FAO Regional Conference for the Near EastThirty-second Session24 – 28 February 2014, Rome, Italy Summary of Recommendations of Regional Commissions and Major Meetings in the Near East and North Africa on: i) Policy and Regulatory Matters and ii) Programme and Budget Matters Agenda Item: NERC/14/5 ©www.fao.org

1. FAO Regional Conference for the Near East
Thirty-second Session
24 – 28 February 2014, Rome, Italy
Summary of Recommendations of Regional
Commissions and Major Meetings in the Near
East and North Africa on: i) Policy and Regulatory
Matters and ii) Programme and Budget Matters
Agenda Item: NERC/14/5
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

2. RECOFI
GFCM
Year Established
1999
1949
Membership
8 member countries
23 Member Countries
1 Member Organization
Secretariat
FAO part-time secretariat
Full-time secretariat
(seven positions)
Meetings and workshops organized (2009-present)
21
128
Recommendations formulated (2009-present)
1
41
Members annual contribution (2013)
40 000 USD
1 708 239 USD
Last approved budget (2013)
160 000 USD
1 940 973 USD
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

3. The Seventh Session of the Regional Commission for
Fisheries (RECOFI) was held in
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 14-16 May 2013
The Commission deliberated and made the following main
considerations and conclusions on Aquaculture an Capture
Fisheries in the region…
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

4. Policy and Regulatory Matters
Affirmed that priority should be given to work on shared
stocks, in particular giving due consideration to species
supporting fisheries of common interest
Art. 7.1.3 For transboundary fish stocks,
straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish
stocks and high seas fish stocks, where
these are exploited by two or more States,
the States concerned, ….., should
cooperate to ensure effective conservation
and management of the resources.
This
should
be
achieved,
where
appropriate, through the establishment of a
bilateral, subregional or regional fisheries
organisation or arrangement.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

5. Policy and Regulatory Matters
Reiterated the relevance of aquaculture as a priority, and
agreed on the need for a long-term regional strategy for
aquaculture development
http://www.raisaquaculture.net
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

6. Policy and Regulatory Matters
Welcomed the opportunity to strengthen
cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC)
and other regional partners,
emphasizing the value of effective and
viable regional cooperation which
should be fostered by RECOFI
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

7. Policy and Regulatory Matters
Noted the urgent need to formulate a regional management
plan for the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
and management procedures to reduce shrimp trawling effort
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

8. Policy and Regulatory Matters
Did not endorse the WGFM advice related to the freeze on
new fishing licenses
2012
2011
2010
Y
Y
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003>
Y*
~1990
Y*
~1990
Shrimp Trawl
Commended the general and
genuine commitment by
Members to implement the
Recommendation on
Minimum Data Reporting
(effective 1 January 2012) and
recognized the need to
establish a RECOFI regional
database to support regional
fisheries management
2-a-i
Opening/closing dates
2-a-ii
Number of vessels by types and size
categories
2-a-iii
Average tow duration by vessel type/
category
Y*
Y*
Y*
Y*
Y*
Y**
Y**
Y**
Y**
Y**
Average number of tows per day by vessel
type/ category
Total number of days at sea by vessel type/
category
Y
Y
Catch of shrimp
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of swimming crab, cuttlefish,
emperors, groupers, sharks, and rays
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of other finfishes
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Total catch
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of emperors, groupers, sharks, and
rays
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Total catch
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of emperors, groupers, sharks, and
rays
2-a-iv
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
5-a
Shrimp species composition
2-a-v
Amount of discards
2-a-vi
Species composition of bycatch and discard
2-b
BRD related information
Gillnets
3-a
Number of days at sea
Alternative annual efforts
3-b
Amount of discards
5-b
Species composition of discards
Wire-traps
3-a
Number of days at sea
Alternative annual efforts
3-b
Amount of discards
5-b
Species composition of discards
Hook-and-line
3-a
Number of days at sea
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Total catch
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Catch of emperors, groupers, sharks, and
rays
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Alternative annual efforts
3-b
Amount of discards
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

9. Programme and Budget Matters
Approved a workplan for the intersessional period
focusing on:
i) joint assessment of the narrow-barred Spanish
mackerel;
ii) establishment of a regional fisheries management
framework;
ii) development of a regional programme to address
IUU fishing;
iv) formulation of national/regional strategy on
aquatic animal health;
v) aquaculture recirculation technologies;
vi) risk analysis in aquaculture.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

10. Programme and Budget Matters
Noted that some of the major activities were only possible due to
the mobilization of additional resources from the FAO regular
programme.
Noted with concern the existing balance of accumulated pending
contributions.
Reiterated that Member Countries would have to ensure
adequate funding to preserve the work of the Commission, as this
is becoming increasingly essential for the sustainability of shared
fishery and aquaculture resources in the region.
Reaffirmed the decision made at the sixth session that the
Member’s annual contribution would be increased on the
condition that outstanding contributions would be settled at the
earliest possible date.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

