REPORT ON THE EXPERTS MEETING OF THE 9

CONFERENCE MINISTERIELLE SUR LA COOPERATION HALIEUTIQUE ENTRE
LES ETATS AFRICAINS RIVERAINS DE L’OCEAN ATLANTIQUE
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON FISHERIES COOPERATION AMONG AFRICAN
STATES BORDERING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
ATLAFCO/ATLAFCO
REPORT ON THE EXPERTS MEETING OF THE 9th ORDINARY
SESSION OF THE
ATLAFCO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE.
I.
Opening Session
1. The Experts Meeting of the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation
among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO) was held in
Rabat, Morocco, from 6th to 7th September 2014, in preparation for the Ninth
Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Conference scheduled for September 08,
2014.
2. Delegates from the following 19 Member States participated in the meeting:
Benin, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Morocco,
Mauritania, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and
Togo. The representatives of Angola, Cabo Verde, and Namibia could not
attend the meeting.
3. Representatives of Japan, Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of
Guinea (FCWC), Regional Fisheries Committee for the Gulf of Guinea
(COREP), Network on Fishery Policies in West Africa (REPAO),
International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT),
Grouping of African Maritime Training Institutions (REFMA), African
Network of Women in Fisheries (RAFEP), and African Fisheries Research
and Maritime
Science
Institutes
Network (RAFISMER),
the
Intergovernmental Organization for Marketing, Information and Cooperation
Services for Fishing Products in Africa (INFOPECHE), and the Long
Distance Advisory Committee (LDAC) of the European Union, attended the
meeting as observers.
4. The list of participants is attached as Appendix I.
5. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Samuel QUATEEY, representative of Ghana,
the country currently presiding over ATLAFCO.
1
6. In his opening address, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Marine Fisheries of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Brahim BOUDINAR,
welcomed participants to the Experts Meeting of the 9th Ordinary Session of
the Ministerial Conference and highlighted the importance of this session. The
representative of Morocco declared that ATLAFCO is now an integral part of
the regional institutional heritage which gives all its meaning to fisheries
cooperation in the area. The potential though real is extremely sensitive. He
invited participants to be very creative in expressing recommendations to
make the cooperation an effective management tool in the region. He wished
participants a successful meeting and reiterated the willingness and
commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to work for the development of
ATLAFCO.
7. On behalf of the Japanese delegation, Senator Yosuke TSURUHO recalled the
relationships of cooperation with the ATLAFCO Member States, and
reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthen those amicable relations. He
expressed the hope that the Conference will adopt the declaration on the
sustainable use of all marine species under the right of people to ensure food
security.
8. The Chairman welcomed the experts of member countries and partner
organizations and wished them an enjoyable stay in Morocco. He indicated
that this meeting was held in preparation for the 9th Ordinary Session of the
ATLAFCO Ministerial Conference scheduled for 08 September, 2014
pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Protocol. The Chairman invited
delegates to make constructive contributions in the spirit of unity to achieve a
clear and comprehensive report to be submitted to the Ministerial Conference.
9. Mr. Driss MESKI, Executive Secretary of ICCAT, highlighted the excellent
relations between ICCAT and ATLAFCO. He invited ATLAFCO members
States to comply with the management measures adopted by ICCAT, and
reaffirmed the availability of ICCAT to improve cooperation with ATLAFCO
to achieve the goals of the two organizations.
10. Mr. Mohamed EL MALAGUI, Director of INFOPECHE (Intergovernmental
Organization for Marketing, Information and Cooperation Services for Fishing
Products in Africa, an organization based in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), made a
comment concerning the fact that there is a partnership that exists between his
organization and ATLAFCO for more than 15 years, and proposed a renewal
of this partnership.
11. Dr. Julio MORON, Director of OPAGAC (Spanish Tuna Purse Seine
Organization), on behalf of the Long Distance Advisory Council of the EU
(LDAC), expressed his gratitude to be invited to this meeting and reaffirmed
the commitment of his organization to cooperate in promoting transparent and
sustainable fisheries management in the Atlantic Ocean.
2
II.
The Agenda
12. The agenda of the meeting was unanimously adopted and is attached as
Appendix II.
