FAO Fisheries Report No. 452 FIPL/R452 (En)

Report of the seventh session of the

WESTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC FISHERY COMMISSION

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 8-14 November 1990

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

1?AO Fisheries Report No. 452 FIPL/R452(En)

REPORT OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE

WESTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC FISHERY COMMISSION

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

8-14 November 1990

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Rome, 1991

The designations employed and the presentation of material in thispublication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever onthe part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city orarea or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiersor boundaries.

M-43ISBN 92-5-103070-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani-cal, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of thereproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Publications Division, Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,00100 Rome, Italy.

© FAO 1991

PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

This is the final report approved by the Seventh Session ofthe Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC).

Distribution

Participants to the SessionMembers of the CommissionNational Correspondents of

the CommissionWECAFC SelectorOther interested Nations and

International OrganizationsFAO Fisheries DepartmentFAO Regional Fisheries OfficersFAO Representatives in membercountries of the Commission

FAOReport of the seventh session of the WesternCentral Atlantic Fishery Commission.Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,8-14 November 1990.

FAO Fisheries Report. No. 452. Rome, FAO.1991. 47p.

ABSTRACT

This document is the final version of thereport of the Seventh Session of the WesternCentral Atlantic Fishery Commission WECAFCheld in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, from 8 to 14 November 1990. Majortopics discussed during the session were: (a)

socio-economic implications of fisheriesmanagement in the WECAFC region, (b)

implementation of the strategy and programmesof action of FAO World Conference on FisheriesManagement and Development, (c) fisheryresources and fishery economic and planningissues in the WECAFC region, (d) managementand development of fisheries in the LesserAntilles region and (e) inspection and qualityassurance of fishery products in the region.A list of the main recommendations of theSession is included in Appendix F.

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CONTENTS

Paragraphs

INTRODUCTION 1-2

OPENING OF THE SESSION 3-8

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THESESSION 9

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENTIN THE WECAFC REGION 10-30

INTER-SESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS ONRECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SIXTH SESSION 31-35

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESTRATEGY AND THE PROGRAMMES OF ACTION OF THE FAOWORLD CONFERENCE ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ANDDEVELOPMENT 36-42

RECOMMENDATIONS OF WECAFC SUBSIDIARY BODIES 43-95

Fourth Session of the Committee for theDevelopment and Management of Fisheries inthe Lesser Antilles

Sixth Session of the Working Party onAssessment of Marine Fishery 1:esources

First Session of the Working Party onFishery Economics and Planning

INSPECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE OF FISHERY PRODUCTSIN THE WECAFC REGION

COOPERATION WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INTHE WECAFC REGION

43-54

55-83

84-95

96-109

110-116

ANY OTHER MATTERS 117-127

ELECTION OF OFFICERS 128

DATE AND PLACE OF THE EIGHTH SESSION- 129

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT 130

CLOSURE OF THE SESSION 131-132

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Page

APPENDIX A Agenda 25

List of Documents 26

C List of Participants 27

Text of address by the Right Honourable 34J.F. Mitchell

Evaluation and Joint Management of oneor more Stocks of Interest to Two or MoreCoastal States 39

F Main Decisions and Recommendations forAction of the Seventh Session of theWestern Central Atlantic Fishery Commission 41

INTRODUCTION

The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission held itsSeventh Session from 8 to 14 November 1990 at the JayceesConvention Centre, Kingstown, at the kind invitation of theGovernment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was attendedby 21 member countries of the Commission and by observers fromCanada, the Organization of American States COAS), theOrganization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the CaribbeanCommunity (CARICOM).

The list of participants is given in Appendix C.

OPENING OF THE SESSION

The Opening Session was chaired by Mr. Kerwyn Morris, ChiefFisheries Officer, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines who, in hisopening remarks stressed the need for regional cooperationthrough the Commission.

Dr. Armin Lindquist, Assistant Director-General, FisheriesDepartment of FAO, addressed the Session on behalf of theDirector-General, Mr. Edouard Saouma. He warmly thanked theGovernment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for its generoushospitality in hosting this Session and the Fourth Session of theWECAFC Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheriesin the Lesser Antilles and for the excellent facilities andarrangements made available to these Sessions. He noted thatWECAFC and the Lesser Antilles Committee were meeting for thefirst time in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and said that itwas important to remember that both developed and developingcountries were members of WECAFC, which gave an additionaldimension to the process of mutual understanding and regionalcooperation. In giving a brief overview of the fisheriessituation in the region he mentioned FAO's work in the region.

In outlining the main functions and objectives of theregional fishery bodies Dr. Lindquist referred in particular tothe Workshop on the socio-economic aspects of small-scalefisheries which was held during the Lesser Antilles Committee'sSession and the topics to be discussed and reviewed by theCommission. Since the establishment of the Working Party onFishery Economics and Planning, the economic and social aspectsof fisheries in the region have gained momentum. With respect tofisheries management and development he noted that the Strategyand the Programmes of Action adopted by the 1984 FAO WorldConference on Fisheries Management and Development continued tobe valid.

The opening session was also addressed by the Minister oAgriculture, Trade and Industry, the Hon. Allan Cruickshank, whowelcomed the participants to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.He noted that most of the problems associated with the managementand the development of the fishery sector was similar and

1

2

highlighted the need to work together for the proper managementof the world's fishery resources for the benefit of futucegenerations.

The session was officially opened by the Prime Minister,the Rt. Hon. Mr, J.F. Mitchell, who welcomed the participantsand observed that the Commission was meeting at a time when therewas a new climate of understanding of the need to protect andconserve life in the oceans and seas so that they might sustainhuman development. He briefly described recent developments inthe fishery in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and commented onthe decision to abolish price controls on fish, stating thatsupply and demand should regulate price. He called on theMeeting to refine and define new policy directions for marineresources utilization that would ensure proper living standardson a continuing basis.

The complete text of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister's speechis attached as Appendix D to this report.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SESSION

The Commission adopted the provisional agenda WECAFC/90/1,without Item 9 which was deleted because it was consideredredundant, since future activities of the Commission would resultfrom recommendations to be taken on other Agenda items during thecurrent session. The adopted Agenda is attached as Appendix A.The documents presented to the Commission are listed inAppendix B.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE WECAFCREGION

Introduction

Under this agenda item, and as a follow-up to therecommendation of the First Session of the WECAFC Working Partyon Fishery Economics and Planning held in Grenada from 22 to 26May 1989 a Workshop on the Socio-economic implications ofFisheries Management in the WECAFC Region was held on 8 and 9November 1990.

The main objective of the Workshop was to review the stateof fisheries management and identify and discuss the social andeconomic implications of successes and failures of the managementof economically important fisheries in the region.

The Technical Secretary of the Workshop introduced documentWECAFC/90/2 which summarized the main causes and consequences ofexcessive fishing effort in most countries of the region, theexisting fisheries management institutional structure, the mainfishery regulations used and the need for regional andinternational cooperation in fisheries management.

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13, The participants presented an assessment of fisherlesmanagement in their respective countries, They briefly describedthe main characteristics of the fishing sector, mentioningmost commonly used measures for fishery regulations, snchcontrol of fishing effort and closed seasons. The effectivenessof these measures was considered very poor, mainly because eflack of enforcement in most countries.

Although the situation regarding fisheries mansymeli7.varied considerably from country to country, a series of :Lssnesconstraining the effective implementation of fisheries manageeneurorj,:ammes in most countries was mentioned. Among 'che mose

of t the fol 1. owing COEUR OP constraintF,mentioned:

- Lack of data needed for drawing up management measuresand lack of trained fishery staff specifically forfisheries management. These constraints mainly affectedths small Caribbean States.

Lack of means and funds for fishery surveillance andenforcement.

Lack of effective mechanisms enabling the activeparticipation of fishermen in the formulation ofmanagement measures and often their reluctance tocooperate in the implementation and the accomplishmentof management measures.

Serious difficulties in avoiding conflicts betweensmall-scale and industrial fishermen in the use ofcoastal fishing resources, due to the lack ofdelimitation of access and access rights and also to thelack of effective enforcement.

Tbe Workshop recognized that the traditional approach wasnot enough to deal with the complexity of issues presentlyaffecting the management of Eishery resources. In this regard,the need for including environmental issues in the fisherymanagement plans was highlighted. Social and economic studieswere considered as an important tool in the formulation andassessment of ftshery management plans.

Institutional framework for fisheries management

The Workshop stressed that as a prerequisite for rationaluse of fishery resources an appropriate institutional frameworkwould be needed. The legal aspects and institutional structurewere important components of this framework.

The institutional structures for fisheries management in.Je region varied from fishery management divisions belonging toministries of fisheries, to small fisheries management unitswithin the ministry of sgriculture.

13. Although fisheries management was generally based onfishery statistical services, planning, legal services, domesticand foreign trade, environmental protection, scientific research,social and economic assessment and enforcement, most fisheryadministrations were provided with only some of these services.However, basic scientific research, social and economicassessment of management measures and enforcement were consideredessential for effective management.

The organization of fishermen into groups and promotingtheir participation in the formulation and implementation ofmanagement measures, were also considered an important element ofthe institutional framework for fisheries management.

In many countries pollution, environmental degradation,sometimes conflicting uses of marine space and resources wereaffecting fishery production and the ecosystems on which thisproduction depended. There were very few cases in whichfisheries administrations have an input into the decisions thatresult in environmental degradation. In this regard, the needfor the fishery management units to participate in the decisionmaking process with regard to coastal development was stressed.

The need for good communication among all the elements ofthe fisheries administration was highlighted. The lack of suchgood coordination often affects the achievements and results infailures of the fisheries management unit.

Main Economic and Social Causes and Consequences of Successes/Failures in the Management of Important Fisheries in the Region

Free and open-access to fishery resources was considered asthe main cause of economic loss and conflict in the fisherysector. New fishermen were continually entering the fishery,even though fishing effort in many areas was being consideredwell beyond the optimum level. The economic consequences ofexcess fishing effort included resource depletion, reduction ofcatch, low income to fishermen and low return on investment.From the social point of view, excessive fishing effort, due tolack of management, provoked conflicts among fishermen, changesin species composition and sometimes a decrease in food supply,and reduced incomes and standard of living for the majority offishermen,

It was observed that in most countries of ne region,fishing for shrimp, lobster, conch and reef fish were subject toover exploitation with negative economic and social consequences.

24, Only one delegate reported on the case of a lobsterfishery, which after the implementation of an integratedmanagement programme, the stocks were successfully restored.

