The Commission:
The status of fisheries resources in the WECAFC region
1. Discussed the poor quality of data and the problems being experienced by countries. One cause of the problem was that most fisheries agencies did not have sufficient capacity to to collect good quality data and addressing this would require policy-makers to give a higher priority to fisheries agencies and to providing the resources necessary for them to fulfil their tasks effectively. (para. 15)
2. Requested FAO to consider holding a workshop on turtle-fishery interactions in the region. (para.17)
Status and trends of fisheries and aquaculture in the WECAFC region
3. Noted that the formulation of sound national fisheries policies were required, in the light of the need for countries to address the requirements posed by the evolving international normative fisheries framework in relation to their national and sectoral economic and social objectives. (para. 25)
4. Recognized that the issue of fish quality and safety could have significant impacts on the sustainability of small-scale fisheries and on the livelihoods of fishers in the short term and that it must be considered at policy and technical assistance levels. (para. 26)
5. Noted that FAO, in accordance with the programme of work, which was approved by COFI at its Twenty-sixth Session, will undertake studies and assessments to determine the impact of subsidies on fishing capacity, IUU fishing and on fisheries management in general. (para. 27)
6. Agreed on the need to work effectively towards reducing subsidies that affect the sustainability of fishery resources, in particular, through the generation of excess fishing capacity and IUU fishing. (para. 29)
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAs) AND FISHERIES IN THE WECAFC REGION
7. Emphasised the importance of consultation with affected fishers and other stakeholders to avoid the dangers of conflicts between fishers and other users. (para. 39)
8. Recognised that while, in general, larger sized MPAs were more effective, enforcement became more difficult with increasing size of the MPA. VMS offered one means of improving enforcement in relation to vessels. (para. 39)
9. Suggested that national fisheries agencies monitor the process within the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) to examine the scientific, legal and institutional aspects of MPAs on the high seas. (para. 40)
INCREASING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND FOOD SECURITY - INTRODUCTION TO FAO TECHNICAL GUIDELINES No. 10
10. Emphasized the importance of ensuring significant improvement in the small-scale fisheries sector's contribution to food security and poverty alleviation, by addressing the following aspects (para. 43):
gaining a better understanding of the nature, extent, and causes of vulnerability and poverty in small-scale fisheries and improved information on and indicators for monitoring the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and poverty alleviation;
improved cross-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration and development of effective strategies and policies to address poverty and food security issues, and, where appropriate, inclusion of small-scale fisheries in national poverty reduction strategies and policies;
better management through the allocation of secure fishing rights backed by appropriate legislation to small-scale fishers in coastal and inland zones and their effective protection from industrial fishing activity or activities that degrade aquatic resources and habitats;
implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and its accompanying Technical Guidelines on Increasing the Contribution of Small-scale Fisheries to Food security and Poverty Alleviation; and
the encouragement of the formation of fisher's organizations at community level and the facilitation of their representation at local, regional and national levels thereby creating a sense of ownership and accountability by the small-scale stakeholders in the decision-making process.
11. Stressed the social and economic importance of small-scale fisheries to coastal communities. It was also noted that the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and in particular, to food security and poverty alleviation, was generally overlooked and underestimated. (para. 45)
12. Recommended that a study be carried out by FAO to determine the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the development of coastal communities, with special reference to the SIDS, and its contribution to the GDP of WECAFC Members. (para. 45)
INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF WECAFC AND MATTERS REFERRED TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSION
Intersessional activities and follow-up actions
13. Recommended that the consultation on the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and poverty alleviation be accorded high priority in the Commission's programme of work for the next biennium. (para. 49)
Report of the activities of the WECAFC ad hoc working groups
14. Congratulated the WECAFC working groups on their achievements. (para. 55)
15. Supported collaboration with UNEP-CEP. (para. 55)
16. Welcomed the “Manual for the Monitoring and Management of Queen conch” and the proposed workshops on the monitoring and management of Queen conch fisheries to assist in meeting CITES requirements. (para. 56)
Working Group on the Sustainable Development of Moored FAD Fishing in the Lesser Antilles
17. Endorsed the proposed project, MAGDELESA (Moored Fish Aggregating Device in the Lesser Antilles) and commended IFREMER for its contributions and leadership of the Working Group. (para. 64)
Progress in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
18. Stressed the usefulness of reporting on progress in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and suggested that Members should make an extra effort to provide information to FAO on the implementation of the Code bearing in mind the usefulness of the progress reports. (para. 67)
REPORT OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY GROUP (SAG) OF WECAFC
19. Endorsed the recommendations that WECAFC should participate actively in the PDF-B stage of the CLME project and the subsequent implementation of the whole project as well as encourage the CLME project to use and reinforce the existing WECAFC Working Groups. (para. 71)
REPORT OF THE INTERSESSIONAL WORKING GROUP (IWG) ON THE STRENGTHENING OF WECAFC
20. Endorsed the “Elements of a plan to strengthen WECAFC”, prepared by the IWG. (para.75)
21. Approved the draft statutes for WECAFC, prepared by the IWG. (para. 77)
22. Endorsed the recommendation from the second IWG meeting that a full-time Secretary would be required to fulfil the requirements of the revised statutes. (para. 78)
23. Took note of the fact that WECAFC members could second staff to the WECAFC Secretariat to assist it to fulfil its functions. (para. 78)
24. Agreed to submit the revised statutes to the next session of the FAO Council in March 2006. Once the Council had approved the statutes. (para. 78)
25. Agreed that the IWG should develop the Rules of Procedure of WECAFC, once the statutes are approved by the FAO Council. (para. 78)
WORK PROGRAMME OF WECAFC, 2006–07
26. Noted that the consultation on the Contribution of Small-scale Fisheries to Food security and Poverty Alleviation was not held in the last biennium, recommended that this activity be accorded high priority in the Commission's programme of work for the next biennium. (para. 81)
27. Suggested that this activity should be combined with the proposed study on the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the development of coastal fishing communities and the contribution of this sector to the GDP and be included in the proposed work programme. (para. 81)
28. Noted the interest of UNEP-CEP in collaborating with WECAFC on the implementation of the proposed capacity building workshops on the monitoring and management of Queen conch and in the proposed assessment and management workshops on Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries. (para. 82)
29. Noted that UNEP-CEP would like to collaborate with WECAFC in identifying joint activities under this project that would support the implementation of the SPAW Protocol. (para. 83)
30. Accepted the suggestion by some delegates that CITES and the CRFM be included in Activity I, “Coordination and Liaison”, of the proposed work programme. (para. 84)
