A Workshop of National Coordinators was held at FAO Headquarters in Rome on 17-19 March 1999 to initiate a global project titled "Reducing the impact of tropical shrimp trawling fisheries on living marine resources, through the adoption of environmentally friendly techniques and practices." The United Nations Development Programme (UNEP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has granted funding (US$ 330 000) for the development and preparation of a costed GEF project consisting of regional and national activities aimed at reducing the effect of tropical shrimp trawling operations on habitats and species by:
· Promoting the use of the best practices and technologies, including by-catch exclusion technology;
· Facilitating the development of strategies and revision of national policies so as to remove existing barriers to adopting practices designed to minimize impacts on non-target species and habitats.
FAO has been assigned the responsibility of executing agency for the project.
National Coordinators from 12 countries appointed by their respective governments attended the meeting. A List of Participants and their affiliation is attached as Appendix 1. In addition to the twelve countries represented at the meeting, Iran was also invited to participate, but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to attend.
Dr. Grimur Valdimarsson, Director, Fishery Industries Division welcomed the participants and stressed the importance given by FAO to assisting member countries in their effort to combat the problem of discards in fisheries, particularly in shrimp trawl fisheries in tropical areas where the problem is known to be severe.
The Chief of the Fishing Technology Service, Mr. John Willy Valdemarsen, chaired the Workshop. Messrs. Joel Prado and Wilfried Thiele formed the Secretariat for the Workshop.
Perception of the new project
The participants were invited to provide their own and/or their country's reaction to the project title and its content as described in the project document. A summary of the comments are as follows:
There was a general agreement that the shrimp fisheries in all participating countries are non-sustainable at present and that there is an urgent need to change the exploitation pattern. A global approach, as suggested in this project, to find solutions was highly recognized.
It was noticed that the title of the project focuses on adoption of environmentally friendly techniques and practices and thus has a wider scope than simply the introduction of selective devices like the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) or the Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD).
Most countries regarded the avoidance of catching juvenile fish when shrimp trawling as the most important problem to solve in such a project. Solving that problem can reduce the conflict with others, particularly artisanal fishers who often exploit the fish resources.
The success of any introduction of new environmentally friendly techniques and practices depends to a large extent on the acceptance by the fishing industry of any such devices, technologies or regulations. There was therefore a general agreement that the involvement of all key players is essential in all stages of the project design phase and during its implementation.
The participant from Cuba argued that other methods than gear modification like closed season and areas, might be the most efficient way to protect juveniles from being captured. He also reported that practically all catch taken by shrimp trawlers from Cuba were landed. It was noted, in this connection, that small fish from shrimp trawlers in many countries is an important and affordable source of fish protein for poor people.