11. www.gfcm.org
Thirty-Sixth Session
(Marrakech, Morocco, 14-19 May 2012)
Thirty-Seventh Session
(Split, Croatia, 13-17 May 2013)
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

12. GFCM binding recommendations on:
 Multiannual management plan for fisheries on
small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea;
 Further measures for the exploitation of red
coral;
 Mitigation of incidental catches of cetaceans;
 Fisheries management measures for
conservation of sharks and rays;
 Resolution GFCM/36/2012/1 on Guidelines on
Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA);
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

13. GFCM decisions included:
 Establishment of a Task Force aimed at spearheading a
reform of the GFCM. An Extraordinary Session of the
Commission has been tentatively scheduled in 2014 to adopt
a new set of its constitutive texts;
 Endorsement of the first GFCM Framework Programme
which was proposed as an instrument to collect extrabudgetary resources in support of the field programme;
 Strengthening of the Secretariat by recruiting four additional
staff members.
 The Commission adopted its 2012 and 2013 autonomous
budgets at the level of USD 1 805 027 and USD 1 940 973
respectively and endorsed the programme of work of its
subsidiary bodies for the same years.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

14. Selected Issues of Relevance for Sustainable Fisheries and
Aquaculture Management and Development in the Region
Total Fisheries and Aquaculture Production (RNE)
Tonnes
5000000
4500000
4000000
3500000
3000000
2500000
2000000
1500000
1000000
500000
0
1950195219541956195819601962196419661968197019721974197619781980198219841986198819901992199419961998200020022004200620082010
Total Capture Fisheries Production
(RNE)
Tonnes
Total Aquaculture Production (RNE)
Tonnes
1400000
3500000
1200000
3000000
1000000
2500000
800000
2000000
600000
1500000
400000
1000000
NERC-32: For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region
2010
2007
2004
2001
1998
1995
1992
1989
1986
1983
1980
1977
1974
1971
1968
1965
1962
1959
1956
1953
1950
2010
2007
2004
2001
1998
1995
1992
1989
1986
1983
1980
1977
1974
1971
1968
1965
1962
1959
0
1956
0
1953
200000
1950
500000

15. Apparent fish consumption in 2010 (per
capita supply, kg/year)
Global Average: 18.9 kg/person/year
Regional Average: 11.08 kg/person/year
NERC-32: For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

16. Fisheries Management: sustainability issue
Landings of Sea Cucumbers in Mauritania
100
80
60
40
20
0
2007
Landings of Sea Cucumbers in Yemen
250
200
2009
2010
2011
Landings of sea cucumbers in Egypt
(Red Sea)
350
300
2008
3000
2000
150
100
1000
50
0
0
2000
NERC-32
2002
2004
2006
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region
2008
2010

17. New and emerging fisheries
Landings of jellyfish
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2004
2005
2006
Bahrain
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Iran (Islamic Rep. of)
Landings of Portunus pelagicus
tonnes
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bahrain
Kuwait
Qatar
NERC-32
Iran (Islamic Rep. of)
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

18. Food Security and Income Generation through
Reduction of Loss and Waste in Fisheries
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

19. Initiative on Fisheries Management Cooperation in the
Northern Area of RECOFI (Iran IR, Iraq and Kuwait)
 Jointly assess marine



NERC-32
fisheries and marine and
brackish water
aquaculture;
Coordinate research and
management work on the
shared stocks of silver
pomfret, hilsa shad and
penaeid shrimps;
Work on Illegal,
Unreported and
Unregulated (IUU)
fishing;
Harmonisation and
simplification of trade
and market regulations.
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

20. 1st Regional review of the fisheries and
aquaculture activities in the Tigris-Euphrates
Inland fisheries and aquaculture
provide an important source of
employment and income for rural
communities in the region;
The fisheries and aquaculture
natural resource base is deteriorating;
Illegal fishing is an important issue
of concern;
Fishermen’s and fish farmer’s
associations/cooperatives either do
not exist or lack the capacity to
effectively provide services, and
participatory management needs to
be established.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

21. A framework for regional cooperation
 Fisheries and aquaculture resources
sustainability;
 Fisheries
and
aquaculture
management and planning;
 Participatory management through
resource users and stakeholders
involvement;
 Promotion and establishment of
regional technical cooperation and
dialogue with the purpose of
establishing regionally harmonized
fisheries
and
aquaculture
management
and
development
actions.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

22. Regional Fisheries Management and Aquaculture
Development Mechanism for the Red Sea and Gulf
of Aden
FAO/PERSGA Partnership
established to assist coastal
countries
2nd Regional Intergovernmental
Meeting to Initiate the
Establishment of a Fishery
Management Arrangement in the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will be
held in 2014.
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

23. Knowledge of Natural Resources for sustainable
fisheries and aquaculture development
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region

24. Thanks for your attention
NERC-32
For a Resilient and a Food Secure Region