APPENDIXES

A. Agenda

1. Opening of the Meeting

2. Adoption of the agenda and arrangements for the Meeting

3. Review of the decisions of the twenty-sixth session of COFI relating to regional fishery bodies

4. The role of regional fishery bodies

5. External factors affecting fisheries management

6. Approaches to incorporate ecosystems considerations into fisheries management by regional fishery bodies

7. Harmonization of catch documentation

8. Relations between regional fishery bodies and UNEP

9. The status of the Fisheries Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) and other related matters

10. Next meeting of the regional fishery bodies

11. Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

12. Adoption of the Report

13. Closure of the Meeting

B. List of participants

Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission (APFIC)

Derek STAPLES
Secretary
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP)
39 Phra Athit Road
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Phone: +66 2 6974149
Fax: +66 2 6974445
E-mail: [email protected]

Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO)

Yugraj YADAVA
Director
91, St Mary's Road, Abhiramapuram
Chennai 600 018, Tami Nadu, India
Phone: +91 44 24936188
Fax: +91 44 24936102
E-mail: [email protected]

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Denzil G.M. MILLER
Executive Secretary
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
P.O. Box 213 North Hobart
Tasmania 7002, Australia
Phone: +61 3 62310366
Fax: +61 3 62349965
E-mail: [email protected]

Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)

Brian MACDONALD
Executive Secretary CCSBT
P.O. Box 37
Deakin West ACT 2600, Australia
Phone: +61 2 62828396
Fax: +61 2 62828407
E-mail: [email protected]

Alistair GRAHAM
CCSBT Advisor
P.O. Box 37, Cygnet
Tasmania 7112, Australia
Phone: +61 3 62319361
E-mail: [email protected]

Committee for Inland Fisheries of Africa (CIFA)

Alhaji JALLOW
Secretary
FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAORAF)
FAO Building
Gamel Abdul Nasser Road
P.O. Box GP 1628
Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 21 675000 Ext. 3193
Fax: +233 21 668427/7010943
E-mail: [email protected]

Commission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America (COPESCAL)

Francisco PEREIRA
Secretary
FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAORLC)
Casilla 10095, Vitacura
Santiago, Chile
Phone: +56 2 3372171
Fax: +56 2 3372101
E-mail: [email protected]

Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP)

Richard GRAINGER
Secretary
Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Unit (FIDI)
Fisheries Department, FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome, Italy
Phone: +39 06 57054828
Fax: +39 06 57052476
E-mail: [email protected]

European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC)

Rudolf MULLER
Chairperson
EAWAG
Limnological Research Center CH-6047 Kastanienbaum
Switzerland
Phone: +41 41 3492111
Fax: +41 41 3492168
E-mail: [email protected]

Gerd MARMULLA
Secretary ad interim
Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service (FIRI)
Fisheries Resources Division
Fisheries Department, FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Phone: +39 06 57052944
Fax: +39 06 57053020
E-mail: [email protected]

Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF)

Alhaji JALLOW
Secretary
FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAORAF)
FAO Building
Gamel Abdul Nasser Road
P.O. Box GP 1628 Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 21 675000 Ext. 3193
Fax: +233 21 668427/7010943
E-mail: [email protected]

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

Alain BONZON
Executive Secretary
International Institutions and Liaison Services (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Fisheries Department, FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome, Italy
Phone: +39 06 57056441
Fax: +39 06 57056500
E-mail: [email protected]

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)

Robin ALLEN
Director
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
8604 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla CA 92037 - 1508, USA
Phone: +1 858 5467100
Fax: +1 858 5467133
E-mail: [email protected]

International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC)

Walter RANKE
Secretary
International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission
20, Hoza, 00-528 Warsaw, Poland
Phone: +48 22 6288647
Fax: +48 22 6253372
E-mail: [email protected]

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)

Driss MESKI
Executive Secretary
Corazon de Maria 8
28002 Madrid, Spain
Phone: +34 91 4165600
Fax: +34 91 4152612
E-mail: [email protected]

Victor RESTREPO
Assistant Executive Secretary
Corazon de Maria 8
28002 Madrid, Spain
Phone: +34 91 4165600
Fax: +34 91 4152612
E-mail: [email protected]

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

Michael SISSENWINE
President
1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20919 Maryland, USA
Phone: +1 301 7132239
Fax: +1 301 7131940
E-mail: [email protected]