31. Agreed to include the proposed meeting of the working group on FADs to prepare the project proposal on promoting subregional Cooperation in Developing Sustainable Moored Fish Attracting Device Fishing in the Lesser Antilles in the proposed work programme. (para. 85)
32. Noted the offer of IFREMER-French Guiana to support the convening of the meeting of the working group on shrimp and groundfish resources in the Brazil-Guianas shelf and requested that this offer be included in the proposed work programme. (para. 87)
33. Noted the proposal of IFREMER-French Guiana to convene a working group on snapper involving Brazil, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Venezuela. (para. 87)
34. Agreed that the existing intersessional working group (IWG) should be given the task of preparing the draft Rules of Procedure and that it should follow the same procedures it adopted during its first term. (para. 88)
35. Noted the offer of the US to look favourably towards providing support for the next meeting of the IWG soon after March 2006. (para. 88)
36. Approved the draft Work Programme for 2006–07. (para. 89)
ANY OTHER MATTERS
37. Noted the information provided by Venezuela on the First Latin America and Caribbean Meeting on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, March 2006. (para. 90)
38. Noted that inter-institutional interaction at the national level was a prerequisite to ensure that fisheries issues were adequately addressed in the GEF/IOCARIBE CLME project. (para. 92)
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
39. Elected Colombia as Chairperson and St Vincent and the Grenadines as Vice-Chairperson respectively. (para. 93)
DATE AND PLACE OF THIRTEENTH SESSION
40. Noted the offer made by Colombia to host the thirteenth session of WECAFC in October 2007. (para. 94)
1. The Twelfth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) and the Ninth Session of the Committee for Development and Management of Fisheries in the Lesser Antilles were held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 25 to 28 October 2005, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
2. Delegates from 16 WECAFC member countries and the European Community, and observers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Caribbean Environment Programme Regional Coordinating Unit, the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) and the IOC/Unesco Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE), attended the Sessions. The List of Participants is given in Appendix B of the report.
3. At the official opening of the Sessions, the Director of Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Ann Marie Jobity, welcomed the delegates, and said that it was an honour for Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate with FAO in hosting these meetings. The Director of Fisheries noted that the WECAF Commission provides the forum for discussing issues that are critical for the management and conservation of the fishery resources of the region, the majority of which are shared or straddling stocks.
4. The delegates were welcomed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Winston Gibson, who also encouraged the delegates to enjoy their short stay in Trinidad and to take the opportunity to visit the sister isle, Tobago.
5. The FAO Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Florita Kentish, welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Director-General of FAO and expressed FAO's sincere appreciation to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for its continued support over the years. She noted that the main purpose of WECAFC was in line with the mandate of FAO, which was to contribute towards ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger by improving the efficiency and distribution of all food and agriculture products, including fisheries. She highlighted FAO programmes in support of food security in CARICOM and CARIFORUM countries and noted that it was the duty of members of WECAFC to ensure that fisheries resources of the region are utilized and managed in a sustainable manner to support the high consumption of fish in the region and to contribute to the food security of the region.
6. After welcoming the participants on behalf of the Director-General of FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf and the Assistant Director-General, Fisheries Department, Mr Ichiro Nomura,Mr Pulvenis de Séligny recalled the critical role and importance of regional fisheries bodies (RFBs) such as WECAFC, as stressed and constantly reaffirmed in all the international instruments that followed the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, including Agenda 21 and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its related International Plans of Action. Mr Pulvenis de Séligny noted that in its more than thirty years of existence, WECAFC had functioned as a neutral forum and as a coordinating mechanism to provide sound scientific advice to its members on the sustainable utilisation of the fishery resources of the Western Central Atlantic region and to facilitate regional cooperation. He highlighted some recent activities for their importance and significance, particularly those undertaken at sub-regional level in the ambit of the Brazil-Guianas Shelf or in the Eastern Caribbean, at bi-national level in the Gulf of Paria, as well as at the level of the whole region.
7. Mr Pulvenis de Séligny indicated some of the great challenges that WECAFC and its Members are facing and stressed that these challenges must be met, since fishery resources were badly needed as a source of income and employment and as food for the population. He noted that in this respect, special emphasis must be placed on small-scale and artisanal fisheries, in particular, their role as a safety net for poverty alleviation and food security. Among the benefits deriving from the existence of WECAFC, he mentioned the possible pooling of technical and financial resources, the sharing of expertise, the facilitation of collective action such as for monitoring, control and surveillance and combating IUU fishing, and the identification and channelling of available assistance. He stressed the commitment of FAO to provide its full support to the Commission and each one of its members but noted that, based on experience, the success of the Commission would ultimately depend upon a strong and sustained commitment of its members. He added that, in this respect, the participants should feel heartened by the progress made in the process to strengthen the Commission, since the intersessional working group established for this purpose had been successful in adopting draft revised statutes of the Commission as well as a number of recommendations that would be brought to their attention. In his concluding remarks, Mr Pulvenis de Séligny thanked the government and people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting this session of the Commission and for the excellent support and facilities that they had provided. The address of Mr Pulvenis de Séligny can be found in Appendix D.
8. The Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Jarrette Narine, then welcomed the participants to the sessions on behalf of his Government. He noted that member countries of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission share a common ecosystem and thus, face common challenges for the sustainable use of the living marine resources of this shared ecosystem. Regional cooperation was essential to successfully face these challenges and to achieve the goals of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Mr Narine mentioned that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is taking steps to implement the Code.
9. The Honourable Minister expressed the appreciation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the assistance FAO was providing his country in the fisheries sector and mentioned two ongoing fisheries projects in which Trinidad and Tobago was involved. He noted that given the region's high biodiversity, the current high demand for fish and fishery products and that the region was a net importer of fish, there was the critical need for WECAFC member countries to formulate and implement policies that would insure sustainable use of the fishery resources. When discussing the strengthening of WECAFC, the Minister urged delegates to avoid duplication of efforts, to consider the high level of biodiversity, the varying capacity for fisheries management and enforcement and the high level of commitment and financial support that will be required by WECAFC members. The Minister officially opened the Sessions. The address of The Honourable Minister can be found in Appendix D.
