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22 Pacific nations to discuss coastal fishery management
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Posted on Apr 03 2005
The first coastal fishery management workshop involving the countries and territories of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Pacific countries of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the territories of the U.S. Western Pacific will be held April 4-8, 2005 in Honolulu.
The Fisheries Legislation and Community-based Fisheries Management Workshop is being co-hosted by the Honolulu-based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, the SPC and FAO.
Forty-nine fishery managers and attorneys involved in natural resource legislation from 22 Pacific countries will participate in the training.
The training was initiated and organized by SPC in conjunction with FAO in response to a strategic plan developed by Pacific Island countries and territories. It was approved at the third SPC Heads of Fisheries meeting in August 2003 and includes six goals:
* To enhance the capacity of fisheries agency staff in managing sustainable fisheries;
* To assist in collecting and analyzing data;
* To assist countries with practical and enforceable fisheries regulations;
* To assist with the involvement of stakeholders;
* To assist in raising public awareness; and
* To assist in setting up marine protected areas.
While the participants come from countries with different management regimes and political structures, they utilize the same management tools and share a commitment to preserve communities’ rights and access to fisheries while at the same time conserving the resource and protecting the environment.
Attendees will exchange information and experience regarding data collection and analysis, fisheries regulations, public awareness, involvement of stakeholders, ecosystem approach to fisheries management, marine protected areas, by-catch, protected species, aquaculture and the structure of fisheries agencies. (PR)