25. The Workshop recognized wide differences in managementmeasures applied with respect to closed seasons, minimum size

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limits (length and weight), etc. for lobsters, even ; the sub-regional level. In this respect, it was recomme:ided thatinformation could be shared and discussions held Oe suitabeapproaches to the problem, recognizing the economic ailo

biological benefits of harmonization of management measures.

Recommendations on the need for regional fishery cooperation

The need for strengthening regional cooperation amongmember countries of WECAFC was widely supported. Cooperationcould be strengthened through the exchange of information onfishery management issues and assisting each other in training ofstaff responsible for fishery management. The participantsrequested the Secretariat to prepare and distribute material onfishery management experiences in the countries and to continuepromoting studies on the social and economic implications offishery management.

Specific reference was made to the increased fishing efforton large migratory pelagic species which were exploited by mostcountries. In this regard, the exchange of scientificinformation among countries of the region was recommended as aninitial step towards the goal of preparing management plans forthose species.

The value of cooperative efforts at the sub-regional levelas demonstrated by the cooperative studies towards management ofshrimp resources in the Guyana-Brazil shelf was stressed. TheWorkshop recommended to continue the holding of sub-regionalWorkshops and seminars on the management of commonly exploitedstocks in this and in other appropriate areas. FAO was requestedto provide technical assistance in the holding of these kinds ofcooperative activities.

Great concern was expressed over the decreased abundance offish in coral reef ecosystems. These resources were beingexploited in most countries of the region without appropriatemanagement measures, which was leading to a continued depletionof the stocks. The destruction of coral reef in many places wasalso reported. The Workshop unanimously recognized theoutstanding value of coral reefs for fisheries and for otherpurposes, particularly for the island States tourist industries,

Due to the noticeable depletion of the reef fish stocks andthe apparent destruction of the coral reef and mangroveecosystems in many places in the region, the Workshop recognizedthe need for cooperation among the international, regional andnational agencies involved in the management and development ofthe coastal zone, especially between the small island States. Inview of the social and economic importance of the fishery sectorit should be accorded the priority it deserved.

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).NTER-SESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS ONRECOKKENDATIONS OF THE SIXTH SESSION

The Secretariat reviewed the inter-sessional activitiesundertaken by FAO in response to the c-__leions andrecommendations of the Sixth Session, which are cescribed indocuments WECAFC/90/3, WECAFC/90/Inf.3 and WECAFC/90/Inf.4

The delegation of France called the attention of theCommission to the advantage of continued study at the sub-regional level of commonly used fishery resources. He mentionedthe Second Workshop on the Biological and Economical ModelJing ofthe Shrimp Resources of the Guyana-Brazil Shelf (Cayenne, FrenchGuiana, May 1938) and suggested to the Secretariat that a sulDegroup of the WECAFC Working Party on Assessment of Marine FisheryResources should be established to deal with the assessment ofthe shrimp resources. The sub-group could then prepare andsuggest management measures aimed at better utilization of theseresources. This proposal was supported by the delegates fromGuyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Thedelegate from Venezuela expressed the interest of his country inparticipating in the sub-group.

With respect to the next meting of the Workshop or 'ts.e

sub-group mentioned in paragraph 32, the delegate of SurL,awainformed the Commission that Surinee will study the feasibility

nosting it in 1991.

The delegate of Venezuela expressed the interest of hiscountry in participating in the study and review of the situEtioof the shrimp resources of the Guvana-Brazil shelf, and offerdto share information on the shrimp fisheries carried out byVenezuela off its eastern co=t.

Several delegations ssed support for theamDroach in the study and discmssion i)f maylagew.n f,D7.cmahlouly used fishery resc,uce2. Secrtar1,7Ccructc eucotu:a(4e thewciiiza loo of (fjyc.

ul:ovide techhicai t1)7,.d,

!.. nocREss REPORT ON THE 31.177TION OF ThE STRATEGY AND rcw.PTZOGRAMMES OF ACTTON. OF ThE Y::DRLD CONFERENCE ON FISORII:

DEVELOPMENT

36. A progress reoort prepared L)y the Ser.7.-cetriat W:'discussed. The FAO Wcw1(1 Fishezias ,:.!nnL-evencte TAas held in 1S)i3i.;7)d th'.-? Strategy endorsed on that ocz;sion is t,:-.:fieed ew:):2fc-hrh vcaar. The first J.:ievi Look place in l3? a,Ad Lh,,, Ile;:'

vielli )1E; due .F.cir the Eighteenth Session of tile Comilli 1.e oo7istieres (COFI) to Le held in April 1991. Th.,,2 Oior-Gt,lheL;:lio;f. .0q0 has tbererore sought the collabor.:-Ition ol: 9ove.rnments a;10.concerned organizations in the preparation co-: ;i.e 1.)ogies3 -epi-:, ,:t

OA ni? implemant&tir). of the Strae.(:.

7

The Commission noted that several governmenLs hadgiven r5tailed reports in their replies to the Di-cector-Geneal,The five Programmes of Action adopted by the FAO World

Fishery Conference had a target of US$ 15 million annually, whichhad been reached. At the Seventeenth Session of the Committee onFisheries held in 1989 a target of US$ 20 million was set and itis expected that thir target will also be reached Cor regionalcooperation.

The Commission commended the effer'es ittde with regard tothe WECAFC region and stressed the strong ned for the continuedsupport of donors to the five Programmes of ActIon40., The Commission in particular hicfhUc4htd the need fortraining of artisanal fishermen, who in cY.L'CL to understn th.eimportance of fishery management measures kixoiNted ofsome biological facts and socio-economic coudLtios There wasalso a need for training in post-harvest handlig of catches,maintenance of gear and boats, training in fishing.techniques and.in navigation.

41. The delegate of the Republic of Kora made frence to thetechnical cooperation between his country and couories in. theregion and offered further training opportunities- The deleyateof Cuba m.6(:).e reference to the elaborated training pr.orjrammeexist.iiq in his country. rohe delegate of Mexico also iiiime(9 outheir i caining progri.4mme,3 which were atchi.cno Vne (Aelegate of Venezuela mdeproycammes stal7):shed in his coun 7,x!

imi-,i'oYmeL of the living cooditi uu.. o C ttu stnj:eiuj 'y rouos

2, The cf:oomj,..;sion therefore recolutmendd l. P)2,-)9,2,-,tayae oFshtJulct ,H.ve clear emphasis on

4eaw:L1 i:AF,k,-.tmen in u ifferent cot..7-1-

! ,. E-NDATIOVS OV WECAFC SUBSIDIARY BODIE3

ro.2,:laqa.1;fam e c' ke;.; ,t

Tn,e CD.E. rman of tLe Committee 1o, H.,. Jo;-fotn.Aona,jemenL o- :C'isheries in the Y.2...ev 5 , Hr.

the Report of the Foro: c

7.1,-)A1J Committee, held in Saint Viuceui', fiom 31 co:..,,,v io 71990, (document WECAFC1'90/5),

441 The Chairman informed the comviissj..,,its satisfaction yjvh

during the inte:c-:;.ion f the benefits theit we__

jects TCDC (Technical C000,Coun'cries) .(-TLivities promoted by Lhe

'I(1, . from

nCo 0 I

8

Cooperation Network in Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture andagreed that these activities be expanded with the activeparticipation of all member countries of the Committee.

On tlie subject of fishery economics and planning issues inthe Lesser Antilles, the Chairman informed the Commission that aWorkshop on Economic and Social Aspects of Small-scale Fisheriesin the Caribbean Sub-region was held in conjunction with theCommittee's session from 31 October to 2 November 1990. TheWorkshop was successful in achieving its major objective ofobtaining a preliminary assessment of the socio-economicsituation of small-scale fisheries in the sub-region. Takinginto account the deliberations during the Workshop, the Committeerecognized the need for a more in-depth study of the mostimportant issues identified during the Workshop.

The Chairman informed the Commission that the Committeeapproved the report of the First Session of the Working Party onFishery Economics and Planning and endorsed the project proposal,entitled "Strengthening of Fisheries Planning and Management inthe WECAFC Region", which was prepared by the Working Party. TheCommittee requested FAO to seek the necessary funding for theimplementation of the project as soon as possible and recommendedthat the Commission should approve the proposal.

The Committee also discussed the resulte of the TCP projecton Fishery Management Plans in the Lesser Antilles(TCP/RLA/6776). The primary objective of the project was todevelop management plans for the fishery resources of the LesserAntilles. Although the project was oriented tOwards the OECSMember States and Barbados, the outputs were recognized as beingrelevant to the whole WECAFC Region. The report of this TCPProject was published as FAO FisherY Technical Paper No. 313(1990).

The Commission was also informed that the Committeediscussed the report of the Sixth Session of the Working Party onAssessment of Marine Fishery Resources, which recognized thatinter-sessional work needed to be formulated in the form ofproject proposals. The Committee supported this approach toproject formulation and implementation.

Concerning fishing gear interaction, including driftnettingin the Lesser Antilles, the Committee stressed the view that suchlarge-scale pelagic driftnet fisheries in high seas should bedistinguished from the traditional fisheries with small-scaledriftnet operations carried out by local fishermen in the region,which were of great socio-economic importance and which did notwaste resources.

In endorsing paragraph 80 of the Report on driftnetfishing, the Commission decided, that its content should bevalid for the whole geographical area of the Commission and beamended as follows:

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In accordance with paragraph 4(c) of the UnitedNations General Assembly Resolution No. 44/225,large-scale pelagic driftnet fisheries should not bere-deployed in the region of the Western CentralAtlantic Fishery Commission;

with reference to paragraph 4(a) of the sameResolution that, as no effective conservation andmanagement measures were known, which could controlthis fishery, a global moratorium on large-scalepelagic driftnet fishing on the high seas should beimposed by 30 June 1992; and

that the statistical analyses mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 4 of the United NationsResolutions be carried out rapidly in order todetermine the management and conservation measuresrequired for the utilization of some of these gears.

On the subject of aquaculture development in the LesserAntilles, the Committee agreed that an important tool foraquaculture development was the elaboration of sectorial planswhich should be supported by adequate legal and institutionalmechanisms and be integrated into national development plans.The Committee recognized that there was a critical need forproper planning for aquaculture development.

The observer from the Organization of Eastern CaribbeanStates (OECS) Fisheries Unit, complimented the Chairman and theLesser Antilles Committee on its achievements. He noted that thereport contained a number of recommendations that were ofinterest to and relevant to the OECS States such as capitalintensive aquaculture, fisheries legislation, delimitation ofEEZs, fishermen access to credit, and joint management schemes.He suggested an exchange of information with the OECS FisheriesUnit and as far as possible cooperation in the implementation ofrecommended follow-up actions.