III. Activity Report
13. - A detailed administrative and financial report covering the periods of 2011,
2012, 2013 and the first 7 months of 2014, concerning the level of
implementation of activities, conclusions or recommendations and their
continuation was presented by the Executive Secretary of ATLAFCO. The
meeting was informed of the steps taken with the various Member States to
accelerate the awareness of the authorities to revive outstanding issues relating
to their position vis-à-vis the Convention and settlement of dues. The meeting
took note that some Member States still have not signed nor ratified the
Convention. It was recommended that a reminder should be sent to them to
take all necessary means to sign and ratify.
14. Participants were also informed on the progress of activities related to the
monitoring and implementation of the recommendations of the 8th Ordinary
Session of the Ministerial Conference.
15. Participants welcomed the efforts to revitalize the Conference Secretariat. In
this regard, the meeting recommended the adoption by the Ministerial
Conference of Staff Regulations to provide the Secretariat with qualified staff
measuring up to the required standards of similar international organizations.
16. Participants also followed with interest the steps taken by the Secretariat to
conduct other activities in conjunction with technical and financial partners.
17. The Executive Secretary further informed participants on ATLAFCO’s
participation in several regional and international fisheries management
organizations meetings.
18. Information on initiatives undertaken with new partners in strengthening
cooperation with sub-regional organizations, including the Sub-Regional
Fisheries Commission (SRFC), the Fisheries Committee for the West-Central
Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), made it possible to enhance collaboration and
relations with African organizations operating in the sector.
19. Finally an overview on the mobilization of financial support for the
implementation of activities and the major constraints encountered, including
suggested solutions, was also proposed by the Executive Secretary.
3
20. The work of the Secretariat and the efforts made in the framework of the
implementation of its mission were greatly appreciated. The Executive
Secretary’s work was praised and encouraged.
21. The logistical support provided by the Kingdom of Morocco to the Secretariat
was acknowledged by the participants who thanked the Kingdom for its
continued support to ATLAFCO.
22. Member States expressed commitments to paying their annual contributions
and pledged to take steps in settling outstanding arrears as well as putting in
place mechanisms to facilitate payment of their contributions on a regular
basis. The Chairperson appealed to Member States to make voluntary
contributions beyond the minimum statutory contribution. It was
recommended that a reminder should be sent to Member States in arrears to
take all necessary steps to settle the arrears.
23. The meeting reiterated appreciation to its partners, especially Japan, for their
regular financial support and requested an increase of such assistance to
ATLAFCO.
24. The Secretariat was commended by the meeting for the various initiatives in
broadening the range of its technical and financial partners and was
encouraged to continue in this direction.
IV. 2015-2016 Action Plan
25. The meeting also reviewed and approved the 2015-2016 Action Plan presented
by the Executive Secretary. The Action Plan puts emphasis on the regional or
sub-regional activities which revolve around the areas of sustainability,
improved performance, promotion of regional trade, and consolidating the
common position of ATLAFCO on the international scene.
26. The implementation of the 2015-2016 Action Plan requires a total budget of
two million US Dollars to be mobilized from:
-the "Fisheries Promotion Fund" (US$ 1.7 million)
-the "Regional Fund for Fisheries Development" (US$ 170,000) and
-from development partners (US$ 130,000).
27. For the implementation of the activities of the 2015-2016 Action Plan, the
meeting recommended to approve the allocation of 16% from the Regional
Fund for Fisheries Development, for the operating costs in accordance with
the provisions of Article 18 of the Convention.
V. Thematic presentations
4
28. A presentation on "The contribution of fisheries to food security" was
delivered by the representative of Guinea. The important role of marine
resources in improving food and nutrition security was recognized. The right
of ATLAFCO Member States to use their marine resources to meet the food
and nutritional needs of their populations through improved management
based on objective knowledge on stock status was emphasized. The
participants recommended that the Ministerial Conference endorses the
resolution submitted to the Secretariat of the International Whaling
Commission (IWC) on food security. The resolution is attached as Appendix
III.
29. The approach to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing was
presented by the representative of Ghana. It was emphasized that such fishing
is a threat to the sustainability of the marine resources, food security, and
sources of income and economic development throughout the region.