10. At the Eleventh Session of WECAFC, held in Grenada in October 2003, and in accordance with Article II (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, Nicaragua was elected Chairperson and Trinidad and Tobago, Vice Chairperson for the Twelfth Session. In the absence of the Chairperson, the delegate of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Anne Marie Jobity, took the chair.
11. The meeting adopted the Agenda that is given in Appendix A. The documents presented to the Commission are listed in Appendix C.
12. In relation to the adoption of the Agenda, the Chairman stated the following: “The European Community (EC) is participating in this meeting in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article II of the FAO Constitution. I have been asked to inform you that the declaration made by the European Community and its Member States is contained in Information Document WECAFC/XI/03/Inf. 4, “Statement of Competence and Voting Rights submitted by the European Community (EC) and its Member States”, which has already been distributed to all members of this meeting. I wish to draw the attention of the meeting to this declaration”.
13. The Secretariat introduced Document WECAFC/XII/05/2, “The status of fisheries resources in the WECAFC region”. Attention was drawn to the biological complexity of the region and the difficulties this presented for sustainable use of the living marine resources. The urgent need for many countries to improve the quality of the catch and effort data collected from their fisheries was stressed. The Secretariat also referred to problems being experienced by WECAFC members in the sustainable use of a number of taxonomic groups including the increasing catches of small pelagics such as the Caranx species and the fishing pressure on reef species such as grouper and snapper as well as on many other demersal species. Many countries were directing greater fishing effort at the offshore large pelagic resources. In order to avoid over-exploitation of those species, regional coordination and joint management, in cooperation with ICCAT, was required immediately.
14. Countries were also urged to develop and implement NPOAs on sharks where this had not yet been done and to improve efforts, where necessary, for sustainable use of invertebrate resources such as Spiny lobster, seabob and Caribbean Queen conch. WECAFC has an important role to play in assisting and coordinating, where appropriate, countries in their efforts, but primary responsibility for implementation of responsible fisheries lies with the WECAFC member countries.
15. There was considerable discussion on the subject of poor quality of data and the problems being experienced by countries. One delegate reminded the meeting that this problem had been recognised by countries and by WECAFC for many years and that many interventions had tried to rectify it, with very little success. One cause of the problem was that most fisheries agencies did not have sufficient capacity to collect good quality data and addressing this would require policy-makers to give a higher priority to fisheries agencies and to providing the resources necessary for them to fulfil their tasks effectively. It was also pointed out that many countries did not implement proactive, science-based management of their fisheries, which often meant that managers and policy-makers did not appreciate the true value and importance of accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date data.
16. In relation to sharks, some delegations reported that artisanal fisheries often targeted sharks and landed them with fins and heads already removed. This made identification of the species very difficult. The delegation from the USA reported that a short identification guide had been produced in that country which could be made available to the WECAFC Secretariat and members. FAO reported that it was in the process of developing a WECAFC identification guide for the major shark species in the region and would welcome any information that would assist in the development of this guide.
17. There was considerable discussion on turtle bycatches. The delegation from the USA reported on work that had been done there on management measures to reduce bycatches of turtles in longline fisheries. The use of circle hooks had been found to be very beneficial in reducing the frequency of turtle bycatches and their use facilitated the removal of hooks when bycatches did occur. The delegate from Cuba informed the meeting on the successful management of turtle harvesting that had been in place since 1992 in two fishing areas in Cuba. One delegation referred to problems being experienced in their country in exporting shrimp to the USA because the TEDs used in their shrimp fisheries did not meet the USA specifications. The delegate from the USA offered to take up this matter directly with the country concerned. A delegate from another country drew the attention of the meeting to problems it was experiencing with illegal fishing, including the capture of turtles, from a neighbouring country. Many countries requested FAO to consider holding a workshop on turtle-fishery interactions in the region.
18. The FAO Secretariat was asked about the status of a request from CRFM for an FAO TCP project to assist the CARICOM countries in the management of the Queen conch fisheries. It was pointed out that FAO was waiting for a formal submission from the CARICOM Secretariat following some informal discussions on the original proposal. The Secretariat and the representative from CRFM agreed to work together to expedite formal submission and consideration of a revised proposal.
19. The delegation from Suriname emphasised the need for urgent assistance to all the Brazil-Guianas countries to ensure responsible development and management of the expanding fisheries for seabob. The representative from CRFM reported on the outcome from a joint workshop on seabob with Suriname and Guyana and offered to share the report with WECAFC. The FAO Secretariat indicated that, if the funds could be found, it intended to hold a workshop of the Brazil-Guianas Shrimp and Groundfish Working Group in 2006.
20. In response to a question from the delegate from Brazil, the Secretariat informed the meeting that the catches of Caribbean Spiny lobster from Brazil had been inadvertently omitted from the report, in part because they were recorded in a different FAO statistical area and were considered to be a separate stock to those in the other WECAFC countries. This omission would be rectified in future reports.
21. The Secretariat introduced document WECAFC/XII/05/3, “The Status and Trends of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the WECAFC Region”, that reviewed the current situation and trends in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of the WECAFC region. In overall terms, the results of the review indicated that the fisheries sector continued to be an important contributor to the economy of the member countries of the Commission in terms of food supply, food security, employment and foreign currency earnings. In overall terms, this contribution had shown remarkable stability during the last decade. The total fish production for the region as a whole has experienced a modest increase during the last decade due mainly to the growth in aquaculture production. Fish utilization for non-food uses remained around previous levels of 18 percent of total fish production, which is below the world level of 24 percent. Average annual per capita consumption in the countries of the WECAFC region was estimated at 13.5 kg, similar to previous years' levels. Trade of fish and fisheries products, including interregional trade, has been playing an important role in fish supply, in ensuring food security and in the generation of foreign currency earnings for many of the countries of the region.
