1. The Eighth Session of the Commission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America was held at the Hotel Novotel in Belem do Pará, Brazil, from 11 to 14 August 1998, upon the kind invitation of the Government of Brazil.
2. Delegates from 13 Member Countries of COPESCAL and an observer from INFOPESCA attended. The List of Participants appears in Annex A.
3. The meeting was inaugurated by the Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Supplies of Brazil, Mr. Gabriel Calzavara de Araujo. He welcomed the participants on behalf of the Government of Brazil, mentioned the importance of inland fisheries and aquaculture and provided information on the recent institutional changes which the Government had undertaken to further assist the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. He expressed Brazil's interest in closely co-operating with the members of COPESCAL to develop aquaculture and take advantage of and protect the inland fisheries resources in the Region. The Secretary of COPESCAL, Mr. Andrés Mena Millar, thanked the Government of Brazil on behalf of the Director-General of FAO and the Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean for the warm welcome and excellent preparations undertaken to hold the Eighth Session of the Commission in Belém do Pará, and briefly referred to the objectives of the meeting and the main issues to be discussed during the event.
4. The meeting was chaired by the delegate of Bolivia, Dr. Edgardo Sanjinés Guillén, Director General of Land, Water and Fisheries. The Commission approved the Agenda which appears in Annex B of the report. The list of documents of the meeting appears in Annex C.
5. The Secretariat presented document COPESCAL/VII/98/3, which included a description of the measures adopted by FAO during the inter-sessional period, to implement the recommendations of the Seventh Session. Even though the Commission was affected by financial restrictions during this period, most of the activities recommended by the Seventh Session were carried out. Among the important activities were: two meetings of the Working Party on Aquaculture; meetings of the Working Parties on Fishery Technology and the Working Party on Fishery Resources; a technical consultation on nutrition and disease management in aquaculture; and a course on salmon and trout nutrition.
6. On introducing this item, reference was also made to document COPESCAL/98/Inf.8, which includes other activities related to the work of COPESCAL carried out by FAO during this period.
7. In the discussions following the presentation of this item, the delegates expressed their satisfaction with the work carried out by the Secretariat and provided information on the main changes that took place in their respective countries regarding the structure of the national agencies covering inland fisheries and/or aquaculture. Information was also provided on a series of events carried out in those countries of interest to the Commission.
8. Regarding the structural changes undergone recently in the countries, the following items were highlighted: the updating of laws and regulations affecting fisheries and aquaculture, transformations, and in various cases, the creation of new fishery and aquaculture agencies, such as institutes, divisions and departments with a higher decision-making capacity than the previous ones. Various delegates acknowledged FAO's technical support in the process of elaborating new laws and fishery and aquaculture regulations, as well as the technical assistance provided for the restructuring and operation of new agencies responsible for the management and development of fisheries and aquaculture.
9. The Commission recognized the need to continue reviewing and updating national legislation regarding the development of aquaculture, the utilization and conservation of fishery resources, and the protection of the environment. In this regard, it was recommended that FAO continue to provide legal assistance upon the request of interested countries.
10. The observer of INFOPESCA thanked the Secretariat for the invitation to participate in the meeting and expressed the willingness of his Organization to cooperate with COPESCAL in assisting the countries of the region in aspects related to marketing, quality control of fish products and in any other field of common interest to both Organizations.
11. The Secretariat requested the delegates to assist in the updating of the List of National Correspondents. The list appears in Annex D.
12. The Secretariat introduced the subject through the presentation of document COPESCAL/98/3 and made reference to documents COPESCAL/98/INF 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The scope and the attempt of Document COPESCAL/98/3 was to present the social and economic importance, the recent trends and the principal issues that concern the management and sustainable development of inland fisheries and aquaculture in the region. It was explained that the estimations presented were the result of a special effort in collecting and analysing the relatively scarce, available, reliable data in relation to the social and economic aspects of inland fisheries and aquaculture.