With reference to paragraph 90 of the report dealing withintroduction of exotic species, the Secretary of the FAOCommission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America (COPESCAL),informed the Commission that the COPESCAL Working Party onFishery Resources had prepared a draft Code of Practice for theIntroduction of Exotic Species which was adapted to the region,from the Code of Practice of the European Inland FisheriesAdvisory Commission (EIFAC) and the International Council for theExploration of the Sea (ICES). The COPESCAL draft Code ofPractice available in English and Spanish might be provided uponrequest to WECAFC National Correspondents,

54, The Commission adopted the Report of the Fourth Session ofthe Lesser Antilles Committee and thanked the Chairman andexpressed its appreciation for the work accomplished by the

was elee+ Chj:i-man anoìr Vic.:7-Chairman °if U:o

t115.(: v)omiicla ;Iari ,)7Ze,:,:,(1 to ;lost tne no:;t SessjouCommitt.ae, solbjet t.r) Qr,?tir7mation by the Co13e.7711ment.

(b) Sixth Session of king PartyFishery Resources

Fr int:coducing this itm, the Technical Secreter off

Working Paxty briefly re%dewed Ule changes inadopted, whic'ck have, broadlv Fleaking, rafleot,.NAL-.17,c Commission's 17notjerig,A rii resclu-e oT i7bT2 0.EY

ea, as well tJ) com.oltv r L issnsbeen callad upon to ,74.3c1r,.225o,

Initially, the ),qorking Party i:lanctionedor presenting ne prommeL; 0,D(1

With -.11.7 -nrohasis sbia:inr.1 9f1!)). 40(0).

m,7!plsIJ).!tyon0,--Ic? with enrbs in tiv.?. 7)1(:

It has U. : vident that this latter J,tpp):(lacn has seousJe :1c to T1 r9.c;ponse rate to ,qoiries, but more-i-unOameH)v cuonatr, anc' TLt least

Working Party members with cos.piO';:u(7r.),,HykO.V,

With this in mjn(q, during the Sixth Session, ef_forts wereolIcent\:ated on deqeloping the catalytic role of ''7orking

Mithl the serious difficuliT.ie.s, :Jhe, .weeLinoon1-.1 ab two to thLee yea:-ly intervals, of carryingassessmefli:s

2=;:. the Sixth Session, the Working Pai71:y thereforecx., centrated on prn.paring projecl: ideas for needed work, notingthat r projeci- ideas, reflected oriority areas for resoul.ceoHar-jes alld Int be Of ikii-:ercis',.: to (lovtor acJel opcvcaLimq lnth,71 J:egion.

fAAT4W(jr,,? itS ripi:eci. bi:ut h. t'oev7EAr.7, :7-:.1011g _hi tJ te ljmiltion:it :,,,Inr.:.]:ent in

pxof.C1, Ud 'eccuìmeicd t1 )&t

:IFAO 0_shez1s P,?.1.:)017. No. 431., P07-4-zlov';.: of ti)ec)i". the Ttn:t.í : 9cah on Assessment of Marine 0.j.:,41ev

bv -Ickr,Tv:desi:31e sq ri?Vc LOrr? nu sd j7f1E

wLid.: rgion, already nod bv the Lesseroncc,! agPin. Ti:ls is going

the reo0 ;:o37 ccpordina'ciun)111,11t.), ac;7.ivitiPs in ne 17egion.

61. Tkr: r:! ,,i ilc,, c6f .i,: WorlAncj :'riv Wei, :Oscl' 1)(7. in7,7a,:.11 Cc:;1 1(1t,i.Vik",i;7 :1,11 tIto -,700VI, ii1k:1-0C111W ('AO-(;.:sr:0001 c.):)2ACIeliroc'eo,tly carliDd out ou pelag.:,. 1.--onrces oí the Ke,s(1! YLT:i.c,ifls(WP/M'A/8963 "Facts -0.W.)0Ai i:or lof-y'--"w

f.-.-Oles in i-ho 17:e.,,;;7:11 t. alv.ian") Lip,7A r,:-7-:;(:-,17113:te-r j.D. ._.r-,',! (.-Ic.-,, ,.;,. ,,.,:noing tb, ne,..6. . 'c): a ccJo,..-0.inated ;:,ppl».1h .:.,, ,:,.:rtL

fish resoucc.: mana,;iem:-!nt mentioned earlier in t.n ,Ile,:.,- 7.'Su this connection., the Coms:tission recommended that ;:ftiri cl,A[_..w1,7 he a main theme for the nelft Working Party or ..,c,e n.L-1 t!,:-:.me.,:ox an expet consn!tation on tb.. . fishery ;: ,a;:r:,r(7,, c.Dci

p,71L,,,cci:',-;: 1!).

thei3iiiogicI and. Economjc1t11)ii )1(;:.T3 Guvana-P.3uazil Shclf

Th Co-ollil LoD considered the report L the vg,-z,7k3hop t7h0f!.(::J.2277:7 /13), ancel tooi . note of rec(nrfie:non& (74:

J,ZL,'vlouvrA7! 'florhing l'arLy hat .'ìe Commissiou, ruppor r-tnd2- 1Cts1A-regional activiU.es foc resource ;.-1.si:.Ication.Che Commissi,Dn cecognized that such sub-regional working groupshad more ooportunitv of accomplishing specific assessment tasks

the Resources Working Pacty, and in particolar e7Tressed-4::7ifaction with the accompishments of the 3econ0 Oorkshop,b-.0(2 in Cayenne in July )988 and endorsed its conclusions, TO. SRwec.;.e bata .fT_Irther worP.shop be beld in the n inter-sessioni1:-)erio, bu: also that hese workshops be scheduled on a Aiore;:egular basis, bearing in mind the difficulties facing theOrganiation in instituting and sul?porting a .--urther subsirliarybodY of the Commission.

63. The Commission also endorsed the draft cooperative researchprogramme given in Annex 11 of the above report, as well as the.!uggeE,ited cooperative tagging programme, although it wasrecognized from previous experience with this type of activity,nat its success depends critically on availability of vessels,funding, experienced manpower, and above all, on 'localcrdination, in tbis respect, Le delega;Jon oF F]:ance.4knjneLi. possibility that the EC could fund ti e meetin of

Guyana-3J'azil shrimp workng l'12b-group in '1991.

of the Working Party_

In ';th liOt of the abolition of the Working Party on7oh(pry Sii,zti(Js at the Fifth Session of the Commission, the

PeL'c7,Y Asse:ssulenw. off larine FisheiLy Resources made onttempl. mane up for the short fall of adrice in this

ra by oCJIAy)q items to its tc4;r1w', of reference p, )0 ofri_j7bUi-Vi RepoK.t) as follows;

(i) review bound-H if bt, 7ical resource ilticalareas,

The reconC Workshop

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develop and update regional lists of marine speciesnames (scientific/vernacular) for statisticalreporting purposes,

design or comment on new statistical reporting formsfor catch and effort/fleet statistics, and

conduct, or comment on reviews of resourcestatistical data and information.

65. The Commission while agreeing to these changes, recognizedthat the Working Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resourcescould not be expected to fully cover all the functions of theformer Working Party, and called upon the Regular Programme ofFAO, to the extent possible within existing funds, to supportother activities. Priorities were placed on maintenance of anup-to-date statistical data base for the region, provision ofadvice on systems of collecting and storage of fisheries data,and training of statistical officers and clerks. The delegatefrom Mexico noted that the first of these new items was an urgentpriority.

66 The Secretariat informed the Commission that attempts willbe made in the next inter-sessional period to provide for aworkshop on statistical sampling, data collection and storage, asindicated during the recent session of the Lesser AntillesCommittee,

Surveys

67, The Commission supported the recommendation of the WorkingParty that the results of fisheries surveys carried out in theregion, where they improved knowledge of regional resources,should be communicated to the Working Party. In this connection,the proposed CIDA/CARICOM resource survey to begin shortly,should considerably enhance knowledge of marine resources in theregion. Close cooperation between the CIDA/CARICOM project andthe WECAFC Secretariat, either directly, or through scientistsin member countries, is believed to be of mutual benefit, if onlyin avoiding duplication of effort with other programmes such asthat of the R.V. DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN. The delegate from CARICOMnoted that the Fisherv Resource Management Programme funded byCIDA/ICOD will commence in 1991, and promised to keep the WECAFCSecretariat informed of developments.

Progress in Defining Critical Habitats and Mapping FisheriesAreas

At its last session, the Commission referred documentWECAFC/85 3 to the Working Party on Assessment of Marine FisheryResources for further review.

Two sets of questions were of concern to the Commission,namely:

- 13 -

the definitions proposed for various categc,' _s ofbio-geographical information such as "c- 'ticalhabitat", "biological community" an0_ "naturalmanagement area"; and

the terminology and resource assessment impliationsfor stocks which "occur within the Exclusive EconomicZones (EEZs) of two or more coastal States" (Article63 of the United Nations Conference on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS)).

The Commission had proposed the setting up of a specialgroup to consider these questions, but given the absence of fundsto support this activity, the Working Party took upon itself thistask.

With respect to the first category of definitions, thoseincluded in the report were believed to reflect common usage, buthad no legal validity in international law, being largelydescriptive and of a scientific nature.

The use of the term "shared stock" to refer to straddlingor trans-boundary resources that lie across, or migrate between,different fishery jurisdictions, was felt by the Working Party toreflect common usage; being equivalent to Article 63 terminologycited above. It was noted that although for "shared resources"there is of course no implication under UNCLOS, that such aresource may be harvested within the EEZ of another coastalState. At the same time, the UNCLOS mechanism recognizes fisherycommissions as having a particular role to play in providingadvice on the cooperative management of "shared stocks", a rolethat to date, WECAFC has only exerted through its Lesser AntillesCommittee and the workshops on Biological and Economic Modellingof the Shrimp Resources on the Guyana-Brazil Shelf.

In this connection, the Working Party noted the catalyticrole played by the 1986 Expert Consultation on Shared FisheryResources of the Lesser Antilles (FAO Fisheries Report No. 383),which following upon the harmonization of fisheries legislationin the sub-region, led directly to the preparation of fisherymanagement options (FAO Fisheries Report No. 313). These havenow been adopted into national legislation by several countriesof the sub-region, incorporating the categorizations of sharedstocks arrived at during the 1986 meeting.

