1. Article 4 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code) states that Members and non-Members of FAO, fishing entities and relevant sub-regional, regional and global organizations, whether governmental or non-governmental, and all persons concerned with the conservation, management and utilization of fisheries resources and trade in fish and fishery products should collaborate in the fulfilment and implementation of the objectives and principles contained in the Code¹.

2. In adopting the Code at its Twenty-eighth session in 1995, the FAO Conference called upon FAO:

 "to monitor and report on the implementation of the Code and its effects on fisheries, including action taken under other instruments and resolutions by UN organizations, and in particular, the resolution adopted by the General Assembly to give effect to the Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks leading to the 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".

The FAO Conference further called on States, international organizations, whether governmental or non-governmental, and all those involved in fisheries "to collaborate in the fulfillment and implementation of the objectives and principles contained in the Code" (FAO Conference Resolution 4/95).

3. At its Twenty-second Session, the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) agreed in paragraph 29 of the Session�s Report:

"that a progress report on implementation of the Code should be presented every two years which would include information on FAO activities, proposed guidelines to implement the Code and on inter-regional programmes, as well as application at national level. Members would provide information on national implementation using a questionnaire to be designed by the Secretariat."²

4. The Code was published in early 1996 by FAO in the official languages of the Organization and distributed widely. It was also made accessible, in electronic form on the FAO Fisheries Department Home Page on the INTERNET, thus facilitating further dissemination. In order to ensure that the Code be known by fishery users, processors and traders, FAO has also disseminated it through the FAO marketing services and its associated organizations. Additionally, the Fisheries Department has prepared a directory of fisheries organizations, including more than 3,800 mailing addresses, to which the Code has been distributed. It was also disseminated through the fishery industry press.

5. With regard to further promoting implementation of the Code, a circular letter accompanying the Code was sent to Governments and organizations in 1996. Relevant provisions were emphasized including the importance of publicizing the Code and making the public aware that, if properly applied, it could enhance the vital role of fisheries in world food security, and economic and social development.

6. Resolution 4/95 of the FAO Conference, recalling Article 5 of the Code, urges that special requirements of developing countries be taken into account in implementing its provisions. It also requests that FAO elaborate an inter-regional assistance programme for external assistance. FAO has thus elaborated and submitted to donors a programme consisting of ten components addressing the main areas of the Code. The Government of Norway has already agreed to support two of these areas (viz. assistance for upgrading capabilities in monitoring, control and surveillance and for improving the provision of scientific advice in support of fisheries management), and there is active interest from other donors, including the Netherlands which has expressed interest in supporting some of the remaining areas (viz. assistance in fisheries policy, planning and management and implementation of the Code through umbrella support to non-governmental organizations).

7. The Conference also requested FAO, in collaboration with Members and interested organizations, to elaborate, as appropriate, technical guidelines in support of the implementation of the Code. FAO has established a booklet series "Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries". Five sets of guidelines have already been published, and further guidelines in the series will be elaborated in the near future.

8. All FAO regional fisheries bodies have been requested to schedule an item on the Code on their respective agendas. Where this has been done it has resulted in various initiatives, including the organization of technical consultations, workshops and seminars at various levels with a view to strengthening regional cooperation and facilitating exchange of experiences, materials and expertise which could facilitate implementation of the Code at national, regional and sub-regional levels.

9. At the Tenth Session of the GFCM Committee on Fisheries Management, held in Rome from 17 to 20 June 1997, Spain, Italy, Algeria, Morocco, Malta, Japan, France and Egypt reported on their efforts to implement the Code. In this connection the Committee agreed that the formulation of a regional strategy for the implementation of the Code, together with the elaboration of regional guidelines, should be one of the priorities for GFCM. Further activities for implementing the Code were outlined by several members.³

10. In addition to the above initiatives to promote understanding about the Code and the need to implement it in support of long-term sustainable fisheries management, FAO staff routinely provide information concerning the various aspects of the Code to fisheries personnel in member countries while on country missions, at regional and international conferences, and in publications in professional journals. These activities are important vehicles for promulgating the Code both for policy makers and fisheries managers in member countries and the international community at large.

11. The following action, inter alia, has been initiated by GFCM members with respect to the promotion and implementation of the Code:

The Code has been translated and distributed in the Italian language;⁴

Morocco has signed a unilateral trust fund project with FAO to redesign its fisheries policy and management practices in line with the provisions of the Code.

A number of national and local meetings have been organized with researchers, fisheries and other segments of the industry to promote the Code.⁵

Spain is planning a conference on responsible trade for which the participation of GFCM members is welcomed.⁶

The Italian Government, through the General-Directorate for Fisheries, has expressed interest in financially assisting FAO in its efforts to implement the Code in the area of responsible aquaculture. Joint activities are expected to include, as a first step, the preparation of a meeting with the participation of all GFCM countries in mid-1998.⁷ The meeting will involve the participation of the private, academic and public sectors, as well NGOs concerned with sustainable aquaculture development. The meeting would consider how to (i) operationalize the principles of the Code relating to responsible aquaculture, and (ii) select those areas and activities that could form part of a regional project and which could be funded by Italy under trust funds arrangements.

For the 1998 meeting it would be necessary to prepare an inventory of the national and regional initiatives related to, or in support of, the Code in the field of aquaculture, including initiatives of the European Union, the Mediterranean Action Plan and GFCM. For national reporting it will be important to examine the legislative framework, including, inter alia, matters relating to environmental and consumer protection. These reports will be analyzed in a comparative way to identify priorities and activities which could suit a regional project. In turn, the meeting would try to arrive at a consensus on the specific needs of the Mediterranean aquaculture sector for the design of standard methodologies which could be adopted nationally to evaluate biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and social and economic impacts.

Italy is further preparing a proposal to fund three components of the FAO Interregional Programme of Assistance to Developing Countries for implementation of the Code relating to (i) monitoring, control and surveillance, (ii) responsible fishing operations and (iii) post-harvest practices and trade.⁸

12. Members of the Council are invited to report on national experiences in the promotion of the Code, to advise on other mechanisms and strategies that could be used to ensure its more effective implementation and to monitor its effects on fisheries, and to decide on the frequency of reporting to Council. In addition, Council members are urged to take appropriate steps, as a matter of priority, to accept the Compliance Agreement and the 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.

13. Members are also invited to comment, as appropriate, on the various initiatives proposed by members for the more effective implementation of the Code in the GFCM area.