Work in the Pacific Islands by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) on sea safety has indicated that to effectively address most problem areas requires a multidisciplinary approach. The key disciplines associated with sea safety include law, fisheries, naval architecture, search/rescue, community awareness and maritime administration. Discussions between FAO and SPC led to an agreement to bring together motivated people from several relevant disciplines to discuss sea safety, and specifically focus on challenging issues, related to small fishing vessels. As a result, an FAO/SPC Regional Expert Consultation on Sea Safety in Small
Fishing Vessels was convened to:
Address and progress four important issues in fisheries sea safety from the perspectives of several relevant disciplines. These issues are: (1) appropriate sea safety regulations for small fishing vessels; (2) improvements in sea safety awareness programmes; (3) improving the safety of fibreglass skiffs through construction standards; and (4) enhancing systems of sea accident data recording.
Formulate plans for future sea safety programmes.