In this connection, the Commission commented positively onthe progress accomplished by the Lesser Antilles Committee onthis topic. The Commission also noted the need to clarifyfurther the status of shared resources, such as tunas

(Venezuela), Guianas-Brazil shrimp stocks (France), shelfresources shared by the US and British Virgin Islands, theapparently now depleted swordfish resources of the EasternCaribbean (USA:Puerto Rico), and the flying fish stocks of the

southeast Caribbean. The Commission felt that now may be the

- 14 -

time to consider 1thc3r similar expert consnitatioos o tLkFJtbc-- jd IA 1c)36, stIolla0 Je conveilec:1 to bette7: cleJfiy 8ftc8:01atcqurj8,s e3swIler in th(-) WECAFC 1:egion.

75, The Commission took note of the main conclusicj of theWorking Party relative to "shared stocks", namely that it is anobjective necessity that the data be provided alljurisdictions within which the stocb is fished", and thatjsolated assessments carried out for only a fraction of thestock, haye little value, especially for migratory stocks. Theexchange of resource information is the first requirement forsustained development of the fishery. The Commission wasinformed of e7camples of such formal exchange mechanisms in theregioA, namely, those regularly carried out under the MEXUS/GULFprogamille, and between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago onshrimp fisheries of the Gulf of Paria. Whether such an

elzchange results in coordination of maaae:m88Y(.zegfaes depends on political considerations which mav dikfe-831,itween coastal countries. Nonhless the interest shown iA.his matter at the clurrent session, prompted the SecretaiAatsugces. a mechanism which possibly would lead to an objct.iveevaluz;:ion of the optimal stratf.-?.gy ZOY IT UlaCOUi!CiGoncernea are in agre-ament on proceeding in thi way,tilcv ci:ui c.onact FAO for assistance in setting ui..) such acooveratve mec,hanism.

76. A 3-(1y("i2Gi:i0Y1 as given in E was presented to theCOhtiSS16r1 Secl-etariat anC. was endorsed in principle byte Comluissio)1-

77, °.Lto ComlolssioA vaLs LICf'ocmec:1 oZo2l8ci on in this relon r(?la.ted88C. cict (88:s8che ))1Afii8 E.

The of Trio3dacl. To.:Nw_fo i forcclc.T12ou'ht717

,(zola

p-c(»:+1

Tf.1,F1..E;

vi.ow

':tAn

E1 JJ woLc.kiog cvuco_.7i (JZ

thc,oJf ly8cnajsm Li. 8i87.3tif; ;8:)

21-1 shrimno7;e.vZjo, c ocThrii (ftir11,2 C001.1cii("1 mect18i: rur

1j.z:1_s

- 15 -

The delegate from Mexico endorsed the priority given tosteregional groupings by the Commission, and briefly. smmariedtwo cooperative programmes Mexico was involved in, ,Ti;-_hinWECAFC area

In the framework of the MEXUS/GULF agreement,concluded between Mexico and the United States, Jontresearch had been undertaken on fishery resources andfishing technology during the last fifteen yearscovering such subjects as shrimp, marine turtles,demersals, coastal pelagic, billfish-sport fishing,aquaculture, capture and processing technology,remote sensing, plankton and oceanography.

With Cuba, the joint activities resumed five yearsago, covering research on spiny lobster, groupersand fishing technology. At the meeting in 3990 amedium-term protocol for development was set updealing with aquaculture, assessment of demersa3fish, spiny lobster and fishery technologies.

The delegate of Mexico noted that in her view, there was aneed for condueting research and data exchange before -fAnagingcommon resources. She specifically mentioned the need to carryout research on the stock distribution and migration of spinylobster in the southern area of Mexico and the neighbouringcountris. The delegate of Mexico also noted the neci toobtaining comprehensive information on the biology of the JA,6)(Xiphopenaeus kroveri) that was being. fished in the

tau'Thissoecies also occurred in Mexican waters where it coujeJ

exploited_

atc. and Place of the Next Session he ( rking_

The offer of the Bahamas to host the net S3SODS ot thetwo Working Parties was gratefully acknowledfim,116.al ccieteraLions prevent the Workily4in 191 i;tnd this ite wa3(!iv3nme ok: a Working. 17'zLkA:v seioiytqfalA in

' )roposeastot tour uther Ineetingsand ULa'c, i countriiìs

to host them, tb,At sh)(11-1Secre:;ariat These were:

An J:7:.1_,A.t consultation on fisheryma,,cgemen'e of coral reef res,:Jlir

A further meeting of the Guianas-Brazil e.,H.oviAnggi:oup on shrimp;

A workshop tentatively to be directed at the use oflength frequency models in fisheries assessment,suggested by France, to be held in Martinique in 1991;and

A Workshop on fishery statistics.

The Commission felt that the holding of any or all of thesemeetings would constitute a significant step forward in thesubject area of resource investigations.

(e) First Session of the Workin Part on Fisher\ Ec nomics andPlanning

The Technical Secretary of the Working Party in presentingthe document WECAFC/90/7 briefly explained the events that led tothe establishment of the Working Party on Fishery Economics andPlanning in November 1987. He explained that the Working Partyoriginated from the discussions and recommendations of expertsfrom member countries of the region. These recommendations weretimely endorsed by the Commission at its Sixth Session andrapidly implemented by FAO.

For its first meeting held in Grenada in May 1989, theWorking Party was influenced in its approach to fishery economicsand planning issues by the 1984 World Fisheries ConferenceStrategy and its Programme of Action No. 1, on FisheriesPlanning, Management and Development, the recommendations ofseveral regional technical meetings, and existing studies of thefisheries in the region. The main objective of the First Sessionof the Working Party was to evaluate the available informationand the level of analysis on selected subjects in order toidentify more specific priority issues so as to provide usefuladvice to the Commission in the short-term. A medium-termobjective was to reach a position where it would be possible toundertake multi-disciplinary stuoies in cooperation with theWorking Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources.

The main subjects addressed by the Working Party at itsFirst Session were:

Economic review of the fisheries situation in the WECAFCRegion;

Review of the situation of fisheries developmentplanning in the WECAFC Region and methodological aspectsof strategic planning;

Management regulations in the WECAFC Region;

- Information requirements for proper planning atsectorial levels; and

Strengthening national capabilities in fisheriesplanning for the WECAFC countries.

- 17 -

The Working Party in analysing these issues highlighted theneed for socio-economic information for appropriate fisheriesplanning and management measures, and of a clear definition oftechnical terms related to fisheries planning and management. Italso reviewed existing planning systems and processes in theWECAFC countries. Taking into consideration the specialcharacteristics of fishery resources and systems in the region,the Working Party also identified the main elements that shouldbe considered as an integral part of the fishery planningprocess.

The work programme for the next inter-sessional periodapproved by the Working Party was closely related to itsrecommendations and included the following activities:

Analysis and evaluation of fisheries planning systemsand processes in the WECAFC countries;

Preliminary studies on the economic and social aspectsof small-scale fisheries;

Clarification of the terms and definition of theprincipal concepts used in the planning process leadingto the eventual publication of a glossary of terms usedin fishery planning and economics;

Review of experiences with and results of fisheriesmanagement in WECAFC countries.

As part of the follow-up to the above-mentionedrecommendations two workshops, one on the Social and EconomicAspects of Small-scale Fisheries in the Caribbean Sub-region andthe other on Social and Economic Implications of FisheriesManagement, were held from 31 October to 2 November and on 8 and9 November 1990 respectively. The findings of these Workshopsare presented in the report of the Fourth Session of the LesserAntilles Committee and in the present report, respectively.

The Working Party also prepared a project proposal onStrengthening of National Capabilities in Fisheries Planning andManagement in the WECAFC Region and recommended that FAO shouldseek to obtain the necessary funding as soon as possible. Withreference to this recommendation FAO had cecently approached UNDPfor funding.

The Lesser Antilles Committee agreed in its Fourth Sessionwith the recommendations of the Working Party and unanimouslyendorsed its project proposal, and in doing so, requested theWECAF Commission to do the same.

The delegate of Mexico referred to paragraph 66 (b) of thereport of the Working Party, concerndng the recommendation for amore extensive exchange of experiences in fisheries managementand planning among WECAEC countries, and offered to make

- 13

avsUahl,-, various oficial. documents on Mexican fisheries toA,-"11) r1(111;);:- of the Commission throngh the Teohnicni

She also said that these regulatory info'emationpapeos could b oi nse as background documents for the iss-.6,-s-s -nal activities,

93. 77-1e.J.01..Ts other delegates supported the s.e-fs;estion of theCr.ssoo.o dolegate and offered to share their cerne-pa_siences onthis issue.

940 The delegate of Saint Lucia expressed his Government,sto for establishing the Working Party on Fishelni

,'1.:,1s)iw) and -1). anning. He observed thit 13 e'eperts from .

WE(M.S TAemer countries attended the First Meeting of the WorkingPalsty, (renada, May 1989) where the project proposal was

Noting that the project proposal was the key to thejvauvr?.Illevcc. of fisheries planning and management in the WECAFCnc:9,)1A eud a first step towards the establishment of a technioalovI)D9.:* t for the Comaission, he cayryssd his Fopi)o're41,)ested the other participating countries to do the samet.

The Commission adopted the Report of the First Session (..6:tho Working Party WI Fishery Economics and Planning and endorsedits pcolect proposal( "Strengthening of National Capabilities inToishes Planning and Management in the WECAFC Region". In

111,107sing pioposal the Commission requested FAO to continue;:.o obtain the necessary funds to implement the

project as soon as possible.

INSrECTION AND QUALITY AS TRANCE OF FISHERY P DUCTS IN THEWEcAFC REGION

The Secretariat, in introduding document WECAFC/90/8,inspection and Quality Assurance of Fishery Products in theWECATC Region, noted that fish inspection for the purpose ofassuring quality, reducing post harvest losses and betterutiliation of fishery resources was relatively new and poorlyunderstoo,j in most countries of the WECAFC Region. It wasusually equated with complex chemical and bacteriologicalstandar6s, policing anfa enforcement of regulations, andgovernmeni, control of the industry.

The results of the survey of fish inspection and qualitycontrol activities carried out in nineteen countries of the sub-region were summarized. Three groups of countries wereidentified:

G:ap 1 countries, which included most English-speakingCaribbean ,00untries and some Central America. countries, Haiti andSurjna)1,e, hEsie no specific government agency 0.edicated to fishinspeorion and quality control. Control of fishery products

,,rally falls under the auspices of public health departmentsis ruled by general food control legislation,

- 19 -

In Group II countries which included Bahamas, Belize,Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, fisheryproducts generally fall under the umbrella of food controlactivities of health departments and are covered by general foodcontrol legislation.

