The participants were invited to summarize what kind of multi-sectoral mechanisms they had in place for consultation about problems related to shrimp exploitation.
In Bangladesh the industrial vessel owners are organised in a committee. The artisanal fishers, however, are not well organised. Communication between the industrial fishermen and the artisanal sector is poor.
In Trinidad and Tobago the communication between the administration and the industrial fishing sector is frequent and rather good. The industrial shrimp trawler owners are organized. The artisanal sector consists of 2-3 competing organizations. Consultative mechanisms are weak and there is poor formal representation. Environmental NGOs are active in the country. A new Marine Fisheries Management Act under development will formalize the multisectoral collaboration in the fisheries management process.
Cameroon has as yet no formal structure for the consultation of stakeholders but wide national consultations have often been organized to discuss specific problems. The establishment of a formal structure for consultations with stakeholders during this project was considered as appropriate. Consultants who visit and interview representatives from the industry at their workplaces could also consult with stakeholders.
In Colombia all fisher organisations are rather weak, particularly in the artisanal sector. In practice, a few known leaders within the sector are used as intermediaries for any consultation with the fishery industry.
Costa Rica has an operational national multi-sector structure for consultations among the different stakeholders. Most important issues concerning the fishing industry are discussed in such a forum. The environmental problems caused by the shrimp trawling industry are presently under consideration. The Government takes final decisions based on input form such a process.
Cuba has a network of multi-sectorial structures at provincial level that is used for consultative processes and decision taking. The Ministry of Fishery Industry has the overall management authority for the shrimp fishing sector.
In Indonesia shrimp trawling is only allowed in the remote Arafura Sea. A Shrimp Trawling Association exists but is rather weak
In Nigeria there are several groups of artisanal fishermen associated in a National Federation. One group (the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association) protects the interests of the industrial fisheries sub-sector in the country. A "Coordinating Communication Unit" is operational within the two apex organizations, - Nigerian Fish Trawler Owners Association and - National Cooperate Federation and could probably assist in the communication/consultation process within the project. Women trade most of the small fish bycatch taken by shrimp trawlers, and therefore these groups need to be consulted in the process. Community leaders are another group of people with significant influence, and they should also become involved in the process.
In the Philippines, representatives from industry occasionally consult with the administration. A structure to be used in this project has already been established.
In Tanzania, there are trawler associations which facilitate consultation between the administration and the industrial fishery sub-sector. However, the difficulty would be a lack of exchange between the industrial and artisanal fisheries sub-sectors. It was reported that the artisanal fishermen often accuse the administration of supporting industry. Environmental NGOs are active in the country.
In Venezuela, consultative structures already exist with the participation of all stakeholder categories, including a specific group for the shrimp trawling industry.
From these country statements it was apparent that the consultation process between various stakeholders is more or less developed in the participating countries. There was a general agreement that such consultations are valuable in a process where there is as need for a change of fishing practices, the success of which fully depends on the support and cooperation among the affected people.