22. The document presented by the Secretariat also provided an overview of supply and demand prospects, as well as opportunities and possible actions for sustainable development. On the demand side, the international component of the demand for fish and fish products continues to be a driving factor of major importance for most countries of the region and was increasingly influencing the structure of the fisheries sectors in the region. The possibility of maintaining fish supply at current levels or increasing it, based on catches in the Western Central Atlantic is limited by the already high exploitation levels for these resources. This limitation confirms previous conclusions by the Commission that moderate increases in production volumes could only be achieved through improved management of fishery resources; the reduction of discards and improved utilization of catches including better post harvest handling; and increased aquaculture production. While opportunities may lie in the short term for increased income to fishermen and the fishing industry, there is a need to consider the possible impacts on the sustainability of fisheries, on fish supply and food security.It was noted that in order to capture opportunities offered by the increasing demand and to diminish the risks posed to fisheries sustainability there might be the need to improve governance of the fisheries sector. Some of the issues to be considered in this regard were the need for the strengthening of the legal and institutional frameworks; sound, proactive national policies for the fisheries sector; the adoption of adequate fisheries management approaches; and the promotion of regional and international technical and economic cooperation.
23. The Secretariat also referred to the ongoing development of the international fisheries normative framework and the rapid and continuous emergence of global issues, and the impact they may often have on fisheries sectors. With the aim of stimulating an exchange of views, the Secretariat highlighted fish quality and safety in small-scale fisheries, as well as fisheries subsidies, as two issues of regional and/or international relevance.
24. The Secretariat in noting the potential implications of emerging global fisheries issues pointed out that decision-makers of the region would need to base their actions on a soundly formulated fisheries policy. In this regard, the Secretariat called the attention of the Commission to the proposed “Expert Consultation on national fisheries policy and policy instruments in Caribbean countries/the emerging requirements from the changing international normative fisheries framework” proposed in document WECAFC/XII/05/12, Draft Work Programme of WECAFC, 2006/2007.
25. In the light of the need for countries to address the requirements posed by the evolving international normative fisheries framework in relation to their national and sectoral economic and social objectives, the Commission noted that the formulation of sound national fisheries policies were required.
26. The Commission recognized that the issue of fish quality and safety could have significant impacts on the sustainability of small-scale fisheries and on the livelihoods of fishers in the short term and that it must be considered at policy and technical assistance levels. In this regard, the Delegate of Colombia provided information on the approaches being implemented in the San Andres Island with the purpose of improving quality and safety of fish and fish products throughout the entire production chain of the small-scale fishery by encouraging the direct involvement of fishers in the whole process.
27. The Commission noted that FAO, in accordance with the programme of work, which was approved by COFI at its Twenty-sixth Session, will undertake studies and assessments to determine the impact of subsidies on fishing capacity, IUU fishing and on fisheries management in general. It also noted the support expressed by COFI for the FAO short- and long-term programme on fisheries subsidies which include the role of subsidies in small-scale and artisanal fisheries in relation to other policy instruments.
28. The delegate from the US pointed out the importance of both the tracking of fish trade and the responsibilities of importing countries as drivers of trade for sustainable development of fisheries in the region.
29. Several delegations in providing their views on the use of subsidies in the fisheries sector and their potential impacts recognised the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. The Commission agreed on the need to work effectively towards reducing subsidies that affect the sustainability of fishery resources, in particular, through the generation of excess fishing capacity and IUU fishing. Some delegates expressed their concern over the potential impact on economic development of developing countries of subsidies that affect the international trade of fish and fish products. Some delegations emphasised that when appraising the role of subsidies in their respective fishery sectors, careful attention should be given to the impact of these subsidies on the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development and, in particular, on their use as an instrument of economic policy aimed, among other objectives, at stimulating the sustainable growth of their national fishery sectors, at reducing and alleviating the poverty of fishing communities and households and at enhancing food security.
30. The Secretariat introduced document WECAFC/XII/05/4, which reproduces the main decisions of the Twenty-sixth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), as contained in the report of the Committee that was submitted to the Council of the Organization, including those endorsing the decisions and recommendations of the two COFI Subcommittees on Trade and Aquaculture. The Secretariat noted that, in accordance with the wishes expressed by the participants at the last session of WECAFC, this item had been moved forward in the agenda as the decisions and recommendations of COFI would help to inform and guide subsequent discussions. In its introductory comments, the Secretariat also commented on the successful character of that session of COFI, which confirmed a trend towards a more extensive agenda and an increased attendance and participation, not only of Member States, but also of IGOs and NGOs.
31. In addition, during that session, it had been necessary also to consider and discuss how to address the tragic effects of the tsunami that had affected a number of coastal States in the Indian Ocean. There was a general recognition among members of COFI of the need to consider how to increase its efficiency as the main global forum dealing with fisheries.
32. As to the conclusions and recommendations that COFI had adopted, the Secretariat highlighted those that might be deemed more relevant to WECAFC and to the work of the Commission. It noted first that COFI had agreed from now on that there should be a stronger focus on implementing the instruments concluded since UNCED rather than seeking to conclude new instruments. It stressed that COFI had expressly referred to RFMOs as the institutional channels through which States should take further steps to implement the relevant provisions of the post-UNCED fisheries instruments. Next, the Secretariat referred to the following areas and themes upon which COFI had laid special emphasis and which were of particular relevance to WECAFC and its members:
33. The Secretariat also highlighted a number of documents that COFI had approved, including the recommendations submitted to its consideration by several technical consultations; among these, the Secretariat underscored the great importance of the adoption by COFI of the International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries and of the Model Scheme for Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The Secretariat also highlighted the endorsement by COFI of the conclusions and recommendations of the Technical Consultation on the Use of Subsidies in the Fisheries Sector and its support for the short- and long-term programme of work in this matter, including work on the role of subsidies in small-scale and artisanal fisheries in relation to other policy instruments. Finally, the Secretariat mentioned a number of pending tasks that COFI had identified, such as the elaboration of guidelines (on capacity, on sea turtles and fisheries, on ecolabelling of fish and fishery products from inland fisheries, on marine protected areas and fisheries) and the realisation of workshops to encourage regional and national plans of action.
34. In introducing Document WECAFC/XII/05/5, “Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Fisheries in the WECAFC region”, the Secretariat drew attention to the increasing awareness of the potential role of MPAs as a tool in fisheries management. This growing awareness was reflected in a number of international instruments including, most recently, in the 2002 WSSD Plan of Implementation. FAO fully supports the use of MPAs as one of the available tools for conservation of biodiversity and fisheries management. There are concerns, however, about exaggerated claims on the potential contribution of MPAs to responsible fisheries management and about setting generalised, global targets for establishing MPAs that do not take into account the local ecological, socio-economic and political conditions or other effective management measures that may already be in place. The Secretariat referred to some of the potential contributions of MPAs as fisheries management tools and some of the limitations of their use, as described in the meeting document.