Group III countries, which included Brazil and Cuba, havean independent agency covering fish inspection and qualitycontrol from fishing, to storage and distribution, in close co-ordination with other agencies involved in food control, such ashealth departments.

Fish inspection and quality control programmes in theregion, for the purpose of reducing post harvest losses wasunsatisfactory. Where national fish quality control programmesexist they are oriented mainly towards export products; domesticconsumption was rarely included, if at all, in the principalactivities of inspection agencies.

The Secretariat infoLmed the Commission that training,which was one of the most important elements in strengtheningfish inspection and quality control was currently being carriedout in the region by an International UNDP/FAO Training Programme(Project INT/86/011) in collaboration with the Market InformationService for Fish Products in the Latin American Region(INFOPESCA). A number of regional and national courses were heldunder this programme in the region.

From the information available it was concluded that mostcountries of the region need to improve handling practices offresh fish on board vessels as well as on shore and to improvein-plant quality control by establishing hygienic conditions inthe processing plants and quality assurance and inspectionsystems.

The Commission congratulated FAO for assisting countries ofthe WECAFC Region to improve their fish inspection and qualitycontrol programmes and in initiating such programmes in countrieswhere it did not exist. Particular mention was made of theUNDP/FAO project (INT/86/011) through which training was providedto fishery officials responsible for fish inspection from theregion. Some delegates stressed the need for additionaltraining of field inspectors, fishermen, vendors and consumers.

The Commission stressed the importance of fish qualitywith respect to reducing post-harvest losses and therebyincreasing the value of the product, as important factors forthe optimization of benefits to be derived from internal,regional and international trade. Most delegates gave detailsof their national experiences in the implementation of fishinspection and quality assurance programmes.

In general it was concluded that although fishermen have afairly good knowledge of what was required to produce good

- 20 -

quality fish, there was also a strong need to provide them withinformation and advice on the social and economic benefits ofproducing good quality fish. To encourage and allow them toadopt this practice they should also be provided with the basicon-shore infrastructure.

The Commission agreed that there should be anintensification in the exchange of education materials,information and experiences among member countries, on fishinspection and quality control mechanisms and on standards beingutilized for fishery products by each country. It was also notedthat consumer education is needed to improve fish quality.

The observer from the Organization of Eastern CaribbeanStates (OECS) Fisheries Unit, in supporting the Venezuelandelegate's proposal for unified measures for quality assurance inthe region, suggested the establishment of a mechanism toexchange information on quality matters.

In this regard the Secretariat drew the attention of theCommission to paragraph 26 of Document WECAFC/90/8, whichdescribed the present mechanism for exchanging information: "TheJoint Training Programme carried out by INFOPESCA-INT/86/011 isalso trying to develop a co-operative network of fish inspectionservices in Latin America and the Caribbean. The existingnetwork presently concentrates efforts on the development of asystem for an exchange of information within the region and withinspection agencies of other countries as well, particularlymajor importing countries. A newsletter "The Fish Inspector", ispublished and distributed quarterly in English and Spanish byINFOPESCA-INT/86/011.".

COOPERATION WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WECAFCREGION

The Secretariat provided information on cooperativeactivities carried out between FAO and other internationalorganizations dealing with fisheries and environmental issues inthe WECAFC region, namely, IOC/IOCARIBE, UNEP, OLDEPESCA, CARICOMand OECS. Detailed information on these cooperative activitieswere given in documents WECAFC/90/9 and WECAFC/90/Inf.4.

The observer of CARICOM thanked FAO for the cooperationand the continued assistance provided to his organization onfishery matters. He also made reference to a project on fisherydevelopment in CARICOM member countries being funded by Canadawhich was about to commence. He noted the possible benefit thatthis project could gain from the FAO/IOC Programme on OceanScience in Relation to Living Resources (OSLR), which mainlyfocused on the problems of recruitment variability ofcommercially important marine fish resources. He however notedthat OSLR did not appear to involve the English-speakingcountries of the Caribbean. He requested the Secretariat to:

- 21 -

explore the possibility of involving andinstitutions from these countries in this pi.-octrmma;

investigate the possibility of students from the regionreceiving training through the programme;

request the Working Party on Assessment of Marine FisheryResources to take steps to achieve closer collaborationwith the programme so that the results could bedisseminated for the benefit of member countries of theregion.

With respect to FAO cooperation with IOC and UNEP in theregion, the contribution of the IOC Programme and that of theUNEP Caribbean Environmental Programme were specificallyrecognized.

Several delegates referred to the importance ofoceanographic processes and the protection of the coastalenvironment from pollution and other types of degradation whichmay affect the fishery resources. The continued cooperation ofFAO with the above-mentioned programmes was recommended by theCommission. It was also suggested that IOC be invited toparticipate in activities that may be organized by the WECAFCWorking Party on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources dealingwith the management of coral reef fisheries.

The delegate of Mexico expressed concern regarding the billto be enforced by the United States in May 1991, banning theimportation of shrimp caught with trawl nets without turtleexcluder devices. She informed the Commission of a programme onprotection of marine resources being prepared by OLDEPESCA toaddress the problem of avoiding the incidental catching ofturtles during the shrimp fishing operations. FAO was requestedto cooperate with OLDEPESCA in the implementation of thisprogramme.

The activities carried out in the region by the FAORegional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLAC) withinthe framework of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries(TCDC) through the two Networks on Aquaculture and Fisheries forEnglish and Spanish-speaking countries were also reviewed underthis agenda item. The Commission recognized the importance ofTCDC activities in the development of fisheries and aquaculturein the region. The delegates of Barbados and Belize referred tothe Newsletters produced by their fishery divisions respectively,which could be used as a feedback of information for the NetworkNews published quarterly by RLAC.

The Secretariat informed the Commission about the fivefishery meetings held in Chile during 1990 and on the meetingbeing organized by RLAC to be held in Nicaragua in March 1991 onHEEZ's: a Sub-Utilized Patrimony" for Central America, Panama,Mexico and Cuba. The delegate of Belize expressed the interest

- 22 -

of his Government in participating in this meeting, as well as tobe invited to participate in other fishery activities organizedby FAO in the Central American region.

ANY OTHER MATTERS

The Commission noted the satisfactory results of the surveyon the fish resources of the shelf region between Colombia andSuriname carried out in 1988 by the R/V DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN.The delegates of the three countries that participated in theprogramme stated that due to the constraints faced by mostcountries of the region to conduct fishery surveys beyond theircoastal waters, and the need for a periodic research programme ofthis type, the work of this vessel was very valuable for them.In this regard, FAO/NORAD was requested to investigate thepossibility of conducting periodic surveys in the area.

The delegate of Saint Lucia suggested that when suchsurveys are being planned, the small-island States should beinvited to participate with young scientists as observers. Thisparticipation was one method of training.

The delegate of Nicaragua recommended that the Commissionshould consider establishing a sub-regional working group tostudy specific shared resources off the Caribbean coast ofCentral America, covering the area from Mexico to Panama. Thedelegates from Belize and Mexico supported this recommendation.

The delegate of France suggested that the organization of agreater number of inter-sessional activities including sub-regional cooperative activities and technical meetings of theWECAFC Working Parties should be encouraged and that the periodsbetween sessions of the .Commission should be eventually longer.

The delegate of Spain congratulated the Commission on itsimportant role as a forum for discussion of relevant fisheryissues in the region. He infolmed the Session of a series oftraining opportunities being provided by Spain to many countrieswhich are members of WECAFC and expressed the interest of hiscountry in strengthening its cooperation with FAO in this region.

The observer from OECS proposed that FAO, through theWECAFC Secretariat and in collaboration with other sub-regionalfisheries organizations in the region, develop a programme forimproving the awareness of permanent secretaries and seniorfisheries officers on fisheries management and developmentprocesses in the WECAFC region.

This programme should encourage and facilitate exchangevisits of permanent secretaries and chief fisheries officersbetween WECAFC member countries. Such exchange visits should beorganized to facilitate:

- 23 -

hands on experience in development planning efforts;

visit to landing sites and fish processing andmarketing facilities;

discussion -of fisheries management issues andprogrammes; and

development of linkages to facilitate infolmationexchange on matters of mutual interest.

Wherever possible the programme should be organized toensure a high level of rapport between the visiting fisheriespersonnel and the fisheries personnel of the host country thatshould lead to better understanding of matters of mutualinterest.

The observer from CARICOM referred to safety at sea andexpressed concern at the risks being faced by many fishermen inthis region who often get lost at sea, and many of whom die eachyear. He called the attention of the delegates to the fact thatthere is often no safety equipment available and stressed theneed for closer cooperation to provide assistance to fishermenwith a view to improving their safety at sea.

The delegate of Mexico referred to the Sixth Session ofWECAFC (Mexico, 1987), when Mexico offered to establish a

regional fishery statistical data base to meet the statisticalneeds of the Commission. The delegate suggested the organizationof a workshop to discuss the content of the data base as well asmethodologies and mechanisms for implementation and possiblesources of funding. She indicated that Mexico may assist.

The Regional Fishery Officer from the FAO Regional Officefor Latin America and the Caribbean called on delegates toencourage their respective countries to provide information andnews related to fisheries for dissemination among membercountries through the Newsletters of the TCDC Networksfunctioning in the region.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

In accordance with Rule II-1 of the Rules of Procedure ofthe Commission, the following officers were elected for the nextSession:

Chairman: VenezuelaVice-Chairmen: Nicaragua

Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesFrance

- 24 -

DATE AND PLACE OF THE EIGHTH SESSION

The Commission accepted the offer made by Venezuela to hostthe Eighth Session of the Commission. In accordance with theRules of Procedure, the date and place will be determined by theDirector-General in consultation with the Chairman of theCommission and the competent authorities of the host Government.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

The report was adopted on 14 November 1990.

CLOSURE OF THE SESSION

Dr. A. Lindquist expressed his gratitude to the Governmentof Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the excellent facilitiesprovided for the sessions. He also thanked the Chairman of theCommission, Mr. G. Justines, and the Chairman of the Committee,Mr. K. Morris, for their efficient work, and the local personnelfor their unfailing support during the sessions.

The representative of Saint Lucia, Mr. H. Walters, onbehalf of all delegates, congratulated the new Secretary ofWECAFC and thanked Dr. E. Fagetti for the fruitful work she hadperformed during her long period as Secretary of the Commission.