13. The increase in importance of inland fisheries and aquaculture in terms of their social and economic impact and the strengthening of their function in the economy and the society of the region was highlighted. In the case of inland fisheries, moderate growth trends experienced in the last decades have taken place in the context of an increasing pressure on demand, an increasing economic role of recreational fishing, localized increase in fishing effort leading to overfishing and the continued degradation of the environment in river basins. It was stressed that in the absence of the application of adequate management approaches in the short and medium term the sustainability of the sector could be compromised. Aquaculture growth has been stimulated by two principal export species, salmon and shrimp, while the majority of the production continues to be concentrated in a few countries. Future perspectives appear to confirm these trends, although there is an increase in the production of tilapia for exports, partly from semi-commercial production and a possible development at industrial scale of new culture for exports. This process of expansion of aquaculture has not been linear since it had to confront obstacles, especially environment and diseases.
14. The Commission considered the analysis and the conclusions presented in Document COPESCAL/98/93 reasonably reliable. It recommended that in future reports of the Commission the statistical information should be presented and analysed separately for inland fisheries and aquaculture.
15. The meeting agreed that it was a priority for the Member Countries to increase and improve their knowledge of the social and economic aspects of inland fisheries and aquaculture with the purpose of improving the technical soundness of the strategic planning processes, the elaboration of regulations and decision making.
16. The Commission discussed the existing relationships among macroeconomic policies, sectoral policies and management and sustainable development plans. In this regard the Commission was of the view that a better integration between macroeconomic and sectoral policies should be promoted through the available mechanisms and to facilitate this integration it was of extreme importance to count with an appropriate level of legal and institutional support. On the other hand, a greater integration at a policy level could substantially increase the possibilities of attracting budgetary financial support to implement management plans that take into account the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture.
17. The Commission agreed that the criteria for the management of river basins to address the productive and ecological aspects in an integrated manner should be promoted among member countries. In this regard, some delegates presented examples of the application of this approach. In most of the cases this approach requires the creation of a technical basis and legal and administrative mechanisms that must involve other productive sectors and pertinent institutions as well.
18. The Commission recognized the need to promote the formulation and implementation of management schemes that favour the decentralization of the decision-making capacity on fisheries management and the transfer of relevant resources to the respective local administrations. It was also recommended that, whenever feasible, adequate rights on the exploitation of fisheries resources should be assigned to the fishermen or their communities. In this regard, the efforts of the fishermen to organize themselves and to improve the obtainment of benefits derived from their activities, should be supported.
19. The Commission evaluated the recent development in recreational fisheries in relation to commercial inland fisheries taking into account the social, economic and environmental context. The Commission recommended management approaches leading to the harmonization of commercial and recreational fishery activities paying attention to the optimization of social benefits and food security. It was also recommended to study the possibility of formulating a regional project supporting the development and management of sport fisheries.
20. The increasing economic importance of the trade of ornamental fish was brought to the attention of the Commission. In this regard, it was recommended that the concept of ornamental species should be defined in order to facilitate the identification of the species included in this category. The need to take into account the possible sanitary implications of trade in these species by the countries involved was emphasized.
21. Various delegates reported on what they considered to be non-tariff barriers of various types to trade in fish products with the objective of hindering the marketing of certain fishery products, affecting the export in their countries in the case of aquaculture. In relation to this subject one delegation reported on the work regarding the formulation of legislation in relation to the use of genetic aquaculture resources and organisms genetically manipulated in aquaculture. The delegate mentioned the implications contained in this regard in the Bio-Security Protocol to be signed by the Group of 77 and recommended the in-depth analysis of the corresponding text by Member Countries.
22. The Commission highlighted the importance of promoting the establishment of quality assurance systems in member countries taking into consideration the current import norms established by Canada, USA and the European Union, and the possible economic and especially social impact that their enforcement could have on inland fisheries and small scale aquaculture of the region.
23. The subject of rural aquaculture received special attention by the participants. It was proposed that one should speak of “small scale aquaculture” in order to avoid the confusion that the term “rural aquaculture” creates given its actual geographic connotation in contrast with its historical significance. The concept of small scale aquaculture although it could eventually include the so-called subsistence aquaculture also promotes the development of small scale aquaculture of social orientation through a micro-entrepreneurial approach with profitability objectives. Several delegates emphasized the need to give this category of aquaculture the importance it deserves and to increase the discussion of strategies for its development in the Region.
24. The above document, COPESCAL/98/4, was presented. The discussion of this agenda item was summarized in terms of implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) at national and international levels.