Therefore, the magnitude and complexity as well as the resources required to
combat it led the meeting to recommend the adoption of the Rabat
Declaration on regional cooperation in combating IUU fishing by the
Ministerial Conference. The Declaration is attached as Appendix IV. The
meeting recommended that a study to evaluate the potential loss due to the
impact of IUU fishing in the region be conducted.
VI. Other matters
30. The statements by representatives of REFMA (African Maritime Training
Institutions Network), RAFEP (African Women in Fisheries Network), and
RAFISMER (Maritime Science and Fisheries Research Institutes Network) on
their future activities were followed with keen interest by the meeting.
31. The representative of Côte d'Ivoire informed the meeting of the holding of the
1st African World Tuna Conference to be held in Abidjan on 25 and 26
September 2014. ATLAFCO Member States were invited to participate in the
conference.
VII. Venue of the next Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Conference
32. Côte d’Ivoire proposed to host the 10th Ordinary Session of the Conference
and the meeting recommended submitting this proposal for approval by the
Ministerial Conference.
VIII. Closing of the meeting
33. The Chairman of the Meeting declared the Experts Meeting closed at 11.50
A.M.
5
Appendix I : list of participants
N°
1
Full name
Country /
Organization
Title/Quality
M. JEAN-BAPTISTE
DEGBEY
DIRECTEUR DES
PECHES
M. MOUHAMADOU
YOUSSIFOU
AMBASSADEUR DU
CAMEROUN AU
MAROC
3
M. EMMA BELAL
DIRECTEUR DES
PECHES
4
M. SANATOU CHINTOUE
EPSE NJIKAM
M. KOFFI AMANI
GEORGES LOPEZ
M. KONAN ANGAMAN
2
5
6
7
8
M. KOUAKOU PHIENY
DENIS
M. GAGO NIHO
CHELOMS
9
SHEP HELGUILE
10
M. YOBARD MPOUSSA
JEAN PIERRE
11
12
MME. GUYLENE
NKOANE NDOUTOUME
M. BAMBA BANJA
13
M. MATARR BAH
14
MME REBECCA AMOOH
ABOAGYE
M. SAMUEL NII KPAKPA
QUAATEY
15
16
17
M. AMADOU TELIVEL
DIALLO
M. HASSIMIOU TALL
18
M. SEBASTIAO PEREIRA
19
M. HENRIQUE ANTONIO
DA SILVA
Email address
[email protected]
BENIN
[email protected]
CAMEROUN
CAMEROUN
[email protected]
[email protected]
EXPERT
CHARGE DE
COMMUNICATION
CONSEILLER
TECHNIQUE
DIRECTEUR DE
CABINET
DIRECTEUR DE LA
COOPERATION
INTERNE
DIRECTEUR DE
L’AQUACULTURE
ET DES PECHES
DIRECTEUR
GENERAL DE LA
PECHE MARITIME
CHARGEE D’ETUDE
DGPA
PERMANENT
SECRETAIRE
EXPERT
CAMEROUN
COTE D'IVOIRE
[email protected]
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
[email protected]
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
[email protected]
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
[email protected]
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
[email protected]
CONGO
[email protected]
GABON
[email protected]
GAMBIE
[email protected]
GAMBIE
[email protected]
CHEF DIRECTORY/
CHEF DE CABINET
DIRECTEUR DE LA
COMMISSION DES
PECHES
CHEF DE CABINET
GHANA
[email protected]
GHANA
[email protected]
GUINEE
CONAKRY
GUINEE
CONAKRY
GUINEE
BISSAU
GUINEE
BISSAU
[email protected]
DIRECTEUR DES
PECHES
DIRECTEUR
GENERAL
EXPERT
6
[email protected]
[email protected]
om
[email protected]
20
M. NDONG MICHA
ANDRES
21
22
M. ERIC MCARTHUR
COOPER
MME ROCHDI ZAHRA
23
M. BOUDINAR BRAHIM
24
MALOULI IDRISSI
MOHAMMED
25
MME BADOUR NOURA
26
DIRECTEUR DES
PECHES
ARTISANALE
EXPERT
GUINEE
EQUATORIALE
andresndongomicha@yahoo
.es
LIBERIA
[email protected]
DIRECTRICE
COOPERATION
AFFAIRE JURIDIQUE
EXPERT
MAROC
[email protected]
MAROC
[email protected].