David de G. GRIFFITH
General Secretary
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46,
DK-1553 Copenhagen V-Denmark
Phone: +45 33386700
Fax: +45 33934215
E-mail: [email protected]

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Nicky GRANDY
Secretary
The Red House, 135 Station Road,
Impington, Cambridge, CB4 9NP, UK
Phone: +44 0 1223233971
Fax: +44 0 1223232876
E-mail: [email protected]

Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO)

Thomas W. MAEMBE
Executive Secretary
P.O. Box 1625
Jinja, Uganda
Phone: +256 43 120205
Fax: +256 43 123123
Email: [email protected]

Mekong River Commission (MRC)

Chris BARLOW
Manager
Fisheries Programme
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
P.O. Box 6101,
184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18,
Ban Sithane Neua, Sikhottabong District,
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Phone: +856 21 263263
Fax: +856 21 263264
E-mail: [email protected]

So SOPHORT
Deputy Director
Projects Department
Cambodian National Mekong Committee
#23, Mao Tse Toung Road
P.O. Box 2214
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phone: +855 12 886601
Fax: +855 23 218506
E-mail: [email protected]

North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO)

Christina LOCKYER
General Secretary
Polar Environmental Center
N-9296 Tromso, Norway
Phone: +47 77 750180
Fax: +47 77 75 0181
E-mail: [email protected]

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO)

Malcolm WINDSOR
Secretary
11 Rutland Square
Edinburgh EH15 2AS
Scotland, UK
Phone: +44 131 228
E-mail: [email protected]

Peter HUTCHINSON
Assistant Secretary
11 Rutland Square
Edinburgh EH15 2AS
Scotland, UK
Phone: +44 131 228
E-mail: [email protected]

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)

Kjartan HOYDAL
Secretary
22 Berners Street
17 Smith Square, London
W1T 3DY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 76310016
Fax: +44 20 76369225
E-mail: [email protected]

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)

Johanne FISCHER
Executive Secretary of NAFO
2 Morris Drive
P.O. Box 638
Dartmouth B2Y 3Y9, Canada
Phone: +1 902 4685590
Fax: +1 902 4685538
Email: [email protected]

Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS)

Gonzalo Pereira PUCHY
Secretary General
Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena, Km. 3,
Edificio Inmaral - 1er piso
Guayaquil
Ecuador
Phone: +593 4 2221201
Fax: +593 4 2221201
Email: [email protected]

Ulises MUNAYLLA
Director of Scientific Affairs
Av. Carlos Julio Arosemena, Km. 3,
Edificio Inmaral - 1er piso
Guayaquil
Ecuador
Phone: +593 4 2221201
Fax: +593 4 2221201
Email: [email protected]

Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI)

Mohammad Saif ABDULLAH
Secretary
FAO Regional Office for the Near East (FAORNE)
11 El Eslah El Zerai Str.
P.O. Box 2223,
Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Phone: +20 2 331 6136
Fax: +20 2 7495981
Email: [email protected]

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)

Yasuhisa KATO
Special Advisor
Secretariat
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
P.O. Box 1046, Kasetsart Post Office
Kasetsart University Campus
Bangkok 10903
Thailand
Phone: +66 2 9406326
Fax: +66 2 9406336
Email: [email protected]

Suriyan VICHITLEKARN
Policy and Program Coordinator
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
P.O. Box 1046, Kasetsart Post Office
Kasetsart University Campus
Bangkok 10903, Thailand
Phone: +66 2 9406326
Fax: +66 2 9406336
Email: [email protected]

South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (SEAFO)

Hashali HAMUKUAYA
Executive Secretary
SAVVAS Building
c/o Nangolo Mbumba and 11^th Road
P. O. Box 4296, Walvis Bay, Namibia
Fax: +264 64 220389
Email: [email protected]

South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)

Feleti TEO
Director
P.O. Box 629
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Phone: +677 21124
Fax: +677 23995
Email: [email protected]

Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC)

Aubrey HARRIS
Secretary
FAO Subregional Office for the Southern and Eastern Africa (SAFR)
P.O. Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: +263 4 253657
Fax: +263 4 703497
Email: [email protected]

Sub-Regional Commission on Fisheries (SRCF (CSRP))