35. The Secretariat also drew the attention of the meeting to the recommendation of the Twenty-sixth Session of COFI in March 2005 that FAO should develop technical guidelines on the design, implementation and testing of MPAs. Activities were being initiated to convene a meeting of experts in 2006 to consider such guidelines.
36. The representative of the Caribbean Environment Programme, Ms Heidi Savelli Söderberg, presented the paper “The Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Managers Network and Forum (CaMPAM): building MPA capacity for improving marine resources conservation and management”. In the region, many marine reserves are small and used primarily for conservation and tourism, with greatly variable levels of enforcement and compliance. Serious consideration of marine reserves as a fisheries management and ecosystem protection tool has only emerged recently. She drew the Meeting's attention to a number of reports that have examined various aspects of MPAs in the region such as the WCMC report “Fishery Regulations in the Wider Caribbean” as well as the WRI report “Reefs at Risks in the Caribbean”. “Reefs at Risk” was the first comprehensive assessment of status and threats of Caribbean reefs including socio-economic impacts. Of the 300 MPAs in the region only 6 percent are rated as effectively managed and only 4 percent of the reefs in the wider Caribbean region are located in these MPAs. The presenter noted that other studies of Marine Reserves in St Lucia and Florida have shown a spill-over effect to surrounding areas, providing evidence of the benefits of MPAs as promising tools for fisheries management. However, common reasons for MPA failure must be addressed such as a lack of long-term financial support and a lack of support from the local communities.
37. Ms Savelli Söderberg informed the meeting that the CEP through its Programme on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) assists with the establishment and proper management of protected areas, by promoting sustainable management and use of species to prevent their endangerment and by providing assistance to the governments of the region in conserving their coastal ecosystems. She also drew attention to the Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network (CaMPAM), administered by UNEP-CEP, and highlighted various of its activities which include fostering communication amongst MPA managers, the sponsorship and coordination of projects, training activities and others.
38. In response to a question from one delegate on the incidence of conflicts and the features of no-entry reserves, as opposed to no-take reserves, Ms Savelli Söderberg referred to the WCMC report which she would make available to delegates. One delegation thanked WECAFC for inviting Ms Savelli Söderberg to make her presentation and expressed the hope that WECAFC would continue to collaborate with other relevant organizations.
39. Several delegations referred to examples of successful implementation of MPAs in their own countries. They emphasised the importance of consultation with affected fishers and other stakeholders and some warned of the dangers of conflicts between fishers and other users if adequate consultations had not taken place. Some members also referred to the importance of finding suitable alternatives for displaced fishers and requested technical assistance in doing this. The delegate of St Lucia reported on initiatives in his country to establish fish aggregation devices (FADs) and to explore the availability of new resources as alternatives for displaced fishers. Again, assistance in these endeavours was requested. One delegation referred to the potential impact of environmental variability on the effectiveness of MPAs and the need to take this into account in their design and implementation. It was noted that there is also a need to consider the full life cycle of species and the need for and possible role of MPAs at the different life stages. The importance of effective enforcement was raised and it was recognised that while, in general, larger sized MPAs were more effective, enforcement became more difficult with increasing size of the MPA. VMS offered one means of improving enforcement in relation to vessels. VMS is currently expensive but the technology is developing rapidly, which is likely to lead to its greater accessibility and application in enforcement.
40. The delegate of St Lucia raised the issue of MPAs on the high seas and expressed the view that these were unnecessary. He called for recognition of the different developmental stages of different countries and the importance of not preventing developing countries from accessing resources that could contribute to their further development. The Secretariat referred to the process within the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) to examine the scientific, legal and institutional aspects of MPAs on the high seas. The CBD ad hoc Working Group had discussed these issues at its first meeting earlier in 2005 and would take the matter up again at its second meeting on a date yet to be announced. It was suggested that it was important for national fisheries agencies to monitor these discussions and participate in the process as appropriate.
41. The Secretariat presented the document, WECAFC/XII/05/6, “Increasing the Contribution of Small-scale Capture Fisheries to Poverty Alleviation and Food Security - An Introduction to FAO Technical Guidelines No. 10”, which contained background information about the origin and preparation of the Guidelines, its purposes and structure and a summarized review of the issues being addressed by the Guidelines. The Twenty-fifth Session of COFI, in noting that small-scale fisheries were critical for food security and poverty alleviation in many countries, requested FAO to prepare the Guideline. The Twenty-fifth COFI recognised that small-scale fishing communities were facing an array of serious problems including overexploitation and depletion of resources, lack of alternative sources of employment, rapid population growth, migration of populations, displacement in coastal areas due to industrial development and tourism, pollution and environmental degradation and conflicts with large commercial fishing operations. The Guidelines complement existing FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, particularly those on Fisheries Management (No. 4), Aquaculture Development (No. 5), Inland Fisheries (No. 6) and Integration of Fisheries into Coastal Area Management (No. 3) within the framework of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. An advanced unedited version of the Technical Guidelines, in English, was made available to the Session. The final version should be available later in 2005.
42. The Secretariat explained that the first part of the Guidelines discusses the current contribution, role and importance of small-scale fisheries in poverty alleviation and food security at a national, local and household level. It also noted the special role of fish in the nutritional aspects of food security. The second part of the Guidelines explored ways through which the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security could be enhanced. The second part also presents a vision for the future of small-scale fisheries which could be achieved through ensuring greater participation by small-scale fishers and their communities in the formulation of policies, the development of related legislation and regulations, and in management decision-making and implementation processes.
43. With reference to the sector's contribution to food security and poverty alleviation, the Commission emphasized the importance of ensuring significant improvement in small-scale fisheries development by addressing the following aspects:
gaining a better understanding of the nature, extent, and causes of vulnerability and poverty in small-scale fisheries and improved information on and indicators for monitoring the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and poverty alleviation;
improved cross-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration and development of effective strategies and policies to address poverty and food security issues, and, where appropriate, inclusion of small-scale fisheries in national poverty reduction strategies and policies;
better management through the allocation of secure fishing rights backed by appropriate legislation to small-scale fishers in coastal and inland zones and their effective protection from industrial fishing activity or activities that degrade aquatic resources and habitats;
implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and its accompanying Technical Guidelines on Increasing the Contribution of Small-scale Fisheries to Food security and Poverty Alleviation; and
the encouragement of the formation of fisher's organizations at community level and the facilitation of their representation at local, regional and national levels thereby creating a sense of ownership and accountability by the small-scale stakeholders in the decision-making process.
