24. The Secretariat provided a brief overview of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its related guidelines and noted that all the major issues relating to fisheries were covered by the Code. These included fisheries management, fishing operations, fisheries research, the precautionary approach to fisheries management and the integration of fisheries in coastal area management. Aspects of the Code that were pertinent to the subregion and to the objectives of the Conference, such as regional cooperation, regional fishery bodies, research, data gathering, the precautionary approach, management measures and flag and port state duties, were highlighted.
25. A lively debate followed the presentation, especially on the precautionary approach, research, data and information gathering and sharing, and regional cooperation for sustainable fisheries production in the Brazil-Guianas Shelf. Participants identified with the aspects of the Code that were considered necessary for deriving sustainable benefits from the fisheries in the subregion and supported their implementation.
26. During the debate several participants emphasized the main roles of the interested parties attending the meeting in ensuring sustainability of the fisheries of the subregion. Governments overall and ultimate responsibility was to ensure fisheries sustainability. Technicians and managers (the Ad Hoc Working Group) had the responsibility of assisting governments in complying with their obligations through the provision of the best available scientific evidence. The fishing industry (interested parties) should contribute and assist in ensuring sustainability by conducting responsible fishing practices as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its related guidelines thus yielding sustained optimum economic and social benefits over time.
27. It was pointed out that even though the respective roles of the interested parties have a common goal, their specific objectives might be different and sometimes conflicting. The meeting agreed that these different objectives should be taken into account in defining national and subregional management approaches and measures.