Kane Cire AMADOU
Permanent Secretary
Km. 10, 5 Boulevard du Centenaire de la Commune de Dakar
B. P. 20505, Dakar, Senegal
Phone: +221 834 5580
Fax: +221 834 4413
Email: [email protected]

United Nations

Vladimir GOLITSYN
Director
Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs
United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza,
Room DC2-450
New York, NY 10017, USA
Phone: +1 212 9633962
Fax: +1 212 9632811
Email: [email protected]

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Ellik ADLER
Senior Programme Officer
Regional Seas Programme Coordinator
Room T-232
P. O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 20 624033/544
Fax: +254 20 624618/300
Email: [email protected]

Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC)

Bisessar CHAKALALL
Secretary
FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLAC)
Second Floor, United Nations House,
Marine Gardens, Christ Church
P.O. Box 631-C, Bridgetown, Barbados
Phone: +1 246 4267110
Fax: +1 246 4276075
Email: [email protected]

Chairperson of the FAO Committee on Fisheries

Glenn HURRY
Email: [email protected]

FAO Fisheries Department
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome, Italy

Ichiro NOMURA
Assistant Director-General
Phone: +39 06 57056423
Fax: +39 06 57053605
Email: [email protected]

Jean-Francois PULVENIS DE SÉLIGNY
Director
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57054138
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Grimur VALDIMARSSON
Director
Fisheries and Industries Division
Phone: +39 06 57056510
Fax: +39 06 57055188
Email: [email protected]

Ndiaga GUEYE
Chief
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57052847
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

David DOULMAN
Senior Fishery Liaison Officer
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57056752
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Kevern COCHRANE
Senior Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Service (FIRM)
Fishery Resources Division
Phone: +39 06 57056109
Fax: +39 06 57053020
Email: [email protected]

Wilfried THIELE
Senior Fishery Industry Officer
Fishing Technology Service (FIIT)
Fishery Industries Division
Phone: +39 06 57055836
Fax: +39 06 57055188
Email: [email protected]

Eric REYNOLDS
Coordinator
FishCode Programme
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57056807
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Marc TACONET
FIGIS Officer
Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Unit
(FIDI)
Phone: +39 06 57053799
Fax: +39 06 57052476
Email: [email protected]

Rebecca METZNER
Fishery Analyst (Fishing Capacity)
Development Planning Service (FIPP)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57056718
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Ignacio DE LEIVA MORENO
Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Service (FIRM)
Fishery Resources Division
Phone: +39 06 57053617
Fax: +39 06 57053020
Email: [email protected]

Gabriella BIANCHI
Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Service (FIRM)
Fishery Resources Division
Phone: +39 06 57053094
Fax: +39 06 57053020
Email: [email protected]

Marcelo VASCONCELLOS
Fishery Resources Officer
Marine Resources Services (FIRM)
Fishery Resources Division
Phone: +39 06 57056469
Fax: +39 06 57053020
Email: [email protected]

Hiromoto WATANABE
Fishery Liaison Officer
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
00100 Rome, Italy
Phone: +39 06 57055252
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Masanami IZUMI
Fishery Officer
FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAPA)
Phone: +685 22127
Fax: +685 22126
Email: [email protected]

Andrew SMITH
Consultant
Fishing Technology Service (FIIT)
Fishery Industries Division
Fax: +39 06 57055188
Email: [email protected]

Judith SWAN
Consultant
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57052754
Fax: +39 06 57056500
[email protected]
[email protected]

Raschad AL-KHAFAJI
Meetings Officer
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57055105
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Alex VAN ARKADIE
Administration Clerk (Meetings)
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57054604
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

Marianne GUYONNET
Secretary
International Institutions and Liaison Service (FIPL)
Fishery Policy and Planning Division
Phone: +39 06 57053951
Fax: +39 06 57056500
Email: [email protected]

C. List of documents

Additional documents distributed during the meeting

ICCAT Statement to the fourth Meeting of the Regional Fisheries Bodies (ICCAT)

ICES and the Ecosystem Approach (ICES)

ICES Communications Policy (ICES)

Environmental Status of the European Seas (ICES)

ICES Newsletter Issue No. 41 (ICES)

ICES/NASCO Symposium - Interactions between aquaculture and wild stocks of Atlantic salmon and other diadromous fish species: Science and Management, Challenges and Solutions (ICES/NASCO)