- 25 -

APPENDIX A

Agenda

1. Opening of the Sesion

2. Adoption of the Agenda and Arrangements for the Session

3. Socio-economic Implications of Fisheries Management in theWECAFC Region

4. Intersessional Activities and Follow-up Actions onRecommendations of the Sixth Session

5. Progress Report on the Implementations of the Strategy andProgrammes of Action of FAO World Conference on FisheriesManagement and Development

6. Recommendations of the WECAFC Subsidiary Bodies

Fourth Session of the Committee for the Developmentand Management of Fisheries in the Lesser Antilles

Sixth Session of the Working Party on Assessment ofMarine Fishery Resources

First Session of the Working Party on FisheriesEconomics and Planning

7. Inspection and Quality Assurance of Fishery Products in theWECAFC Region

8. Cooperation with other International Organizations in theWECAFC Region

9. Any Other Matters

10. Election of Officers

11. Date and Place of the Eighth Session

12. Adoption of the Report

- 26 -

APPENDIX B

List of Documents

WECAFC/90/1 Provisional annotated agenda and timetable

2 Socio-economic implications of fisheries managementin the WECAFC region

3 Inter-sessional activities and follow-up actions onrecommendations of the Sixth Session

4 Progress Report on the implementation of thestrategy and programmes of action of the FAO WorldConference on Fisheries Management and Development

5 Draft Report of the Fourth Session of the Committeefor the Development and Management of Fisheries ofthe Lesser Antilles

6 Report of the Sixth Session of the WECAFC WorkingParty on Assessment on Marine Fishery Resources,St. George's, Grenada, 15-19 May 1989

7 Report of the First Session of the WECAFC WorkingParty on Fisheries Economics and Planning,St. George's, Grenada, 22-26 May 1989

8 Inspection and quality assurance of fisheryproducts in WECAFC countries

9 Cooperation with other international organizationsconcerned with fisheries in the area

WECAFC/90/Inf.1 List of documents

Inf.2 List of delegates and observers

Inf.3 List of FAO Fisheries Projects in the WECAFCregion

Inf.4 FAO activities in the WECAFC region

Inf.5 Report of the Sixth Session of the WesternCentral Atlantic Fishery Commission,Mexico, D.F., Mexico, 27-31 July 1987

Inf.6 Report of the Second Workshop on the Biologicaland Economical Modelling of the Shrimp Resourceson the Guyana-Brazil Shelf, Cayenne, FrenchGuiana, 2-6 May 1988

Inf.7 Project Proposal for strengthening of fisheriesplanning and management in WECAFC countries

Antigua and Barbuda

HIGGS, ColinDeputy Directorof Fisheries

Ministry of AgricultureTrade and Industry

P.O. Box No. 3028Nassau

Fax: (809) 393 0238Tel: (809) 393 1777

Barbados

JONES, RalphFisheries OfficerMinistry of Agriculture,

Food and FisheriesFisheries DivisionBay StreetBridgetown

Fax: (809) 420-8444

Belize

PEREZ, JoséFisheries OfficerMinistry of Agriculture

and FisheriesFisheries DepartmentPrincess Margaret DriveP.O. Box 148Belize City

Tel: 02 44552

Brazil

Colombia

- 27 -

APPENDIX C

List of Participants

MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION

Cuba

GARCIA MORENO, BernardoEspecialista en Organizaciones

InternacionalesMinisterio de la Indüstria

PesqueraBarlovento, Santa Fd PlayaLa Habana

Tlx: 511444/511396

Dominica

LAWRENCE, NigelChief Fisheries OfficerMinistry of AgricultureGovernment HeadquartersRoseau

France

GUILLON VERNE, JeanDirecteur Regional desAffaires Maritimes Antilles/Guyane

Ministere de la merBd Chevalier Ste. MartheB.P. 62097261 Fort de FranceMartinique

Fax: 19 (596) 636730Tlx: 912-646Tel: 19 (596) 71.90.05

DELEPINE, EdouardVice-President du

Conseil Regional de laMartinique

97231 Le RobertMartinique

Fax: 651310Tlx. 912005Tel. 651005/651085

MARIN, JeanDélégué de l'IFREMER pour

la GuyaneMinistère de la mer et

de la rechercheStation IFREMERB.P. 47797300 CayenneGuyane

Fax. (594) 308031

Grenada

FINLAY, JamesChief Fisheries OfficerMinistry of Agriculture,

Forestry and FisheriesSt. George's

Fax; 440 4191Tel: 440 3078/440 2708Fisheries Division:Fax: 4406613Tel: 4403814/4403831

Guatemala

Guinea

Guyana

PHILLIPS, TerrencePrincipal Fisheries OfficerMinistry of AgricultureFisheries DepartmentVlissengen Road and D'UrbanGeorgetown

Fax: 02-69297Tlx: 3048 AFIP GYTel: 02-64398/61833

- 28 -

Haiti

ANTOINE, Pressoir MarioAssistant-DirecteurResponsible de zoneMinistère de l'agricultureDamienPort-au-Prince

Honduras

Jamaica

KONG, Gilbert AndréDeputy DirectorMinistry of Agriculture

and CommerceFisheries DivisionMarcus Garvey DriveP.O. Box 470Kingston

Tel: (809) 92 38811-3/37571-2

Japan

Korea Republic of

CHO, Hak HaingFishery Attaché of Korean

Embassy in SurinameMinistry of Foreign Affairs

of KoreaDavidsimon Straat 59ParamariboSuriname

Mexico

BELMONTES, RicardoJefe del Departamento de

Ordenacion y DesarrolloPesquero Internacional

Secretaria de Pesca269 Avenida Alvaro ObregonMéxico D.F.

WONG, MyrnaDirectora de Analisis dePesqueríasInstituto Nacional de PescaSecretaria de PescaDr. Valenzuela 8506720 Col. DoctoresMéxico D.F.

Netherlands

Nicaragua

SANCHEZ, RodolfoJefe SecciónEvaluaciones PesquerasCentro de Investigaciones

PesquerasINPESCAApartado 2020Km 41, Carretera SurManagua

Fax: 666373Tel: 666371

Panama

JUSTINES, GustavoSubdirector Generalde Recursos Marinos

Comercio e IndustriasApartado 3318Panama 4

Saint Christopher & Nevis

Saint Lucia

WALTERS, HoraceChief Fisheries OfficerMinistry of FisheriesCastries

Fax: (809) 45-36314Tel: (809) 45-26172

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Saint Vincent and tlu,Grenadines

MORRIS, KerwynChief Fisheries OfficerMinistry of Agriculture,

Industry and LabourKingstown

Fax: c/o Ministry of ForeignAffairs (809) 45-72152

Tlx: 7531 FOREGIN VQTel: (809) 62738

MURPHY, H.M. FranklinFisheries OfficerMinistry of Agriculture,

Industry and LabourKingstown

Tel: (809) 456 2738

JOHNS, CharlesFishing Cooperative MemberGoodwill Fishing CooperativeP.O. Box 1011Kingstown

FOSTER, JohnCIDA Fisheries Project

ConsultantMinistry of Agriculture,

Industry and LabourNew Kingstown Fish MarketKingstown

Fax: (809) 45-72112Tel: (809) 45-72110

Spain

ALVAREZ RAMOS, JoséConsejero de Agricultura,Pesca y Almentaciön

Embajada de Espana en CostaRicaMinisterio de Agricultura,Pesca y Alimentación de EspanaApartado 101501000 San José

Fax: 550908Tlx: 3664Tel: 336576

Suriname

POTTIER, DirkFishery Planning OfficerMinistry of AgricultureNewtonlaan, 8Paramaribo

Trinidad and Tobago

LA CROIX, MervynDirector of FisheriesMinistry of Food Production

and Marine ExploitationSt. Clair CirclePort-of-Spain

Fax: (809) 6224246Tel.: (809) 6225481

United Kingdom

United.States of America

SNEAD, LarrvDirectorOffice of Fisheries AffairsRoom 5806 OES OFAU.S. Department of StateWashington D.C. 20520

Tlx: (202) 647 1106Tel: (202) 647 2335

ROLON, MiguelExecutive DirectorCaribbean Fishery ManagementCouncil

Suite 1108, Banco de PonceBldg.Hato ReyPuerto Rico 00918

Fa<z 09 766 6239Tel .: 09) 766 5928

BROWN, Raylaond L.Second SecretarVEmbassy of the United Statesof America

BridgetownBarbados

Tel. (809) 436-4950

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Venezuela

FEIL, MyriamEmbassador of VenezuelaMinistry of Foreign AffairsGranby StreetKingstownSaint Vincent and theGrenadines

Fax: (809) 71934Tel: (809) 61374

MARCANO, LuisDirección de Producción

D.G.S.P.A.Ministerio de Agriculturay Cria

Parque Central Torre Este,Piso 10

Caracas

Tel. 02-5090383-5/5090285

VALERO, SantosMinisterio de Relaciones

ExterioresDivisión del MarTorre M.R.E., Piso 13Esq. CarmelitasCaracas

Fax: 819372Tel. 820332

OBSERVER FROM MEMBER NATIONNOT MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION

Canada

POWLES, HowardFirst Secretary (Development)Canadian High CommissionP.O. Box 404BridgetownBarbados

Fax: (809) 429 3876Tel. (809) 429 5767

CARTER, JohnProgramme OfficerSouth Pacific and Caribbean

Basin DivisionInternational Centre for

Ocean Development9th Floor,5670 Spring Garden Rd.

HalifaxCanada B3J 1H6

Fax: (902) 426 8974Tlx: 019 21670 ICOD HFXTel: (902) 426 1512

LEPPAN, WardleProgramme OfficerSouth Pacific and CaribbeanBasin Division

International Centre forOcean Development

9th Floor,5670 Spring Garden Rd.

HalifaxCanada B3J 1H6

Fax: (902) 426 8974Tlx: 019 21670 ICOD HFXTel: (902) 426 1512 .