Implementation of the CCRF at National Levels
25. There is a strong political will to implement the CCRF as shown by the commitment to it made by the Ministers of Agriculture of Latin America and the Caribbean during the XXV FAO Regional Conference held in Bahamas in June 1998. The CCRF has been well received among the countries of the Region and its implementation is progressing well among many of the COPESCAL countries. The CCRF has been found to be very useful in order to strengthen existing legislation on the environment and to reinforce existing management regulations.
26. Regarding participation, the following needs were emphasized:
to ensure that all stakeholders are included in the implementation process
capacity building in order to enable fully effective participation
consultation among stakeholders and sharing of responsibilities for the wise exploitation of fishery resources
to provide assistance to fishery administrations and fishermen associations.
27. Given that the most serious threat to inland fisheries and aquaculture is degradation of the environment and that environmental degradation already is limiting the development of aquaculture in some places, a serious impediment to implementation of the CCRF at national levels is the lack of co-operation between institutions responsible for the environment and those responsible for inland fisheries and aquaculture. Therefore, COPESCAL strongly recommends that Governments take steps to improve institutional co-operation in order to achieve an environment that will sustain inland fisheries and foster further development of aquaculture.
28. Most of the species cultured in the region are exotic. Transfers of native species are common. Introductions and transfers may be accompanied by disease transmission between introduced and native species. More broadly, disease-affected native fishes can infect introduced species. Therefore, attention has to be given in dealing with introductions, transfers and disease transmission in the implementation of the CCRF.
Implementation of the CCRF at International Levels
29. Fundamental to sustaining inland fisheries and for the further development of aquaculture is good quality water in good quantity. For many countries water quality and water quantity depend on neighbouring upstream countries with whom they share large drainage basins. Additionally, migratory fish may inhabit different countries at different stages of their life cycles and the fishing pressure placed on them as well as the quality of the environment in one neighbouring country affects the fishery potential in the other neighbouring ones.
30. Technical capabilities to define catchments and to assess kinds and quantities of environmental degradation associated with them are well advanced. For these reasons, implementation of the CCRF on a regional basis, is in the context of a drainage basin framework, a logical approach. For some countries there are existing conventions through which the CCRF can be jointly implemented; however, administrative frameworks may be lacking for others. In this case, COPESCAL can serve as a forum from which to plan for and to execute international management of fisheries and aquaculture.
31. There is a general perception that implementation of the CCRF at international levels in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, particularly those cases related to shared drainage basins, is lagging behind implementation at national levels. Further development of aquaculture in so far as international trade in cultured organisms is concerned may be dependent on co-ordinated implementation of the CCRF, among neighbouring or “regional” countries. For these reasons COPESCAL strongly urges Member Countries to facilitate and to expedite international implementation of the CCRF using a drainage basin framework wherever relevant.
32. Countries need to have timely information on the implementation of the CCRF by neighbouring countries for a variety of reasons. Therefore, easily accessible reports on the status of implementation country by country are recommended to FAO. Conscious of the difficulties confronted by the countries in the implementation of the CCRF, FAO has formulated a strategy which goes beyond the dissemination of information on the Code and the surveys on the problems encountered when trying to apply it. An Inter-Regional Programme has been established to raise extra budgetary funds to assist developing countries in the implementation of the Code. The strategy includes capacity building, workshops and seminars. COPESCAL, based on its comparative advantages in the Region, can play an important role in this implementation process.
33. The Commission noted with satisfaction the CCRF implementation award named in honour of the late Dr. Margarita Lizárraga.
34. On introducing this item, the Secretariat pointed out that the 22nd. Session of the FAO Fisheries Committee, March 1997, agreed that FAO regional fishery bodies should be reviewed and evaluated in-depth by members, on a case by case basis, taking full account of regional and membership differences in determining what measures should be taken to facilitate the adequate strengthening of each body, as appropriate.
35. The Secretariat also recalled that the 29th. Session of the FAO Conference, November 1997, recommended that the Commission should abolish the subsidiary bodies of COPESCAL: the Working Party on Fishery Resources; the Working Party on Fishery Technology and the Working Party on Aquaculture, unless the Commission considered, taking into account the financial and programme implications, that there were over-riding reasons to retain any or all of the subsidiary bodies. The Commission should report to the FAO Council through the appropriate channels regarding the measures adopted.
