Transcript FINAL REPORT MEDITERRANEAN DOLPHINFISH FISHERY

COPEMED CONTRIBUTION
TO INTERNATIONAL
FISHERY COOPERATION IN
THE WESTERN
MEDITERRANEAN
By Rafael Robles,
COPEMED Project Director
Long-term objective
To achieve a more rational management of resources of
common interest by reinforcing countries´ capacities to
sustainably manage their fishing activities, particularly
in the developing countries involved
In order to achieve the long and short-term objectives,
all fisheries management policies should involve both the
ADMINISTRATION and the INDUSTRY
First question to be posed to the Forum’s audience :
ARE THE OBJECTIVES PURSUED BY BOTH ACTORS
REALLY SHARED OBJECTIVES?
We would like to ask both stakeholders to
prepare a joint document on this, concentrating
on the short-term objectives
To reach these common objectives, REGULATION AND
MANAGEMENT MEASURES should be established.
WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE HAS REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT:
 the mechanical and restrictive application of
technical management measures has not been
sufficient (not even important and quite expensive
control measures)
 the implementation of general measures has failed
because the specificity of each zone and each fishery
has not been considered
NOVEL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES,
WHICH INCLUDE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE FISHING
INDUSTRY, are needed
based on positive and constructive aspects and with a
multidisciplinary approach
 specifically adapted to Mediterranean fisheries. As
a semi-enclosed and small sea, the Mediterranean can
only be managed through well organised international
cooperation
 less directed only towards the reduction of activity,
ignoring other alternatives
In addition to the steady adaptation of fishing structures
to the state of resources, SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES
of international cooperation should include:
 Better scientific knowledge of fisheries of common
interest
 Proper functioning of the flow of information in the
region -implementation and maintenance of common
databases,…
 Gradual harmonisation of international fisheries
regulations of common interest
 Improvement of communication and concertation among
the different actors of the fishing system in order to set
up shared co-management strategies among stakeholders
 Fostering GFCM’s real capacity as RFO responsible for
COPEMED has tried to achieve these short-term objectives
with the following EXPECTED RESULTS
systematic compilation of basic statistical data,
fishery by fishery, and its distribution by Operational
Units, for an effective control of fishing effort
 reinforcement of the research system as a whole
(biology, oceanography, ecology, economics, sociology)
 standardization of the most appropriate methodologies
for the analysis and assessment of fishery resources
 updating of national fisheries statistical systems
 comparative analysis of fisheries regulations
 improvement of building capacities of different actors
through specific and on-the-job TRAINING activities
 implementation of regional dialogue Fora among actors
INPUTS needed to develop the appropriate ACTIVITIES to
get such results, should be provided by
 the COUNTRIES (human resources, laboratory equipment,
research organisation and planning, not in all cases, …)
 with the support of FAO REGIONAL PROJECTS through
COPEMED (adequate means for fostering research planning
and development -sampling network, common databases,
adequate training, GIS application, international cooperation,
fisheries regulation comparative analysis, organisation of
scientific meetings and Fora, etc.)
As these regional projects are not going to be permanent,
COUNTRIES must ensure the sustainable maintenance of
the priority activities already developed. To facilitate this
goal, national COPEMED sub-projects have been set up in the
countries during this last phase
CURRENT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IS
DEMONSTRATING THAT:
the implementation of present FAO type
REGIONAL PROJECTS, is the BEST WAY
to achieve the expected results needed to
attain the objectives for regional cooperation
here presented.
Accordingly, we request EC DG Fish to take
into account the convenience of ensuring
the continuation of these type of regional
projects for the future