44. Some countries highlighted the importance of small-scale fisheries to their economies. A major part of fish supply for internal consumption and export were provided by the small-scale fisheries sector. The delegate of Suriname said that small-scale fishers contributed approximately 90 percent of total landings in that country.
45. The Commission stressed the social and economic importance of small-scale fisheries to coastal communities. It was also noted that the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and in particular, to food security and poverty alleviation, was generally overlooked and underestimated. The Commission recommended that a study be carried out by FAO to determine the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the development of coastal communities, with special reference to the SIDS, and its contribution to the GDP of WECAFC Members.
46. The observer from the CARICOM Secretariat informed the Commission that the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) was conducting a study on the contribution of agriculture to GDP using a model that they developed. It may be possible to modify this model for use in the fisheries sector. The observer from the CARICOM Secretariat also informed of the support FAO provided to the CRFM in the use of demographic information on coastal fishing communities and its use in community-based fisheries and integrated coastal zone management in the Caribbean.
47. The Secretariat presented Document WECAFC/XII/05/07, which outlined the intersessional activities undertaken by the Secretariat as follow-up to the decisions of the Eleventh Session of the Commission. The activities that were implemented were: Regional Workshop on Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS); Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action (NPOA) to prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing; Formulation of NPOAs for Central American countries; and the First Meeting of the Intersessional Working Group (IWG) on the Strengthening of WECAFC. Two activities, Consultation on the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and poverty alleviation and National Workshops on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), were not implemented due to lack of funds and formal requests from countries, respectively.
48. The Secretariat also mentioned the FAO fisheries activities and projects in the WECAFC region that were implemented during the last biennium, for the information of the Commission.
49. The Commission recommended that the consultation on the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and poverty alleviation, which was not implemented, be accorded high priority in the Commission's programme of work for the next biennium.
50. The Secretariat introduced this agenda item by referring to document WECAFC/XII/05/8, which outlined the activities of the WECAFC ad hoc working groups and provided summary reports highlighting the work of the following groups:
51. In responding to the question from the delegate of Suriname concerning the next meeting of the Working Group on Shrimp and Groundfish Resources in the Brazil-Guianas Shelf, the Secretariat informed the Commission that a meeting of the whole group was more desirable than meetings of smaller groups given the current financial constraints. However, any decision on how this group should proceed would depend on the availability of financial resources and would be made in consultation with the countries.
52. The representative of IFREMER, French Guiana, Mr Philippe Vendeville, mentioned the possibility of IFREMER securing funds from the European Union for the holding of a meeting of the Working Group on Shrimp and Groundfish Resources in the Brazil-Guianas Shelf and for a new working group on Snapper involving Brazil, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Venezuela during the next biennium. He stressed that the Commission will be informed on follow-up to this project through official communication from the Regional Council of French Guiana.
53. The delegate of Brazil supported the initiative of IFREMER, French Guiana. In noting that an FAO consultant visited Suriname with respect to shrimp and groundfish in the Brazil-Guianas shelf he requested that the consultant should also visit Brazil to stimulate the resumption of studies in Brazil, and in the region as a whole, on these species.
54. The delegate of Colombia informed the Commission on the work of an inter-institutional working group on the assessment of Queen conch and Spiny lobster fisheries in the San Andres archipelago. He noted that the San Andres working group would like to participate in the next meeting of the WECAFC Working Group on Spiny lobster and to exchange the new information that was analysed by this group.
55. The US Delegation congratulated the WECAFC working groups on their achievements. The delegation noted the involvement of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) in the Queen conch working group and in the translation of the “Manual for the Monitoring and Management of Queen conch” into Spanish. Mention was made of the role of CITES in the sustainable trade in Queen conch and the collaboration between CITES, the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme and the WECAFC Secretariat. The Delegation was supportive of such collaboration and recommended its continuation.
56. The delegate of Honduras mentioned Honduras' interest in reopening its Queen conch fishery based on the requirements of CITES. In this regard, he welcomed the “Manual for the Monitoring and Management of Queen conch” and expressed his keen interest in participating in the proposed workshops on the monitoring and management of Queen conch fisheries.
57. The Secretariat informed the Commission that all Queen conch producing countries would be invited to the proposed workshops.
Working Group on the Sustainable Development of Moored FAD Fishing in the Lesser Antilles
58. The representative of IFREMER Martinique, Mr Lionel Reynal, presented an overview of the Lesser Antilles working group on FAD fishing sustainable development. This working group has met twice since its establishment in 2001 during the Tenth WECAFC plenary meeting. The first meeting of the working group was held in Martinique and the second in Guadeloupe in July 2004. The main activities of this multidisciplinary group were on FAD technology and the impacts of fishing on the resources.
59. An IFREMER project in support to this working group provided a description of fish aggregations around FADs and evaluated their biomass. Software to help FAD design was also written by IFREMER. The working group discussed other aspects so that it could better formulate questions for research and information gathering to ensure the sustainable development of FAD fishing. A project would be developed to:
60. Mr Reynal presented a summary of this proposed project on promoting subregional cooperation for the development of sustainable fishing using FADs in the Lesser Antilles, which he plans to submit to donors on behalf of the working group. The project aims to promote regional cooperation in developing fisheries with FADs and regulating associated fishing activities. It was anticipated that the project will be implemented jointly by the member countries of the working group, WECAFC, IFREMER and IRPM.
61. Two socio-economists, an ergonomic expert and a food technologist have agreed to contribute to the design and implementation of the scientific and technical project. The name of the project is MAGDELESA (Moored Fish Aggregating Device in the Lesser Antilles). The design of the project will be finalized during a workshop with all the stakeholders, which is planned for the beginning of 2006, in Guadeloupe. It would include six themes: FAD technology; resource biology and fishery impact; socio-economic features of the exploitation; institutional analysis of FADs in the Lesser Antilles; safety and working conditions at sea; and food quality. This project will be conducted during the coming year.