36. It was pointed out, that in its recommendation, directed to all FAO statutory bodies, the Conference was guided by the need to enhance the efficiency of the Organization and its governance to ensure more flexible working procedures, to achieve increased self-financing for bodies with a regional focus such as COPESCAL, and to increase the capacity of these bodies to cover the needs of its members.
37. The following options to strengthen the effectiveness of COPESCAL, were proposed by the Secretariat:
Maintain the “status quo” of the Commission under Article VI of the FAO Constitution.
Recommend that the Commission be elevated to Article XIV of the FAO Constitution.
Recommend that the Commission be established as an independent body outside the framework of FAO.
38. During the review and evaluation of COPESCAL's work, the meeting considered that the Commission had played an important role as a communication mechanism among scientists and experts of the region, as a tool to make the governments aware of the importance of inland fisheries and aquaculture, to carry out analysis and dissemination of technical and scientific information at the regional level, to provide training of technical personnel and give technical advice and transfer of technology among countries of the region.
39. After an in-depth discussion on the different options to strengthen the role of the Commission, the meeting concluded that COPESCAL should continue operating under Article VI of the FAO Constitution, in that the conditions do not exist in the region for establishing in its place an independent body outside the framework of FAO. With regard to the option of elevating the Commission to Article XIV of the FAO Constitution, it was considered that, in view of the enormous variety of aquatic ecosystems, the great biological diversity of the region and the fact that the majority of the fishery resources are not of interest to all the members, one could not justify the adoption of this alternative.
40. The discussion of the recommendation of the FAO Conference to abolish the subsidiary bodies of COPESCAL created a lengthy debate. Opinions were divided among the delegations in that some considered that the working parties should be maintained and others supported the recommendation of the FAO Conference. However, all the delegations agreed that the COPESCAL's working parties had carried out an important role in the promotion of research, the management of inland fishery resources, the development of aquaculture, and the improvement of fishery technology and marketing of fish products. Nevertheless, due to the lack of a clear and secure source of funds, apart from FAO's Regular Programme, and the need to count with mechanisms which would allow using the available resources more effectively and with more flexibility, the majority of the delegates recommended the abolition of the Working Parties on Fishery Resources, Aquaculture and Fishery Technology.
41. The Commission recognized that FAO support was vital for the management of inland fishery resources, the development of aquaculture, the improvement of fishery technology, quality assurance of fish products and marketing of these products in the region, in which COPESCAL has played an important role. Therefore, the abolition of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission should be replaced by a cooperation mechanism which would enable a more efficient and flexible use of the available financial and human resources.
42. In substitution of the working parties, the Commission recommended the following measures:
The delegates should take steps with their governments and civil society in their respective countries to obtain a serious commitment regarding both financial and in kind support, to complement the resources assigned by FAO to carry out the activities of the Commission.
Request FAO to maintain the same level of budget allocated for the work of COPESCAL.
Identify activities of common interest to the members of the Commission and elaborate a programme of priority activities for the inter-sessional period with clear objectives, expected outcomes, deadlines, and persons responsible for their execution.
Maintain through FAO the services of the thematic technical secretaries according to the Terms of Reference of its Technical Officers.
Nominate coordinators of subject matters or activities, who, with the support of the FAO Officers and the National Correspondents, would promote the development of the activities or the subject matters at the regional level.
43. The tasks of the activity/issue coordinators would consist of preparing a list of persons from public and private institutions working on the issue by forming a subject matter network: identification of joint activities, such as studies, projects, exchange of technologies and technical meetings related to the activity and assistance in the identification of available funds in the countries to support the tasks of the network.
44. FAO and the member countries were recommended to make full use of cooperation mechanisms and available funds, such as the Programme of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, regional projects, funds from external agencies, and both human and in kind resources available in the countries to support the activities of the thematic networks.
