Three regional fisheries bodies (RFBs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate improved regional coordination on sustainable fisheries management in the Western Central Atlantic Region.
The MOU aims to facilitate, support and strengthen the RFBs' actions, including through the implementation of the 10-year Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+SAP).
29 January 2016: Three regional fisheries bodies (RFBs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate improved regional coordination on sustainable fisheries management in the Western Central Atlantic Region. The MOU aims to facilitate, support and strengthen the RFBs’ actions, including through the implementation of the 10-year Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+SAP).
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Organization of the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (OSPESCA) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN- Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (FAO-WECAFC) signed the MOU in Cartagena, Colombia.
Under the MOU, the parties agree to promote coordination and mutual cooperation on technical Working Groups on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries, Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), sharks, lobster, queen conch, shrimp and ground fish, flying fish, and recreational fisheries. One of the three RFBs will play a lead coordinating role in assessing and formulating fisheries management advice for each specific target fishery and technical Working Group.
The RFBs also agree to collaborate on: harmonization of policies and legal frameworks for fisheries; data and information sharing on fish stocks, fisheries activities and the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf LMEs; relevant fisheries management projects; and establishment of reciprocal observer arrangements. The organizations are expected to participate in each others’ meetings and to hold regular meetings to plan, coordinate and review progress in implementing the MOU.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) are also providing support for a five-year project to support the implementation of the CLME+SAP through an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach. The project aims to address challenges facing the CLME, such as unsustainable exploitation of fish and other marine resources, habitat degradation and marine pollution. [FAO Press Release] [MOU] [FAO Website on CRFM] [FAO Website on OSPESCA] [FAO Website on WECAFC] [UNESCO Press Release] [CLME+SAP]