OBSERVERS FROMINTERGOVERNMENTALORGANIZATIONS

Caribbean Community

HAUGHTON, MiltonFisheries Development OfficerCaribbean CommunitySecretariatBank of Guyana BuildingGeorgetown, Guyana, SA

Fax: 592-2-56194Tel. 592-2-55420

- 31 -

Organization of AmericanStates

GULSTON, GeorgeDirectorOASBox. 654KingstownSaint Vincent and theGrenadines

Tel: (809) 45 72950/45 61314

BROWNE, GlenroyTechnical Project OfficerOASBox. 654KingstownSaint Vincent and the

Grenadines

Organization of Eastern' Caribbean States

JOSEPH, DavenDevelopment OfficerOECS Fisheries UnitP.O. Box 846Kingstown, St. Vincent andthe Grenadines

Fax: (809) 4562943Tel: (809) 467 2979

LYNCH, Leonard AlvaResearch and Administrative

OfficerOECS Fisheries UnitP.O. Box 846Kingstown, St. Vincent andthe Grenadines

Fax: (809) 4562943

FAO

FAO REPRESENTATIVE INST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

ALLEYNE, E. PatrickFAO RepresentationCentral Bank Bldg.P.O. Box 631-CBridgetown, Barbados

HEADQUARTERS

Fisheries Department

Via delle Terme di Caracalla00100 Rome, ItalyFax: (6) 57973152/5782610Tlx: 610181 FAO ITel: 57971

LINDQUIST, ArminAssistant Director-General

(Fisheries)

CADDY, John F.Senior Fishery Resources

Officer

MENA MILLAR, AndresFishery Liaison Officer

GUMY, AngelFishery Planning Officer

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATINAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

FAGETTI, EldaRegional Fisheries OfficerCasilla 10095SantiagoChile

CHAKALALL, BisessarRegional Fisheries Officerc/o FAO Representation17 Keate St,P.O. Box 822Port-of-SpainTrinidad and Tobago

FAO

Secretary of WECAFC:

Meetings Officer:

Secretaries:

Translators:

Interpreters:

- 33 -

SECRETARIAT/SECRETARIA

Host Government

Liaison Officer: K. Morris

Liaison Assistant: C. White

A. Mena Millar

J.C. Webb

A.M. DefendiMercado

M. Scipio

C. SchenckJ. Fernández-Zulaica

A.T. ArcayaM. Carvallo

FontaineP. FournierM.D. Madiveitia de le BrunJ. Rossignol

- 34 -

APPENDIX D

ADDRESS

by

Rt. Hon. J.F. Mitchell

At the Opening of the 7th Session of the Western CentralAtlantic Fishery Commission in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

8th November, 1990

Mr Chairman, Hon. Ministers, Dr Armin Lindquist, AssistantDirector-General, FAO, Dr Patrick Alleyne, FAO RegionalRepresentative, Your Excellencies, Members of WECAFC, FisheriesOfficers, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome you andto host this Conference in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at thistime. You meet to discuss fisheries when there is a new climateof understanding of need to protect and conserve life in theoceans and seas so that they may sustain human development, andalso at a time when the cholesterol sensitivity in our diets andthe relationship between quality of diet and length of life hasplaced a high value on fish.

I am pleased also to welcome you at a time when our fisherydevelopment in this country has taken off under the stimulus ofthe aid we received from Japan in the establishment of the bestfish market in the Caribbean that we have affectionately named"Little Tokyo".

Let me pay tribute here to the Japanese Government andpeople for this elegant infusion into our development. Theproject was executed with record speed. There was no hiddenagenda on procurement of goods and services or any time lag.When the Japanese identify a project, they disburse the fundsimmediately and in their current financial year. It is now apleasure to go to our fish market in "Little Tokyo". It is nowthe cultural heart of our city, and the fishing industry hasattained new significance in our development.

Tomorrow I leave, accompanied by my daughter, for Tokyo, toshow my appreciation for this assistance, in attending theEnthronement of His Majesty the Emperor, as guest of theGovernment of Japan.

Now, participants at a Conference such as this understandthe essential ingredients in the menu of options available forpromoting the development of the fishing industry, for example,allowing the free market to stimulate growth.

There exists in our society the backward, unrealistic ideathat fish prices must be controlled. Vincentians, I hope, haveheard of the winds of change sweeping through Eastern Europe and

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their decisions to abolish price controls and establish the freemarket in an attempt to catch up with the life style of the West,but they seem unable to make a connection between the free marketsystem and our own development.

Town dwellers want cheap fish, cheap tomatoes, cheapmutton. They want Government to control prices in fishing andagriculture and they want us to ignore the costs of production ofthings we can produce, while they merrily spend their salaries onexpensive imported hair products, plastic flowers and ungainlytransistor radios for which prices are not restricted. They makeno demand for price control in the boutiques or beauty parlours,but the same people complain about the abolition of pricecontrols on fish. We are all too ready to indulge in theimported consumer culture, and want to do this at the expense ofour productive sector. We have therefore to highlight thisinconsistency. Let those who want to boast about the progress inthis country know that progress cannot be measured in terms onlyof the number of new boutiques in town, it has to be firstmeasured in relation to increased production of the things we canproduce here. The free market has to work in production if it isto work in consumption. It is not that I object to the prices inthe boutiques. What I am urging is that we become sensiblyselective in the way we spend our money, and we must also beprepared to invest in our development.

We cannot afford to make the historic errors of developmentthat hindered much of the third world's progress, as in Africa,where price control for city dwellers ruined agriculture,increased poverty, and converted a productive continent into thelargest recipient of food aid.

The same people who rush out of their cars from the raininto their workplaces, are the ones who complain about price offish, which the fishe/man has caught on that same miserable rainyday, exposed in an open boat, with awful visibility andtorrential showers.

The Japanese who financed our fish market did not do sobecause we import pretty cars or noisy amplifiers from Japan.They built HLittle Tokyon to help our development, to help us toproduce, and I agreed with them when they insisted that theremust be no price control on fish as a condition of our gettingthe fish market.

It is not that I am unsympathetic to the idea of keepingour cost of living as low as possible. I would be the happiestperson if you could get a large, fat jack fish for twenty-fivecents, and get it fried and stuffed with onions, garlic, blackpepper and farine for fifty cents, but I regret those days aregone. It is the same even for the old time religion and the waythat it used to be financed. I don't think the Churches wouldwant us to go back to the pennies in the Sunday morningcollection plate.

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All these issues of prices and costs of production have tobe put into the perspective of where we want to carry thiscountry. Do we want to be productive? Do we want to producemore than we can eat so that we have a surplus to export so thatwe can get the foreign exchange to import the luxuries we love?In short, Do we want a productive country or not? That is thequestion.

My plea therefore is: Let supply and demand regulateprice. Let demand stimulate investment. Those in the town whoare angry about the price of fish should go to the bank, formcompanies, invest in a trawler and increase our supply. If youthink the price is so high, go for it, invest and make somemoney.

Let me also add that the cardinal policy of my Governmentin land reform is not to have the price of the farmers' meat,mutton, fruit or vegetables controlled. The best control isexerted by the buyer. He or she is the one to decide how he willspend his money. If you don't want to pay eight dollars for apound of tomatoes when they are scarce, don't by them. Pricesmust be left to fluctuate between high season and low season,between the periods of plenty and the time of scarcity, withvariations on wholesale and retail prices.

We do not, in these Caribbean societies, live in a vacuum.Our development policies are critically watched. Aninternational conference like this one here today brings ourlifestyles, our ambitions, our methodologies into focus. Our wayof life is largely supported by banana exports. How would wefeel if the logic of our demands for control of prices inagriculture and fishery were reciprocated by the Britishhousewife if she demanded that the British Government controlledthe price of bananas in England? We would be soon ruined. Wouldour banana income now nearing 100 million dollars this year havereached this figure if the British housewife demanded that theprice be controlled to what it was a few years ago?

Another area of serious concern, momentarily tragic in itsconsequences, relates to the insensitive wholesale over-exploitation of the limited resources of the sea-bed. When I wasa yound man in Bequia, you could catch buckets of fish of severaldifferent species in Admiralty Bay. Today you can catch nothing.In the Tobago Cays, our hoped for marine sanctuary, whole specieshave vanished.

We in the islands boast of our love of children, and inevery political speech you can hear the worn out platitude "Thechildren of today are the men and women of tomorrow", and yet weare constantly operating in a fashion that exterminates theresources around us, both on land and sea, without caring ifthese "men and women of tomorrow" find a way to earn a living asthis generation has done. Once upon a time every fisherman knewthat a net of a certain fine mesh was burnt, and they respected

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the law. But the pressure of expanded populations and to,22 battleof survival means the use of more efficient technology to providefor this generation that is absolutely uncaring about the future.

It is a real tragedy to see how the spear gun has been usedto destroy certain beautiful species of fish that used to bearound our reefs on which we could now build a significantcomponent of our tourist industry, namely the sport of scubadiving. As I say to the fishetmen in my constituency, why kill afish that lives in a certain reef, to be sold for ten dollars,when you can bring a group of tourists every day to see that fishand earn a hundred dollars every time.

These pressing environmental concerns demand that above allwe intensify the education of all involved. Environmentalconcerns in this part of the world are seen as a threat to theincome of today's fishermen are politically unpopular. In thedeveloped world, environmental concerns are a high priority ofthe political agenda. We have to begin from the beginning,understanding that no matter how much people say we must have avision of the future, with easy indifference they feel that thefuture has to take care of itself. The language of sustainabledevelopment will have to be taught, formally and informally, atevery level, and to every age group. We certainly have enoughevidence in our lifetime to show that progress will come to ahalt in certain areas of activity if our resources are notassisted in being sustained.

If we continue to exploit our marine resources as wasalready done in Martinique, we too wi11 soon have no lobsters,conch or certain species of fish.

I was pleased to play a part in the formulation of theLangkawi Declaration at the last Commonwealth Heads of GovernmentConference that banned the use of tangle nets and drift nets. I

think we should go further now and call on all countries to makethe production of certain kinds of fishing gear illegal.Progress in this direction has to be increased. Recently, when Iwas in Taiwan, I was pleased to read an editorial condemning thefishing companies in their country for pillaging the world'soceans.

The important stage of our development now is how do weorganise to harvest the oceans of the deep around us. That iswhere the real oportunity now lies. How do we get out fishermento make the investment in the deep? How do we keep theinternational predators out of our economic zone?

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A Conference such as this will, I am sure, deal with manyof these subjects. It will be your responsibility to refine anddefine the new policy directions in which we should all go toensure we satisfy the demands for a proper living standardrelated to these marine resources, on a continuing basis, untilthe end of time.

I have much pleasure in declaring this Conference open.

Prime Minister's OfficeNovember 8, 1990

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APPENDIX E

Evaluation and Joint Management of One or More Stocksof Interest to Two or More Coastal States

PREAMBLE

Realizing that evaluation of a sustainable exploitation ofresources fished by two or more parties is impossible in theabsence of data from all parties, there is a need, endorsed byUNCLOS, that the parties should meet to decide on an appropriateoverall level of removal. Direct political negotiation isimplied in deciding on the allocation of the potential yield tothe parties concerned.

Obviously, there is often a fear that entering such initialnegotiations in the absence of impartial and expert resourcesexpertise will lead to an unfair allocation from an inaccuratelydetermined overall level of sustainable yield.

Such considerations lead to the idea that some mechanismcould be set up to supervise, on an ongoing basis, the collectionof data, their analysis, and the provision of advice on resourcesharing.