ma
CHEF
DEPARTEMENT
RESSOURCES
HALIEUTIQUES
DIP/DPM
MAROC
MAROC
[email protected]
M. BOUJGUENNA
MOHAMED
M. RABI EL MALEK
DCAJ/DPM
MAROC
PARTICIPANT
MAROC
mohamed.boujguenna@mp
m.gov.ma
[email protected]
EXPERT
MAROC
[email protected]
29
MME KAOUAKIB
KHADIJA
MME HAFIDA EL GHAZI
MAROC
[email protected]
30
M. OUATI YOUSSEF
INFORMATRICE
PRINCIPALE
CHEF DE DIVISION
MAROC
[email protected]
31
M. LAAROUSSI YASSINE
MAROC
[email protected]
32
M. BENBARI MOHAMED
CHEF DE SERVICE
COOPERATION
EXPERT
MAROC
[email protected]
33
MME ALAOUI
METEREJJI AICHA
M. OUAZZANI
TNACHERIMOHAMED
COMITE
ORGANISATION
COMITE
ORGANISATION
MAROC
35
M. AZZEDINE FARHANE
MAROC
[email protected]
36
M. MOHAMEDINE FALL
OULD ABDI
M. MOHAMED EL
HAFED OULD EJIWEN
MME AZZA CHEIKH
JEDDOU
DIRECTION DES
NATIONS UNIES ET
DES
ORGANISATIONS
INTERNATIONALES
CT/MPED
MAURITANIE
[email protected]
EXPERT
MAURITANIE
27
28
34
37
38
39
M. FOLUKE O. AREOLA
40
M. PIUS BITAKUYA
DUNIA
MAROC
DIRECTRICE
AMENAGEMENT
RESSOURCES ET
OCEANOGRAPHIE
DIRECTEUR
[email protected]
MAURITANIE
EXPERT
7
NIGERIA
[email protected]
REPUBLIQUE
DEMOCRATIQ
UE DU CONGO
[email protected]
41
M. OLAVIO ANIBAL
42
45
M. JOÃO GOMES
CRAVID
M. CAMILLE JEAN
PIERRE MANEL
M. KAMORBA
KELFALLAH DABO
M. AHOEDO KOSSI
46
M. EMILE ESSEMA
47
51
M. DEDI NADJE
SERAPHIN
MME BALIABA BEYENE
ATEBA
MME MESSAOUDA
RACHID
M. TAOUFIQ
MOHAMED
M. JAMAL SADAK
52
M. ABDELMALEK FARAJ
53
M. YOSUKE TSURUHO
54
M. HIDENAO
WATANABE
55
M. YOSHIHIRO TAKAGI
56
M. HIDEKI MORONUKI
57
59
M. TAKASHI
MATSUMOTO
M. JULIO MORON
AYALA
M. DRISS MESKI
60
M. PAPA GORA NDIAYE
61
M. MOHAMED EL
MALAGUI
M. ABDELOUAHED
BENABBOU
M. ABDENNAJI
LAAMRICH
M. MOHAMMED
HADDAD
43
44
48
49
50
58
62
63
64
EXPERT DANS LA
PECHE
EXPERT
SAO TOME
& PRINCIPE
SAO TOME
& PRINCIPE
SENEGAL
[email protected]
SIERRA
LEONE
TOGO
[email protected]
COREP
[email protected]
CPCO
[email protected]
RAFEP
[email protected]
RAFEP
RAFEP
[email protected]
m
[email protected]
PRESIDENT DU
REFMA
PARTENAIRE
REFMA
[email protected]
MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OF
COUNCILORS
DIRECTOR FOR
INTERNATIONAL
NEGOCIATION
CONSEILLER DE
L'ASSOCIATION DE
PECHE
DELEGATION
JAPONAISE
DELEGATION
JAPONAISE
[email protected]
NEGOTIATOR
INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS DIVISION
OFFICIER
DELEGATION
JAPONAISE
[email protected]
DELEGATION
JAPONAISE
LDAC
takashi.matsumoto@mosfa.
