Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 3 • Number 4 • 10th March 2003

FAO COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON RESPONSIBLE FISHING AND FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

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FAO COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON RESPONSIBLE FISHING AND FISHERIES SUBSIDIES

On 24-28 February, government officials and experts met in Rome for the 25th meeting of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) to review a report on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Related International Plans of Action. Food security, illegal fishing, sustainable fisheries management and fisheries subsides were among the issues discussed.

The meeting, organised by COFI under the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), focused in particular on strategies for increasing the role and sustainability of small-scale fisheries with regard to food security and poverty alleviation. It also considered the implementation of an ecosystems approach to fisheries management in an effort to restore fisheries resources in marine environments. In this context, the Japanese delegation presented its preliminary findings from a whale research programme, arguing that whales consume large volumes of fish and undermine fisheries conservation efforts — and ultimately world food security. In light of the research findings, the Japanese delegation urged the committee to continue its work on implementing an ecosystem model to manage fisheries and take into account the competition between marine mammals and fisheries. A number of other delegations requested the committee to increase its work on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) and to strengthen regional fisheries management organisations.

Another subject discussed during the meeting was the role of the FAO and COFI with regards to fisheries subsidies. Participants reaffirmed the coordinating role the FAO holds on fisheries subsidies among intergovernmental institutions, and furthermore supported COFI in analysing the impacts fisheries subsidies can have on the sustainability of marine resources, on alleviating poverty and on fostering food security. However, while acknowledging the important roles of FAO and COFI in this area, countries also urged the committee not to block progress in the negotiations on fishing subsidies in the WTO. Developing countries furthermore highlighted the importance of positive subsidies for development and the need for special and differential treatment. The meeting also acknowledged the need to categorise the effects of subsidies on the environment and to conduct further work on this issue.

At the end of the meeting Japan announced its financial support for the next meeting of the committee to be held in early 2004, which will focus on IUU issues as well as on fisheries subsidies.

ICTSD reporting; "Fish consumption by marine mammals concerns Japan" SCOOP Media, 28 February, 2003. "Strong support for firmer action against IUU fishing," FAO, 3 March, 2003.