The TAB: An Emerging (Sub -) Regional Fisheries Organization for the Mekong? Why We Need It, and What It Should Do (MRC)

The TAB Update Issue No. 2 (MRC)

Fisheries Working Group - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Proposed NAFO Precautionary Approach Framework (NAFO SCS Doc. 03/23) (NAFO)

The Mandate, Structure, Functions and Programs of the Organization (LVFO)

The 2005 Rome Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami (FAO)

The 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (FAO)

Report of the Expert Consultation on Data Formats and Procedures for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (FIPD/R761) (FAO)

Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments (A/59/L.23) (UNGA)

Tracking Ocean Wanderers - the Global distribution of albatrosses and petrels (Birdlife)

Identifying Key Elements of Success for Effective RFMO Operation (WWF)

Deep Deep Trouble! - Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Regulation of High Seas Bottom Trawling (Greenpeace)

Constraints to the Sustainability of Deep Sea Fisheries beyond National Jurisdiction (IUCN)

D. Opening statement by Mr Ichiro Nomura, Assistant Director-General, FAO Fisheries Department

Mr Chairman, Distinguished Representatives of Regional Fishery Bodies, Colleagues and Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be with you today at the opening of this Fourth Meeting of the Regional Fishery Bodies. It is an immense pleasure for me, as the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department, to extend to you all a warm welcome to Rome and to FAO on behalf of the Director-General.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretariats of all the Regional Fishery Bodies for the high level of cooperation they lend to FAO. While I acknowledge that the periodic requests for information on your respective bodies' activities create an additional workload for you, I wish to underscore that your contribution is highly valued and of significant importance to FAO in the implementation of its activities.

We are all aware that fisheries provide a major contribution to global food security, both directly as a source of food, income and employment and indirectly in the production of meal and oil for animal feed. However, we are equally aware that many key commercial fish stocks are already at their productive limits, the proportion of low value species in reported catches is increasing and that of traditional target species has declined. This is an issue that is of concern to us all and one that affects directly the work of Regional Fishery Bodies.

Regional Fishery Bodies play a pivotal role in conserving and managing fisheries resources and in generally promoting responsible and sustainable behaviour in the fisheries sector. In recent years, the demands placed on Regional Fishery Bodies have become heavier as the productivity of fish stocks has dwindled and fishing pressure increased. This reduced stock size of important commercial species has, in particular, led to widespread illegal, unreported and unregulated activities which undermine the work of Regional Bodies. The Technical Consultation to Review Progress and Promote the Full Implementation of the IPOA to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing and the IPOA for the Management of Fishing Capacity which was held in Rome, from 24 to 29 June 2004, noted that Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) played a key role in galvanizing regional action against IUU fishing and related activities. During the Consultation a number of initiatives were proposed, including the strengthening of informal and formal networks between RFBs and closing regional governance gaps that permitted IUU fishers to operate. The Technical Consultation to Review Port State Measures to Combat IUU Fishing, that was held in Rome, from 31 August to 2 September 2004, also highlighted that concerted action at the regional level should be encouraged for taking harmonized and coordinated Port State Measures to combat IUU. Those decisions and recommendations have been reaffirmed during the session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries just held last week.

It is recognized that Regional Fishery Bodies are now facing unprecedented challenges in their efforts to facilitate sustainable fisheries management and the global fisheries governance. This has prompted certain bodies to seek new solutions to the problems they are encountering. In this respect, it is important to reaffirm the commitment agreed upon in the Plan of Implementation adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, particularly in relation to the "ecosystem approach", as well as the definition of concrete goals with set deadlines. The need to implement these evolving management concepts further burdens the work of Regional Fishery Bodies. Are Regional Fishery Bodies delegated appropriate responsibility to fulfill their mandate as expected? Are sufficient resources, both in terms of financing and human resources, made available to the Regional Fishery Bodies to implement management measures as required? Can Regional Fishery Bodies access the requisite scientific data and capacity to make the best scientific decision on stocks in their areas falling within their purview? Since the responsibility of and expectations from Regional Fishery Bodies are increasing, appropriate consideration of those questions becomes essential. In short, we need to further strengthen Regional Fishery Bodies and, consequently, regional and global fisheries governance as appropriate.

