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Regional fisheries management organizations and advisory bodies

Activities and developments, 2000–2017













Terje Løbach, T., Petersson, M., Haberkon, E. & Mannini, P. 2020. Regional fisheries management organizations and advisory bodies. Activities and developments, 2000–2017. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 651. Rome, FAO.




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    Review of the Implementation of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 2012
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    In 2011, the Conference on Fisheries requested FAO to prepare a report on the implementation of the 1999 FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks by FAO Members, and the challenges Members faced when implementing the instrument. This document provides the requested review and includes information on National Plans of Action (NPOAs), for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, national fisheries regulations in general and measures applicable to s harks including research, data collection and reporting. In addition, membership of relevant regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and status of adopting the Port State Measures Agreement are included. This review focuses on the 26 top shark-fishing countries, areas and territories determined as those reporting at least 1 percent of global shark catches during the decade from 2000 to 2009: Indonesia, India, Spain, Taiwan Province of China, Argentina, Mexico, the United St ates of America, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, France, Thailand, Brazil, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Portugal, Nigeria, Iran (Islamic Republic of), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Peru, Australia, Yemen, Senegal and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). This review also considered shark action plans and measures from the European Union (Member Organization) and ten RFMOs. Eighty-four (84) percent of the global shark catches reported to FAO from 2000 to 2009 was from the 26 top shark-fishing countries, areas and territories. Overall, global reported annual shark catches during this decade show a significant decline of almost 20 percent from about 900 000 tonnes to about 750 000 tonnes. The review shows that 18 of the 26 top shark fishing countries, areas and territories have adopted an NPOA Sharks and that an additional 5 of these countries are in the process of adopting or developing such a plan. Among the most com monly adopted management measures for sharks are shark fin measures; but other regulations have also been implemented such as closed areas and season, by-catch/discard regulations, protected species, total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas, special reporting requirements and others. Data collection and research on sharks is lacking in many regions. Overall, the reporting of shark catches to FAO has improved in the last decade. Shark catches reported at species level doubled from 14 pe rcent in 1995 to 29 percent in 2010. Most of the top shark-fishing countries, areas and territories have taken steps to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, either by signing the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) (46 percent) or at least by adopting an NPOA IUU or similar plan (23 percent). Only five (20 percent) of the top 26 shark-fishing countries, areas and territories have not adopted an NPOA Sharks, signed the PSMA or implemented an NPOA IUU. Nonethele ss, in quite a few countries the effective implementation of MCS schemes is problematic, often because of a lack of human and financial resources. All but one of the top shark-fishing countries, areas and territories are members of at least one RFMO. In particular, shark measures adopted by tuna bodies are binding in their areas of competence for all their member States that have not objected to the measure in question. The array of shark measures adopted by the RFMOs may vary from b inding recommendations or resolutions to non-binding measures, as in the case of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). They include shark fin measures, catch and gear regulations, prohibited species, area closures, reporting requirements and research programmes. This means that in all but one area covered by RFBs there are internationally binding shark measures in place for high seas fisheries.
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    Report of the Seventh meeting of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats' Network (RSN-7) 2019
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    Forty-three secretaries of regional fisheries bodies, with diverse mandates and from all geographic regions, including FAO and non-FAO regional fisheries bodies, marine and inland fishery advisory and management bodies, the UNDOALOS and invited organizations, participated in the Seventh Meeting of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats’ Network. Discussions covered major subjects of regional concern, comprising the activities and outcomes from UNGA and UNDOALOS, the UN discussion process on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, the implementation of activities in delivering the 2030 Agenda, the experience of RFBs initiatives, the cooperation of regional bodies and Fisheries and Resources Monitoring Systems, the 33rd Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI 33) related matters and global processes and subjects relevant to RFBs and RFMOs, and the state of progress to strengthen the RSN, including current needs and challenges. The RSN Chair’s Statement, delivered at the COFI 33, is annexed to this report. The meeting had a high level of participation that underlined the role of the Network as a unique forum to foster cooperation, facilitate discussion and exchange of experiences. It noted the increased interest in the international agenda on the role of RFBs as key players in translating international and global policies into practice at the regional and local levels.
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    Regional Fishery Body Secretariats’ Network
    2021
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    Referring to surveys carried out in April and November 2020, a recent FAO publication published on the impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and aquaculture (FAO, 2020) confirms what everyone suspected: the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the work of regional fishery bodies (RFBs). This second assessment offers noteworthy figures: in November, 50 percent of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) reported that the negative impacts of the pandemic had been as expected; 41 percent found that negative impacts had been greater than expected; and 9 percent found that impacts had been lower than expected. On the other hand, surveys conducted with Regional Fisheries Advisory Bodies (RFABs) in the same month revealed that: 28 percent found that negative impacts had been as expected; 61 percent found that negative impacts had been greater than expected; and 11 percent found that impacts had been lower than expected.

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