45. Due to the importance reached in aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean and the role of COPESCAL in the promotion of its development, the meeting recommended that the Statutes and Title of the Commission be examined, in order to give aquaculture a more explicit scope. In addition, taking into account that various countries of the Caribbean are members of COPESCAL, it recommended that when reviewing its Title, this sub-region be included. The new Title of COPESCAL could be: “Commission for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture of Latin America and the Caribbean”.
46. The Commission recommended that the report of COPESCAL be also submitted to the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to make the activities of the Commission known directly by the Conference, to obtain guidelines for its work, and promote more support from Member Governments.
Programme of Work for the Inter-sessional Period
47. The meeting identified a series of activities of common interest and recommended that the National Correspondents consult the respective institutions in their countries and within one month send a proposal of activities to the Secretariat of the Commission to be considered within the programme of work for the inter-sessional period. The following activities were identified to begin the preparation of the programme of work for the inter-sessional period:
Hold a Workshop on the marketing of inland fishery products and aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean and invite the Secretariat of MERCOSUR and INFOPESCA to cooperate in its organization.
Carry out a study on the management of shared catfish resources in the Amazon basin. This study should lead to the formulation of a regional cooperation project.
Carry out a study on the genetic improvement of tilapia. The delegate from Costa Rica offered one of his aquaculture centres to eventually create a bank of tilapia genetics. He also offered to take steps to obtain partial financial support.
In view of the need to pay attention to the problems related with aquaculture sanitation, the delegates from Cuba, Chile and Mexico offered their means to promote a training programme and technical assistance directed to the members of COPESCAL.
Hold a regional workshop on aquaculture in small reservoirs. The corresponding network has already identified the Metropolitan University of Mexico as the venue for this event, which will be held before the end of 1998.
Hold a regional workshop on rural aquaculture. The Catholic University of Temuco, Chile, has offered to host the meeting during the first semester of 1999 in cooperation with the corresponding network.
Hold a workshop on the reactivation of the Information System on Aquaculture for Latin America and the Caribbean (SIPAL). The meeting will be held during the first half of 1999, tentatively in a country in Central America, with the participation of the main projects dealing with aquaculture in the region.
48. The Session was informed that the Environmental Unit of the World Bank (Sector Management Unit, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development) is moving towards conserving the aquatic biodiversity of the Amazon Basin. In doing so, the Bank realizes that a key component of its strategy has to be the development of a sustainable approach to the enormous fishery potential of the Basin.
49. An early step in this direction has been a review of fisheries management and aquatic biodiversity carried out by the FAO-World Bank Cooperative Programme and the FAO Fisheries Department on behalf of the Bank, the summary of which was distributed to the delegations.
50. Management of the valuable, long-distance migrating catfish, the piramutaba and the dorada, is left largely open. Most certainly, management of fisheries will be a part of any upcoming World Bank-sponsored project.
51. The Commission, recognizing the enormous importance of the World Bank initiative, the relevance of the initiative to one of the main themes of COPESCAL, namely international management of fisheries in river basins, notes its satisfaction with the initiative and expressed its desire to participate actively.
52. With regard to active participation, and in order to expedite the World Bank project formulation process, COPESCAL will take steps to organize a workshop on International Management of the Shared Catfish Resources of the Amazon Basin. The objectives of the workshop will be to identify management goals that are common to all basin countries and to define the steps that have to be taken nationally and internationally in order to achieve the management goals. The workshop will be carried out in the context of the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
53. The delegate of Chile offered to help disseminate information of interest to the members of COPESCAL. In this regard, the Commission recommended that national correspondents send him information to be distributed in the region.
54. The observer of INFOPESCA gave information on the forthcoming issue of INFOPESCA International, a new publication specialized in the dissemination of information on fishery products in Latin America and the Caribbean.
55. The Commission unanimously elected the Republic of Brazil as Chairman. It elected the Republic of El Salvador as first Vice-Chairman and the Republics of Chile and Mexico as second Vice-Chairmen, respectively.
56. The Commission recommended that the dates for the Ninth Session be fixed by the Director-General of FAO, in consultation with the Chairman. The delegate from El Salvador proposed his country as the host for this session, subject to the official ratification of his Government. The delegates from Cuba and Costa Rica also proposed their countries as alternative hosts for the Ninth Session, subject also to official ratification.
57. The Commission adopted this report on 14 August 1998.
