About WECAFC Structure
The general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission.
The main governing body of WECAFC is the Commission. It is composed of all members. Meetings of the Commission are normally held every two years.
As decided by the 17th meeting of WECAFC, a roadmap to move towards the development of a regional fisheries management entity or arrangement in WECAFC’s area of competence is being implemented .
Area of competence
The area of competence is the Western Central Atlantic, it includes FAO Statistical Area 31 and the northern part of Statistical Area 41.
Launch the RFBs map viewerSpecies and stock coverage
The species under the WECAFC competence are all living marine resources, without prejudice to the management responsibilities and authority of other competent fisheries and other living marine resources management organizations or arrangements in the area.
Legal framework
The WECAFC was established in 1973 by Resolution 4/61 of the FAO Council under Article VI of the FAO Constitution. Its statutes were amended by the FAO Council at its Seventy-fourth Session in December 1978 and by the Hundred and Thirty-first Session of the FAO Council in November 2006.
Members
- Members of WECAFC are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, European Union, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Boliv Rep of Venezuela.
15 of WECAFC’s 34 members are considered Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and 27 are Developing Countries.