Cooperation and coordination among Regional Fishery Bodies is one of the ways to strengthen regional fisheries governance and one of the main objectives of this meeting. The Agenda for this Session is both highly topical and challenging. As this session is being held after the conclusion of COFI and the Ministerial Meeting, you will be well placed to review the decisions made by the Committee and Ministers and to consider how they might affect your bodies' activities. Other matters to be addressed in this meeting are also closely and directly related to the work of your bodies.

Throughout this meeting FAO will pay particular attention to the discussions and, following the conclusion of the meeting, seek to collaborate with Regional Fishery Bodies and to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations that might be agreed. I also wish to advise that staff of the Fisheries Department will be available throughout the meeting to provide technical input to discussions in the event that such input is sought.

In closing, let me express that I am fully confident that the Fourth Meeting of Regional Fishery Bodies will be marked by success and that its outcome will serve to strengthen and further promote more responsible and sustainable fisheries around the world.

I wish you well in your deliberations and thank you very much for your attention.

E. The 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Adopted by the
FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries
Rome, 12 March 2005

We, the Ministers and Ministers' representatives, meeting in Rome at the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries on 12 March 2005,

Bearing in mind the principles and rules of international law as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,

Noting with satisfaction the entry into force on 11 December 2001 of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement and the entry into force on 24 April 2003 of the FAO Compliance Agreement,

Recalling the relevant provisions of other international instruments, such as the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and Chapter 17 of Agenda 21; the 2000 United Nations Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals; and the 2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,

Reaffirming our commitment to the principles and standards contained in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,

Recalling the adoption on 11 March 1999 of the Rome Declaration on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries at the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, as well as the endorsement of the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU),

Recalling as well the resolution on IUU fishing adopted by the FAO Conference in 2003,

Desiring to move from words to action through full implementation of various international instruments for sustainable fisheries adopted or enacted in the past decades,

Noting the harmful and worldwide consequences of IUU fishing on the sustainability of fisheries (ranging from large-scale high seas fisheries to small-scale artisanal fisheries), on the conservation of marine living resources and marine biodiversity as a whole and on the economies of developing countries and their efforts to develop sustainable fisheries management,

Recognizing that there is often a relationship between fleet overcapacity and IUU fishing and acknowledging the economic incentives that drive these phenomena,

Acknowledging the genuine development aspirations and legitimate efforts of developing countries, in particular small island developing States, toward the sustainable management and development of their fisheries sectors,

Emphasizing the responsibility of flag States under international law to effectively control and manage vessels flying their flags, as well as the responsibilities of port and coastal States in controlling IUU fishing,

Aware that effective fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) is essential to combat IUU fishing and that integrated MCS, including satellite monitoring systems (VMS), as well as a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels within FAO, are key tools in this endeavour,

Recognizing the need to strengthen international cooperation for the development of VMS so as to implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and protect and assist fishermen in danger and the assistance that FAO may provide in harmonizing VMS to membe

Aware that effective fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) is essential to combat IUU fishing and that integrated MCS, including satellite monitoring systems (VMS), as well as a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels within FAO, are key tools in this endeavour,

Recognizing the need to strengthen international cooperation for the development of VMS so as to implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and protect and assist fishermen in danger and the assistance that FAO may provide in harmonizing VMS to members who request it,

Recognizing the special requirements of developing countries in combating IUU fishing and, in particular, the need to strengthen their capacity for fisheries management, and

Reaffirming the commitment to enhance responsible and effective fisheries management, to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and to strengthen, improve, and where appropriate establish, MCS programmes including VMS,

We declare that:

1. We are committed to concentrating and intensifying our efforts to implement fully all the international instruments for the sustainable use of marine living resources.

2. We reaffirm the need for FAO to play a leading role in supporting the efforts of States to implement these instruments, with particular emphasis placed on assisting developing countries.

