extent this aspect can be taken care of and some flexibility introduced so that Member Nations will be satisfied with the programme that will be implemented within the resources available. The question of the collection of data, statistics, and technical cooperation was another issue which was highlighted and, of course, FAO would be very happy to extend that cooperation and to try and supply and reinforce the existing knowledge of Member Nations as far as statistics and information are concerned. I am sure the Secretariat will take note of this in trying to develop programmes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, these are by and large the important points. I will not of course touch on all the issues raised, and you will very soon receive a report, when the Drafting Committee completes it, which is a correct reflection of what has transpired here.
Before I adjourn let me thank the Secretary, the Secretariat and, in particular, delegates for making my task very simple.
The meeting rose at 16.00 hours.
La séance est levée à 16 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 16.00 horas.
