In order to meet the requests from its developing member for MCS technical assistance FAO has committed resources from the Organization's regular programme, including the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), the Investment Centre and, in addition, has used trust funds provided by other donor/aid agencies through trust fund arrangements.

Since 1980 regular programme funding has come both from the Fisheries Department budget and from TCP. This latter source of funding has played, and continues to play, an important role in meeting requests for MCS technical assistance. It is an effective source of funding because, within the prescribed criteria and regulations governing the use of these funds, requests from member States for assistance can be answered flexibly, speedily, economically and with maximum effect for the recipient.

As indicated in Appendix 1 the Fisheries Department regular programme has funded three MCS projects between 1980 and 1994. Two of these projects were funded in 1994 and involved (i) the preparation of an MCS manual, and (ii) an investigation mission to assess the needs for a workshop on fishery MCS in East Africa. The third project was undertaken in 1980 and involved a review of MCS policy and approaches in the Federated States of Micronesia (formerly part of the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) in the South Pacific.

Since 1979 Norway has been the major national trust fund donor providing support to MCS activities through the establishment of the FAO/Norway EEZ Programme (1982-1985), which was part of the overall FAO EEZ Programme. In the initial phase of the FAO/Norway EEZ Programme three fisheries sub-programmes were supported. These sub-programmes were (i) policy and planning missions, (ii) MCS, and (iii) fisheries law advisory services. Under these sub-programmes advisory services, training activities and basic studies were undertaken.

Following the review of the FAO/Norway EEZ Programme in December 1986, it was recommended that programme be continued, and in July 1989 a successor programme, the FAO/Norway Fisheries and Law Advisory Programme (FIMLAP) (1989-82), took effect.

FIMLAP covered two broad areas of assistance. These areas were (i) fisheries management, including policy and planning; assessment of country situations, diagnosis and quantification of opportunities and problems, formulation of national and regional policies and strategies, formulation of national management and development plans, institutional arrangements for management and development, and (ii) fisheries legislation, including the drafting of laws and regulations, preparation for negotiation of joint ventures and bilateral fisheries agreements, aspects of international cooperation, and licensing systems.

In December 1992 FIMLAP was also evaluated and it was recommended that the programme continue for a further four years.

UNDP funding was also substantial and important for the implementation of the FAO EEZ Programme. However, UNDP funding was devoted principally to the maintenance and expansion of the network for sub-regional and regional technical assistance through such FAO projects and programmes as the Fishery Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), South-West Indian Ocean Programme (SWIOP) and the South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme (SCSFDCP). UNDP funding for these FAO projects and programmes ceased with new directions for UNDP development assistance.

Between 1980 and 1994 the greater part of MCS activities executed by FAO has been funded either by FAO's regular programme or under the FAO/Norway EEZ Programme. Funding from other FAO members has been of minor importance. Australia has funded MCS activities (e.g. in Southeast Asia under the SCSFDCP), as have France and the United States of America.

FAO's financial capacity to meet developing member requests for MCS technical assistance is limited by regular programme funding constraints. For this reason on-going trust fund support will be necessary if FAO is to maintain the level and scope of MCS assistance that has been provided in the past.