go.jp
[email protected]
ICCAT
[email protected]
REPAO
[email protected]
INFOPECHE
[email protected]/elmalag
[email protected]
[email protected]
om
[email protected]
DIRECTEUR
EXPERT
CHEF DE SECTION
RESSOURCES
HALIEUTIQUES
SECRETAIRE
EXECUTIF
SECRETAIRE
GENERAL
PRESIDENTE DU
RAFEP
VICE-PRESIDENTE
DU RAFEP
EXPERT
[email protected]
[email protected]
RAFISMER
OBSERVATEUR
SECRETAIRE
EXECUTIF
SECRETAIRE
EXECUTIF
DIRECTEUR
D'INFOPECHE
SECRETAIRE
EXECUTIF
CHARGE DE
PROGRAMME
RESPONSABLE
FINANCIER
DELEGATION
JAPONAISE
COMHAFAT
COMHAFAT
COMHAFAT
8
[email protected]
m
65
M. MASAKI OIKAWA
EXPERT OFCF
COMHAFAT
66
MME HAYAT ASSARA
COMHAFAT
67
M. MOHAMED SADIKI
COMHAFAT
[email protected]
68
M. ALI BOUALI
ASSISTANTE DE
DIRECTION
CADRE A LA
COMHAFAT
CONSEILLER
oikawamasakichofu@yahoo.
co.jp
[email protected]
COMHAFAT
[email protected]
69
Mlle ABLA EL ALAOUI
STAGAIRE
COMHAFAT
[email protected]
9
Appendix II : Agenda of the meeting
ANNOTATED AGENDA OF THE EXPERTS MEETING
RABAT, 6-7 September, 2014
- 08h00-09h00: Registration of participants
1- Opening of the meeting
The expert meeting will be opened on September 6, 2014 at 09:00 am by the delegate of
Ghana, which holds the chair of ATLAFCO.
Welcome by the representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Morocco, the
host country.
Remarks by the Representative of the chairman of ATLAFCO.
2 - Adoption of the agenda
The meeting is invited to consider and adopt the provisional Agenda
3 - Report of the Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary shall submit an Administrative and Financial report to the meeting
of experts of the 9th session of the Ministerial Conference, in which he gives an overall of
the various actions carried out in the follow-up of the eighth session, held in Accra, Ghana,
from 17 to 19 February 2010. The Executive Secretary informs the meeting of steps taken
to promote the objectives of the Conference and their implementation. He recalls the
recommendations of the 8th session of the Conference and indicates the progress of their
implementation status.
The meeting is invited to take note of:
- The situation of accessions and ratifications vis-à-vis the ATLAFCO Convention
- Report of activities during the related period
- The financial position of the various ATLAFCO’s funds including summaries of audit
reports
-
4- Action Plan 2015-2016
The meeting will follow up the presentation “Action Plan 2015-2016” dealing with the
following items:
The principals and rules of intervention
The general framework for intervention
Timetable and funding
Funding plan
The various actions of the plan will be considered and discussed in order to be adopted by
the meeting.
5-Thematic Presentations
Thematic papers will be presented and discussed:
- The contribution of fisheries to food security, presented by Guinea
10
- The regional approach to fight against IUU fishing, presented by Ghana
6- Miscellaneous
Members of the Conference of Ministers and Observers are invited to submit other questions
for examination and appraisal of the meeting.
7- Venue of the next Session
The venue of the next session will be discussed following the proposals of the various
participating countries.
8 - Adoption of the meeting report
The meeting adopts a report at the end of its work, in which are recorded the results of
discussions by participants, as well as recommendations on various issues.
9 - Closing of the meeting
The Chairman of experts meeting will deliver the closing speech.
11
Appendix III : Resolution
RESOLUTION ON FOOD SECURITY
Submitted by Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Mali
-
WHEREAS the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations was
established on 16 October 1945 to defeat global hunger and has 194 Member Nations, two
associate members and one member organization;
-
WHEREAS the International Whaling Commission was established in 1948 and has 88
Member Nations;
-
WHEREAS the United Nations estimates that the global population is predicted to increase
from 7.2 billion today to 9.6 billion by 2050;
-
WHEREAS the FAO estimates that 842 million people suffer from chronic hunger;
-
WHEREAS the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the FAO of the United Nations has
as its vision: “A world in which responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture
resources makes an appreciable contribution to human well-being, food security and
poverty alleviation.”