3. We will renew our efforts:

• to develop and implement national and regional plans of action to combat IUU fishing,

• to adopt, review and revise, as appropriate, relevant national legislation and regulations, in particular to ensure compliance with fisheries management measures and to provide sanctions of sufficient gravity as to deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from their illegal activities and to deter further IUU fishing,

• to ensure effective implementation of catch certification schemes through their harmonization and improvement as necessary,

• to adopt internationally agreed market-related measures in accordance with international law, including principles, rights, and obligations established in WTO agreements, as called for in the IPOA-IUU,

• to ensure that all fisheries policy-makers and managers consider the full range of available MCS options, strategies and tools; take necessary actions to fully implement the IPOAs and any applicable MCS measures adopted by relevant regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs); and that fishers have an understanding of their role in MCS,

• to ensure that States, to the greatest extent possible, take measures or cooperate to ensure that nationals subject to their jurisdiction do not support or engage in IUU fishing, and

• to ensure that all large-scale fishing vessels operating on the high seas be required by their flag State to be fitted with VMS no later than December 2008, or earlier if so decided by their flag State or any relevant RFMO.

4. We call for the following new actions:

• to identify, reduce and ultimately eliminate the economic incentives that lead to IUU fishing and the economic drivers that lead to fleet overcapacity, at the national, regional and global levels,

• to ensure that measures to address IUU fishing or fleet overcapacity in one fishery or area do not result in the creation of fleet overcapacity in another fishery or area or otherwise undermine the sustainability of fish stocks in another fishery or area, and that such measures do not prejudice the legitimate expansion of fleets in developing countries in a sustainable manner,

• to develop a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels within FAO, including refrigerated transport vessels and supply vessels, that incorporates available information on beneficial ownership, subject to confidentiality requirements in accordance with national law,

• to work within RFMOs to facilitate, where appropriate, the exchange of VMS and observer data, subject to confidentiality requirements in accordance with national law, and

• to supplement existing MCS schemes through measures such as encouraging the fishing fleet to report any suspected IUU fishing activities they observe.

5. We agree upon the need:

• for flag States, port States, coastal States and, where appropriate, RFMOs to effectively regulate transhipment in order to combat IUU fishing activities and to prevent laundering of illegal catches,

• for States, as well as NGOs and members of the fishing industry, to exchange information on suspected IUU fishing, if possible on a real-time basis, in collaboration with FAO, RFMOs and other relevant arrangements, and by actively participating in the International MCS Network,

• to develop and ensure effective implementation of national and, where appropriate, internationally agreed boarding and inspection regimes consistent with international law,

• to strengthen coastal and port State measures for fishing vessels, consistent with international law, in order to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing,

• for further international action to eliminate IUU fishing by vessels flying "flags of convenience" as well as to require that a "genuine link" be established between States and fishing vessels flying their flags,

• to strengthen RFMOs to ensure that they are more effective in preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing, and

• to fully implement vessel marking requirements in accordance with the FAO Standard Specification and Guidelines for the Marking and Identification of Fishing Vessels and any applicable RFMO requirements.

6. We urge all States:

• that have not yet done so to become parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement and the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, and abide by their provisions,

• to ensure that they exercise full and effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag, in accordance with international law, to combat IUU fishing,

• that are parties to the FAO Compliance Agreement to fulfil their obligations to submit to FAO, for inclusion in the High Seas Vessel Authorization Record, data on vessels entitled to fly their flags that are authorized to be used for fishing on the high seas, and those that are not yet parties to the FAO Compliance Agreement to submit such data on a voluntary basis, and

• to supply detailed information on fishing vessels flying their flag to relevant RFMOs, in accordance with the requirements adopted by those RFMOs, and to establish such requirements within RFMOs where they do not yet exist.

7. We further urge additional research, as well as enhanced international cooperation including appropriate transfer of technology, in remote sensing and satellite surveillance of fishing vessels to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing, particularly in remote areas with lack of deployment of MCS facilities.

8. We also urge:

• the provision of additional assistance to developing countries to help them implement their commitments in preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing, as well as to participate effectively in the development and implementation of fishery conservation and management measures by RFMOs, and

• the provision of advice and training to promote the development of fisheries management regimes, at the national and local levels, to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing, including community-based fisheries management in countries where such fisheries management is practiced, recognizing, where appropriate, the role of local coastal communities in the management of near-shore resources, particularly in developing countries.

9. We resolve to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries in the implementation of MCS capabilities, including VMS, with the support of FAO and relevant international financial institutions and mechanisms, and to consider the establishment of a special voluntary fund for this purpose.

WE REQUEST that the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations convey this Declaration to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for consideration by that organization.