62. In commending the presenter for the report, one delegate enquired about the costs of establishing a FAD in order to determine if they can be implemented in other parts of the WECAFC region. Another country enquired about the bycatch from moored FAD fishing and whether the baits used presented risks to protected species, such as sea turtles. The presenter explained that the average cost of a FAD was between 1000 to 3000 Euros and that no bycatch of turtles or marine mammals were taken from moored FAD fishing.
63. The delegate of St Lucia expressed his appreciation of the ongoing cooperation and technical assistance they were receiving from The Regional Council of Martinique and IFREMER and reported on their ongoing efforts to regulate and monitor FAD fishing activities.
64. The Commission endorsed the proposed project and commended IFREMER for its contributions and leadership of the Working Group.
65. The Secretariat presented document WECAFC/XII/05/9, which summarizes the activities undertaken by FAO to facilitate the implementation of the 1995 FAO Code of conduct for Responsible Fisheries and reviews the progress made by WECAFC members in the implementation of the Code. The information contained in the document were obtained from: a) the report on the implementation of the Code submitted by FAO to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in accordance with Article 4 of the Code; b) the statistical analysis of the responses by FAO Members, including WECAFC Members, to the 2004 Questionnaire on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries”. Article 4 of the Code states, inter alia , which FAO will report to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) concerning the implementation of the Code.
66. The Secretariat mentioned that, according to the report presented to the Twenty-sixth COFI, 49 FAO Members (27 percent of the FAO Membership) responded to the questionnaire in comparison to 105 Members in 2003 (57 percent of Members). These figures show a 53 percent decline in reporting. Six WECAFC members (Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, and USA) responded to the 2004 questionnaires. The information in Document WECAFC/XII/05/09 on the implementation of the Code by members was taken from the six responses of WECAFC members.
67. The delegate of Colombia stressed the usefulness of reporting on progress in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and noted with concern that the majority of WECAFC member countries did not respond to the questionnaires that were sent out by the FAO Fisheries Department. He suggested that Members should make an extra effort to provide information to FAO on the implementation of the Code bearing in mind the usefulness of the progress reports.
68. In introducing Document WECAFC/XII/05/10, the Secretariat focused on the recommendations made by SAG on the process for strengthening WECAFC. In keeping with its mandate, SAG had considered the scientific aspects of the process. SAG considered that, at least in the short-term, WECAFC should continue to focus on the existing WECAFC Working Groups. SAG proposed that a strengthened WECAFC should strive for the goal of self-sufficiency of its Working Groups and needed to create partnerships with other relevant organizations. It could benefit from closer ties with regional academic institutions which frequently had pools of relevant expertise that could assist WECAFC.
69. SAG noted that the IOCARIBE Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem project (CLME) appeared to have similar goals to those of WECAFC in relation to living marine resources. It recommended that WECAFC could consider:
“participating actively in the PDF-B stage of the CLME project and the subsequent implementation of the full project; and
encouraging the use by the CLME project of the existing WECAFC ad hoc Working Groups as vehicles for relevant assessment and governance activities and where applicable, strengthen the work of the groups.”
70. After the introduction by the Secretariat, the Project Coordinator of CLME, Mr Robin Mahon, updated the meeting on the current status of the CLME project. The PDF-B phase of the project development was endorsed by the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) in August 2005. This phase, in which the proposal for the full project will be developed, will shortly be implemented and will last for 18 months. GEF has indicated that they are prepared to consider a proposal for up to US$9 million for the first five-year period. The PDF-B phase will be guided by a Steering Committee made up of all participating countries and other major stakeholder organizations. Mr Mahon suggested that the project has considerable relevance to WECAFC in its goal of strengthening itself. It could contribute substantially to establishing a regular project cycle of assessment, advice, decision-making and review for most of the major fisheries in the region. This is the same cycle that is being promoted by the WECAFC Working Groups. He reinforced the SAG view, stating that it will be essential for national fisheries agencies to engage at the national level in the inter-ministerial committees to help to ensure that the CLME project addressed the high priority issues identified by WECAFC and its Member countries.
71. The Commission endorsed the recommendations, quoted above, that WECAFC should participate actively in the PDF-B stage of the CLME project and the subsequent implementation of the whole project as well as encourage the CLME project to use and reinforce the existing WECAFC Working Groups.
72. Some delegates from CARICOM countries referred to the CRFM, of which they are members and which would also be coordinating their participation in the development of the PDF-B phase of the CLME project in accordance with decision taken by the forum of the CRFM. This was seen as being complementary to the role of WECAFC on behalf of the region as a whole.
73. The Chair of the Intersessional Working Group, Ms Cheryl Appleton, Antigua and Barbuda, introduced the documents WECAFC/XII/05/11 and 11 Suppl.1, explaining the background to the process to consider strengthening of WECAFC. The first meeting of the IWG had prepared a document entitled “Elements of a Plan to Strengthen WECAFC”, which was included in the IWG meeting report as Appendix D. The basic concepts proposed in that plan were that WECAFC would remains an Article VI body with a strengthened mandate; WECAFC's Ad Hoc Working Groups and SAG would be strengthened; WECAFC's secretariat would be strengthened and that WECAFC's relationships with other regional and sub-regional organizations would also be strengthened. The meeting had asked FAO to prepare draft, revised statutes of the WECAFC for discussion at the second meeting of the IWG. The Secretariat had prepared this document, which was submitted to the second meeting of the IWG held on 24 October 2005, which adopted it after thorough discussion and the introduction in the text in a number of amendments.
74. The delegate of St Vincent and the Grenadines enquired about the cost implications of the plan to strengthen WECAFC. The Secretariat informed the meeting that the proposed strengthening would not involve any mandatory costs to the governments. It was proposed to establish a voluntary trust fund to facilitate the functioning of the strengthened Commission and that members could make voluntary contributions to the fund.
75. The Commission considered Appendix D of Document WECAFC/XII/05/11 and endorsed it. It is attached to this report as Appendix E, “Elements of a plan to strengthen WECAFC”.
76. The Commission reviewed and discussed the draft statutes, including modifications suggested by the Second IWG meeting. In response to a question concerning section 2, Area of Competence, the Secretariat clarified that in this case competence referred to the geographic area covered by the Commission and did not imply competence for management. It was suggested by one delegation that a point should be added under section 6, Functions of the Commission, to include the responsibility for the Commission to address matters related to safety at sea. The Commission agreed that this addition was not necessary as safety issues were implied in sub-paragraph 6(k) where the statutes referred to the responsibility to promote and encourage the utilization of the most appropriate fishing craft. In order to reinforce this point it was agreed to include a reference to the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in the sub-paragraph.