Preliminary consideration of such data could take place atthe WECAFC Working Party on Assessment of Marine FisheryResources, if all parties inform the Secretariat at least sixmonths in advance, that a given resource needs to be evaluated,collect the data needed and bring it to the meeting.

A CONCRETE PROPOSAL - PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION

In the long run, it is possible to envisage setting up as asub-regional project, a Sub-Commission with common financing frominterested parties, possibly aided initially by donor agencies.

If such an arrangement could have the form of a project itwould make allowance not only for a common data bank and overviewof collection of national data, but would employ an internationalresource expert who would analyse the data, under supervision bythe WECAF Commission and its Working Party. Funding would beallowed for, to include provision of legal advice on control andsurveillance, and secretarial and office expenses.

FAO, on receipt of request from two or several governments,would consider setting up a meeting for the parties concerned tocome at their own or project expense to a mutually agreedlocation:

- To discuss the current status of national fisheries onthe resources of common concern, and levels of effortexerted by combined fleets bases on objective data, as

- 40 -

well as maps of fishing zones by season for eachparties, and if available, historical data on previouscatches and fleet size aimed at he resource.

To attempt either to estimate the potential yield fromthe resource or if this is not possible, developresearch or statistical sampling mechanisms to collectand process the necessary national data, to be stored ina common format.

3. A POSSIBLE FUTURE MECHANISM

In case there is a wish for a more permanent mechanismFAO could, at the first meeting, provide a resourceexpert and an expert on fisheries agreements, to assistin the deliberations. The data collected by all partiesshould be made available as above. This first meetingshould also:

Decide on a framework for continued regularconsultations on the resource, which would be carriedout using financial resources available to theparticipating countries.

If agreed, all parties to make financial commitmentstowards establishment of a standing joint Sub-Commissionof WECAFC, to be financed from national funding sources,possibly with assistance from other sources of funding.

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APPENDIX F

Main Decisions and Recommendations for Action of the SeventhSession of the Western Central At antic Fishery Commission

Agenda Item 3. Socio-economic Implications of FisheriesManagement in the WECAFC Region

For attention of Governments

Note the need for including environmental issues in thefishery management plans (para. 15).

Note the need for the fishery management units toparticipate in the decision making process with regard tocoastal development (para. 20).

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Disseminate information and hold discussions amongcountries of the region on suitable approaches tomanagement measures for lobster (para. 25).

For attention of FAO

Promote studies on the social and economic implications offishery management in the region (para. 26).

Prepare and distribute materials on fishery managementexperiences in WECAFC countries (para. 26).

For attention of FAO and Governments

Exchange scientific information among countries of theregion to prepare management plans for large migratorypelagic species (para. 27).

Continue the holding of sub-regional workshops and seminarson the management of commonly exploited stocks inappropriate areas (para. 28 and 32).

For attention of FAO

1. Encourage the organization of sub-regional cooperativeactivities and provide technical assistance to them (para.28 and 35).

For attention of FAO, Governments and other internationalorganizations

1. Note the need for cooperation among international, regionaland national agencies involved in the development andmanagement of coastal zones according priority to thefishery sector (para. 30).

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Agenda Item 4. Inter-sessional Activities and Follow-upActions on Recommendations of the Sixth Session

For attention of FAO

1. Establish a sub-group of the WECAFC Working Party onAssessment of Marine Fishery Resources to deal with theassessment of the shrimp resources in the Guyana-Brazilshelf (para. 32).

For attention of FAO and Governments

Note the offer of Suriname to study the feasibility ofhosting in 1991 the Third Workshop on the Biological andEconomical Modelling of the Shrimp Resources of theGuyana-Brazil Shelf (para. 33).

Note the interest of Venezuela to participate in theabove-mentioned Workshop and its offer to share informationon the shrimp fisheries carried out by Venezuela off itseastern coast (para. 34).

Agenda Item 5. Progress Report on the Implementation of theStrategy and Programmes of Action of FAO WorldConference on Fisheries Management andDevelopment

For attention of FAO and Governments

Note the need for continued support of donors to the fiveProgrammes of Action (para. 39).

Note the need for training in post-harvest handling ofcatches, maintenance of gear and boats, fishing techniquesand navigation (para. 40).

Note the offer of the Republic of Korea to provide furthertraining opportunities for WECAFC member countries(para. 41).

For attention of FAO

1. Recommended that the Programmes of Action should give clearemphasis on regional efforts to train artisanal fishermen(para. 42).

Agenda Item 6. Recommendations of WECAFC subsidiary bodies:

Item 6 (a) Fourth Session of the Committee for theDevelopment and Management of Fisheries in theLesser Antilles

- 43 -

For attention of FAO and Governments

Note the endor ement of the decision that large-scalepelagic driftnet fisheries should not be re-deployed in theWECAFC region (para. 50 (i)).

Note the concurrence that a global moratorium onlarge-scale pelagic driftnet fisheries on the high seasshould be imposed by 30 June 1992 (para. 50 (ii)).

Carry out rapidly statistical analyses of large-scalepelagic driftnet fisheries in order to determine themanagement and conservation measures required for theutilization of some of these gears (para. 50 (iii)).

Note the suggestion of the OECS to cooperate with theLesser Antilles Committee in the implementation ofrecommended follow-up actions of its Fourth Session(para. 52).

Note the adoption of the Report by the Commission(para. 54).

Item 6 (b) Sixth Session of the Working Party onAssessment Marine Fishery Resources

For attention of FAO and Governments

Submit to the agencies active in the region forconsideration for funding the project ideas proposed by theWorking Party (para. 60).

Note the need for project coordination within the region(para. 60).

For attention of FAO

1. Include the coordinated approach to coral reef' fishresource management as a main theme for the next WorkingParty or deal with the subject through an expertconsultation (para. 62 and 82).

For attention of FAO and Governments

Follow-up the suggestion of France regarding thepossibility of EEC funding the next Workshop on the shrimpresources of the Guyana-Brazil Shelf (para. 63).

Note the approval of new teLms of reference of the WorkingParty on Assessment of Marine Fishery Resources (para. 64).

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For attention of FAO

1. Support through the Regular Programme statistical priorityareas: maintenance of an up-dated data base for the region,provision of advice on systems of collecting and storage offisheries data, and training of statistical officers andclerks (para. 65).

For attention of FAO and Governments

Note the need for clarifying further the status of sharedresources in the WECAFC region (para. 74).

Note the possible arrangements suggested for the assessmentand joint management of shared stocks in the WECAFC region(para. 75 and Appendix E).

Initiate sub-regional research activities on lobsterresources shared by the Windward Islands and Martinique(para. 78).

Note the suggestion by Mexico for carrying out research onthe stock distribution and migration of spiny lobster inthe southern area of Mexico and the neighbouring countries(para. 81).

Note the suggestion of organizing locally funded meetingson:

fishery resources and management of coral reefresources,

Guyana-Brazil ad hoc working group on shrimp,

Workshop on the use of length frequencies models infisheries assessment suggested by France to be held inMartinique in 1991, and

Workshop on fishery statistics (para. 82 of the report).

Item 6 (c) First Session of the Working Party on Fishery_Economics and Planning

For attention of FAO and Governments

Note the offer of Mexico to make available to membercountries, through the Secretariat, various officialdocuments on management of Mexican fisheries (para. 92).

Note the adoption of the Report of the Working Party by theCommission (para. 95).

- 45 -

3. Note the endorsement by the Commission of the projectproposal "Strengthening of National Capabilities inFisheries Planning and Management in the WECAFC region" andthe request to FAO to continue its efforts to obtain fundsto implement the project as soon as possible (para. 95).

Agenda Item 7. Inspection and Quality Assurance of FisheryProducts in the WECAFC Region

For attention of FAO

1. Note the stressed need for additional training ofinspectors, fishermen, vendors and consumers on fishinspection and quality assurance (para. 104).

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Intensify the exchange of educational materials,infoLmation and expertise among member countries on fishinspection and quality control mechanisms and standardsbeing utilized for fish products by each country (para.107).

Agenda Item 8. Cooperation with Other InternationalOrganizations in the WECAFC Region

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Note the request of CARICOM to:

explore the possibility of involving experts andinstitutions from these countries in the FAO/I0C OSLRProgramme,

investigate the possibility of students from the regionreceiving training through the programme, and

take steps to disseminate the results of the programmefor the benefit of member countries of the region(para. 111).

For attention of FAO

1. Invite IOC to participate in the activities that may beorganized by the Working Party on Assessment of MarineFishery Resources dealing with the management of coral reeffisheries (para. 113).

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Note the interest of the Government of Belize to be invitedto participate in fishery activities organized by FAO inthe Central American region (para. 116).

- 46 -

Agenda Item 9. Any Other Matters

For attention of FAO and NORAD

Investigate the possibility of conducting periodic fisherysurveys in the southeastern Caribbean (para. 117).

Invite the small island States to participate in theplanning of fishery surveys with young scientists asobservers (para. 118).

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Consider the establishment of a working group to studyspecific shared resources off the Caribbean coast ofCentral America from Mexico to Panama (para. 119).

For attention of FAO

1. Encourage the organization of a greater number ofinter-sessional activities including sub-regionalcooperative activities and technical meetings of the WECAFCWorking Parties (para. 120).

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Note the interest of Spain in strengthening its cooperationwith FAO in the WECAFC region (para. 121).

For attention of FAO/RLAC and Governments

Develop a programme for improving the awareness ofpermanent secretaries and senior fisheries officers onfisheries management and development processes in theWECAFC region (para. 122).

Note that the programme mentioned in paragraph 112 shouldinclude exchange of experiences on fisheriesdevelopment/management planning, fish processing/marketing,and the development of mutual linkages among permanentsecretaries and senior fisheries officers of membercountries (para 123).

Note the need expressed by CARICOM for a closer cooperationto provide assistance to fishermen on safety at sea (para.125).

For attention of FAO and Governments

L. Note the suggestion of Mexico of organizing a Workshopaimed at discussing the establishment of a fisherystatistical data base for WECAFC region (para. 126).

- 47 -

2. Note the need for improving the provision of informationand news on fisheries for the newsletters on TCDC regionalnetworks (para. 127).

Agenda Item 10. Election of Officers

For attention of FAO and Governments

1. Note the election of Venezuela to act as Chairman and ofNicaragua and France as Vice-Chairmen (para. 128).

Agenda Item 11. Date and Place of the Eighth Session

For attention of FAO

1. Note the offer made by Venezuela to host the Eighth Session(para. 129).

M-43/T0469E/1/6.91/1600ISBN 92-5-103070-7