F. The 2005 Rome Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami

Adopted by the
FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries
Rome, 12 March 2005

We, the Ministers and Ministers' representatives, meeting in Rome at the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries on 12 March 2005,

Appreciating the initiative taken by the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to organize the Meeting, thus providing an opportunity to address the issue of rehabilitation in relation to the Tsunami disaster,

Recalling that the massive earthquake and subsequent Tsunami waves that originated off the west coast of northern Sumatra has caused extensive loss of lives and damage to coastal communities throughout the southern Bay of Bengal and East Africa,

Acknowledging that the effects of the Tsunami have been particularly devastating for fishers and fish farmers, with heavy loss of lives and homes, damage to fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure and facilities estimated at over 500 million USD, the destruction or damage of more than 100,000 fishing vessels, and the loss of more than 1.5 million gear units,

Expressing deep concern that the scale of the damage to coastal areas and communities is threatening the livelihoods of millions of people, many of whom depend on fisheries and aquaculture for income and food,

Commending the swift and dedicated response of the peoples and governments in the affected areas, as well as the unprecedented level of assistance being offered for relief and rehabilitation from the international community, including national Governments, United Nations organizations, international financial institutions, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and recognizing the importance of coordination of these efforts for effective rehabilitation,

Recognizing the role of FAO in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the affected areas and commending the efforts led by FAO in the aftermath of the disaster in advising and supporting the Governments of the affected nations,

Expressing concern over the medium- and long-term social, economic and environmental impact of the disaster, as well as the risk of negative impacts from rehabilitation efforts if not appropriately designed and duly coordinated,

Committed to assist with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damage inflicted by the Tsunami disaster and to duly account for the specific needs and requirements of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and related coastal communities, in accordance with the three pillars of sustainable development recognized by the World Summit on Sustainable Development: environmental, social, and economic.

We declare that:

1. We are determined to ensure that the efforts, led by the international community to provide assistance to rehabilitate the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the nations affected by the December 2004 earthquake and Tsunami, develop in synergy so that, through coordinated action, we provide an effective response to the needs of the affected fishing communities, in particular their poorest members.

2. We therefore encourage the international community, including donor countries, international financial institutions and relevant international organizations, as well as the private sector and civil society organizations, to deliver such assistance in a coordinated manner under the leadership of the countries affected.

3. We call upon donor nations and international financial institutions to fulfil the pledges that they have made in this regard so that relief and rehabilitation efforts can be sustained.

4. We emphasize the need for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation to focus on rebuilding the livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers, providing adequate protection from this and other environmental threats, and improving sectoral efficiency, sustainability and governance.

5. We recognize that environmental degradation of critical habitats caused by the Tsunami in affected coastal areas, such as coral reefs and mangroves, may continue to affect the productivity of inshore fishing grounds and the potential for aquaculture rehabilitation for some time.

6. We emphasize the need to protect the rights of fishers and fishworkers, particularly those involved in subsistence and small-scale and artisanal fisheries, to a secure and just livelihood, as well as preferential access, where appropriate, to fishing grounds and resources of affected areas.

7. We also emphasize the need for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation to be in line with the principles of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Rehabilitation efforts, including transfers of vessels, must proceed under the leadership and control of the affected nations and must ensure that the fishing capacity that is being rebuilt is commensurate with the productive capacity of the fisheries resources and their sustainable utilization. We recognize the benefits associated with re-establishment, within affected nations, of the capacity that is required to rebuild infrastructure, including vessel building, fish processing and fishing port facilities.

8. We support the provision of greater assistance toward a coordinated assessment of fisheries resources in the affected region so that relief and rehabilitation efforts can proceed in a sustainable way, recognizing that the assessment must not delay the progress of relief and rehabilitation efforts.

9. We emphasize the need to rebuild and strengthen the capacity of the affected fisheries sectors, including in the areas of fishing abilities, data collection, scientific analysis, assessments of fisheries resources and effective fisheries management, as well as to enhance the capacity of relevant communities and stakeholders to engage in this process, to achieve sustainable livelihoods.

10. We welcome the steps taken by FAO, jointly with development and research partners from the region, for the development of a strategic framework and the creation of collaborative arrangements for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation and the restoration of marine habitat.

11. We support the need for FAO to play a leading role in advising and supporting the international community in matters relevant to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation and the restoration of marine habitat.