-
WHEREAS the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the FAO of the United Nations has
as its mission: “To strengthen global governance and the managerial and technical
capacities of members and to lead consensus-building towards improved conservation and
utilization of aquatic resources.”
-
RECALLING that the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW)
recognizes in its preamble, “that it is in the common interest to achieve the optimum level
of whale stocks as rapidly as possible without causing widespread economic and nutritional
distress”;
-
NOTING that the FAO of the United Nations has established five strategic objectives,
namely:
-

Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition;

Make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable;

Reduce rural poverty;

Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems;

Increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters;
NOTING that IWC Member Nations are also Member Nations of the FAO;
12
-
CONSIDERING that consistency and cooperation between the FAO and IWC will enhance
the ability of both organizations to fulfill their missions;
-
RECOGNIZING that the primary reason that whaling is conducted today is to provide food;
-
RECOGNIZING the potential for conflict between the aims of (a) achieving sustainable
increases of fisheries production to provide food and (b) protecting the natural
environment;
NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION,
-
DECLARES that all peoples have the right to access food;
-
URGES Member Nations to take account of the need for food security and good nutrition
when making proposals to Amend the Schedule;
-
RESOLVES to take account of the need for food security and good nutrition when making its
decisions.
13
Appendix III : Rabat Declaration
RABAT DECLARATION ON REGIONAL COOPERATION TO COMBAT ILLEGAL,
UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING (IUU FISHING)
Ministers and Delegates of Member States of the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries
Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean-ATLAFCO- (Benin,
Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, D.R. Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe,
Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) and Mali, meeting in Rabat (Morocco) on September 08,
2014 for the 9th Ordinary Session of ATLAFCO;
Highlighting the successive achievements of ATLAFCO since its creation in 1989 in the
matter of regional consultation and cooperation for the sustainable development of the
fisheries sector,
Taking into account the spirit of cooperation and partnership that drives the Member States
to achieve in the future concrete priority action programs based on the experiences and
lessons learned from the actions of the Conference;
Convinced that the principles and guidelines of the convention of ATLAFCO remain major
guides for fisheries cooperation in the region;
Recognizing that sustainable development of the fisheries sector should be based on good
governance for the conservation and management of fishery resources;
Convinced that IUU fishing is a global scourge that continues to undermine the development
strategies of the fisheries sector and threaten the sustainability of resources and food security
in many countries;
Confident that international and regional cooperation is an effective and determinant asset in
the fight against IUU fishing;
Recognizing the laudable and relevant initiatives of international and regional organizations
involved in the fight against IUU fishing;
Declare their firm commitment to:
- Pursue efforts and pool available means to develop the capacity building of member states
in the region for better governance and management of the fisheries sector;
- Strengthen national and regional policies to fight IUU fishing and to mobilize for this
purpose all means necessary for their implementation;
14
- Enhance the level of coordination and regular regional exchange of information between
Member States and establishment of a database of vessels and operators engaged in IUU
fishing;
- Boost the capacities to fight IUU fishing through the sharing of information, experience,
training and intra-regional expertise;
- Give full effect to the steps taken in the international scene to eradicate IUU fishing,
including:
 The FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and
Management Measures by fishing vessels in the High Seas (1993);
 The UN Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks (1995);
 The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995);
 The FAO agreement on port state measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing (2009) and,
 FAO Voluntary Guidelines for the conduct of the flag State in the fight against IUU
fishing (2014);
- Encourage and explore opportunities for technical, financial and logistical assistance to the
implementation of directives, regulations and international agreements on the fight against
IUU fishing;
- Coordinate and harmonize the positions of ATLAFCO member States within international
bodies to get the best benefits of the mechanisms provided by the various measures taken for
a better management and development of fisheries in general, and for the fight against IUU
fishing in particular.
They tasked the Secretariat to make arrangements in consultation with Member States and
the various partners both bilaterally and multilaterally to take the relevant steps to give full
effect to this Declaration.
Done in Rabat, September 08, 2014
15