77. After discussion and some additional modifications, the Commission approved the draft statutes, which are included in this report as Appendix F.
78. The Commission also endorsed the recommendation from the second IWG meeting that a full-time Secretary would be required to fulfil the requirements of the revised statutes. It took note of the fact that WECAFC members could second staff to the WECAFC Secretariat to assist it to fulfil its functions. It was agreed that the next step was to submit the revised statutes to the next session of the FAO Council in March 2006. Once the Council had approved the statutes, the IWG would need to initiate the process to develop the Rules of Procedure for the WECAFC and begin to strengthen the WECAFC Working Groups and Scientific Advisory Group.
79. The Secretariat introduced the Draft Work Programme for 2006–07 by referring to Document WECAFC/XII/05/12. The Secretariat explained the process for arriving at the draft Work Programme, which took into consideration, inter alia , the strategy adopted by the Commission, the areas of priority identified by the Commission, the need for continuity and the potential for funding from extra budgetary sources. The strategy of the Commission is to operate through ad hoc working groups with clearly defined terms and reference, notwithstanding the possibility of carrying out additional complimentary activities.
80. In reviewing the proposed work programme for the 2006–07 biennium, the Commission was requested to note that the running costs for the WECAFC Secretariat was being met by the FAO Regular Programme Budget and to take into account the limited resources, human and financial, available to the Secretariat. Members of the Commission were invited to support, in-kind and/or financially, specific activities of the Work Programme, as was done by some Members in the last biennium. These offers could be used to mobilize additional support.
81. The Commission, in noting that the consultation on the Contribution of Small-scale Fisheries to Food security and Poverty Alleviation was not held in the last biennium, recommended that this activity be accorded high priority in the Commission's programme of work for the next biennium. The Commission also suggested that this activity should be combined with the proposed study on the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the development of coastal fishing communities and the contribution of this sector to the GDP and be included in the proposed work programme.
82. The representative of UNEP-CEP mentioned their interest in collaborating with WECAFC on the implementation of the proposed capacity building workshops on the monitoring and management of Queen conch and in the proposed assessment and management workshops on Caribbean spiny lobster fisheries.
83. The representative of UNEP-CEP informed the Commission that the Swedish SIDA pledged to support partnerships within the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) initiative in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) and that this support, US$1 million, was being coordinated by the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). This support will be distributed to selected partnerships that are strategically relevant to the Cartagena Convention and its protocols. Part of the funding will be available to the SPAW Programme through a project on management actions and capacity building for sustainable livelihoods within the coastal zone, with emphasis on the fishing communities in the Wider Caribbean region. A major part of the support will be directed towards sustainable fisheries, alternative livelihoods in and/or around fishing communities as a contribution towards the protection of coral reefs. The CEP would like to collaborate with WECAFC in identifying joint activities under this project that would support the implementation of the SPAW Protocol. The activities envisioned in this project would be developed further with the active participation of FAO/WECAFC and other relevant organizations. Potential linkages with the FAO/FIINPESCA project would also be explored.
84. The Commission accepted the suggestion by some delegates that CITES and the CRFM be included in Activity I, “Coordination and Liaison”, of the proposed work programme.
85. The Commission agreed to include the proposed meeting of the working group on FADs to prepare the project proposal on promoting subregional Cooperation in Developing Sustainable Moored Fish Attracting Device Fishing in the Lesser Antilles in the proposed work programme. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2006.
86. The delegate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines requested that his country be included in the ad hoc working group on Caribbean Spiny lobster.
87. The representative of IFREMER, French Guiana, offered to support the convening of the meeting of the working group on shrimp and groundfish resources in the Brazil-Guianas shelf and requested that this offer be included in the proposed work programme. He also proposed a working group on snapper involving Brazil, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Venezuela, which IFREMER would be convening and requested that this activity be included in the proposed work programme. This group plans to meet during the first half of 2007. The potential sources of funds would be extra-budgetary; they would come from a European Community programme to which IFREMER, the Regional Council of French Guiana and the European Community are contributing. The Venezuelan delegation expressed its satisfaction and offered support for IFREMER's initiative.
88. The Commission agreed that the existing intersessional working group (IWG) should be given the task of preparing the draft Rules of Procedure and that it should follow the same procedures it adopted during its first term. Thus, the IWG term of office would be extended. The IWG should initiate action on drafting the Rules of Procedures after the next session of the FAO Council, March 2006, would have approved the Draft Revised Statutes of WECAFC. The delegate from the US indicated that the US will look favourably towards providing support for the next meeting of the IWG soon after March 2006.
89. The Commission approved the draft Work Programme for 2006–07, Appendix G, with the abovementioned additions and amendments, and noted that the successful implementation of the work programme would depend on the availability of extra budgetary sources of funding.
90. The Delegate of Venezuela informed the Commission that they were organising the First Latin America and Caribbean Meeting on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, March 2006. He circulated a draft list of themes that would be discussed at the meeting and invited members of the Commission to attend. Formal invitations would be mailed shortly.
91. He requested FAO's advice and assistance in planning and organising this meeting and in the planned roundtable discussions. The Secretariat, in acknowledging this request, suggested that a formal proposal be made to FAO on the matter through the established communication channels.
92. One Member expressed concern regarding the effective participation of fisheries administrations in the GEF/IOCARIBE CLME project, to ensure that fisheries issues were adequately addressed, when the focal points of the project, GEF and IOCARIBE focal points, were mainly in ministries that do not have fisheries in their portfolio. The Commission noted that inter-institutional interaction at the national level was a prerequisite to ensure coordination and a unified national position on the matter. In this regard, fisheries administrations should take the initiative and be more proactive at the national level in ensuring that fisheries was given the prominence it deserves in the CLME project.
93. In accordance with Rule II-I of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, the following member states were elected for the next Session:
Chairperson: Colombia
Vice-Chairperson: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
94. The Commission noted the offer made by Colombia to host the Thirteenth Session of WECAFC in October 2007 as reflected in the report of the First Meeting of the IWG held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, July 2005. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the exact date will be determined by the Director-General in consultation with the Chairman of the Commission and the competent authorities of the host government.
95. The report was adopted on 28 October 2005.
