GUINEA CURRENT LARGE MARINE
ECOSYSTEM PROJECT
REPORT OF GCLME/WWF REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON
FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
ACCRA, GHANA 24-26 JANUARY 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................3
2. PARTICIPANTS..............................................................................................4
3. OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................4
4. OPENING CEREMONY....................................................................................4
5. TECHNICAL SESSIONS....................................................................................5
5.1 GCLME Project and Regional Fisheries Management..............................................6
5.2 Summary of Country Presentations.....................................................................6
5.3 International Perspectives...............................................................................10
5.3.1 Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).....................................................10
5.3.2 Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) - West Africa..............................10
5.3.3 Regional Access Agreement between USA and Pacific Island States....................11
5.3.4 Regional Minimum Terms and Conditions, Experience Elsewhere.......................12
5.3.5 The Relevance of UNCLOS, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
and other Recent International Agreements to FPAs..........................................13
5.3.6 WB/FAO/WWF Sub Saharan Africa Fisheries Initiative and the World
Bank PROFISH Programme....................................................................14
5.3.7 Ecosystem-based FPA: It's Importance in Sustainable Use of Fisheries Resources....14
5.4 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance...............................................................15
5.4.1 International
Experiences.......................................................................15
5.4.2 The Ghana MCS Experience...................................................................16
5.5
WWF's International Strategy on Fisheries Access.............................................17
5.6
Minimum Terms and Conditions, Issues in Practice............................................17
5.7
Key Decisions for Managing Shared Fish Stocks in GCLME States.........................18
5.8 Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.....................................................19
6. RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................20
7. CLOSING CEREMONY...................................................................................21
Annex 1: Agenda...........................................................................................22
Annex 2: List of Participants..............................................................................24
Annex 3: Speeches Delivered at the Opening Ceremony..............................................28
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1.
INTRODUCTION
The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME) comprises sixteen coastal states in West
Africa from Guinea-Bissau in the north to Angola in the south. The ecosystem has unique
habitats with high marine biological diversity. Fisheries play an important role for many
countries in the region, as a substantial contributor to food security and rural employment in
coastal communities, and as a significant foreign exchange earner for the countries. Large-scale
industrial fisheries, commonly undertaken by distant water fishing nations, harvest the fisheries
resources through bilateral and multilateral fishing agreements.
The adoption of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), granted coastal
states the right to establish Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles. This made
fishing agreements with coastal states necessary. In effect fish stocks came under the control of
the resource-adjacent countries. Fishing fleets, which had traditionally fished in these waters, no
longer had free access. UNCLOS also provided a legal basis and economic motivation for the
negotiation of access agreements between Coastal States and Distant Water Fishing Nations
(DWFN). Where there is a surplus of resources, the coastal states are expected, through fisheries
access agreements, to provide fishing opportunities to other states to fish under agreed terms and
conditions. There is an apparent justification for the host country to engage in these agreements
as they provide a mechanism through which, the host country, in the absence of a domestic fleet
with which to exploit its EEZ resources, can still redeem value from those resources.
Many coastal states in the region have signed fishing agreements, with distant-water fishing
fleets, that should be based on the long-term interests of their economies and on the advantage of
their coastal fishing communities. However, fishing overcapacity and illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing are two important fisheries management challenges faced by coastal
states in the GCLME region. Shared stocks are also a major cause of concern. It is therefore
significant that countries in the GCLME region understand the importance of collaboration and
promote regional cooperation for ensuring optimal utilization of the shared fish stocks.
The GCLME/WWF Workshop on Fisheries Partnerships Agreements, 24-26 January, 2006,
which took place at the Regional Coordination Unit of the GCLME project in Accra, provided
the forum for nations to share experiences pertaining to the nature of access agreements in the
region, address the potential terms and conditions of such agreements and discuss the
relationship between fisheries agreements and the sustainable exploitation of fish resources.
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2.
OBJECTIVES
·
Share information and establish a dialogue between different actors;
·
Explore tools like minimum terms and conditions for granting fisheries access;
·
Promote fair access agreements that are compatible with sustainable marine resource
exploitation;
·
Stimulate collaboration for regional stock management;
·
Learn from the experiences of others, inside and outside the region.
3.
PARTICIPANTS
The Workshop was attended by Directors of Fisheries and Representatives of the 16 countries of
the GCLME, Representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (US-NOAA), National and International Non-governmental Organisations and
Members of Diplomatic Missions (See Annex 2: List of Participants).
4.
OPENING CEREMONY
The GCLME/WWF Workshop on Fisheries Partnership Agreements was officially opened by
the Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Daniel Dugan, on 24th January 2006 at 10:10 am. Mr.
Edward Tapsoba, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, chaired the ceremony. In
attendance were the Representative of the European Commission, Mr. Koen Duchateau,
Ambassador Mary Beth West, ex-US Ambassador of Oceans and Fisheries and Dr. Bradford
Brown, US-NOAA.
Mr. Tapsoba expressed the need for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources and the
protection of the marine environment in the region. He stressed the need to better integrate
sustainable fisheries management into fisheries agreements, as a major challenge to maintain the
quality, diversity and availability of fisheries resources for food security, poverty alleviation and
sustainable development.
The Regional Director, Prof. Chidi Ibe, welcomed the Deputy Minister for Fisheries,
Representatives of WWF, European Commission, US-NOAA and FAO and expressed
appreciation for their commitment to the Project. He urged the Fisheries Directors to use the
Workshop as a forum to address concerns related to Fisheries Partnership Agreements, such that
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all interest groups arrive at fishing agreements that are solidly embedded in sustainability and
fairness. He stressed that the achievement of the objectives of the Workshop would go a long
way to further enhance the realisation of the aims of the GCLME Project.
Dr. Kwame Koranteng, WWF Eastern Africa Regional Representative underscored WWF's
commitment to assist developing coastal states in understanding the implications of fisheries
agreements, and ensuring fair and sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements that respect the
needs of local people. He asked the Directors of Fisheries to contribute in the formulation of
minimum terms and conditions for Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the GCLME.
The Deputy Minister urged the Directors of Fisheries to bring to the fore, challenges faced by
their countries, in carrying out monitoring and surveillance activities of fleets that fished within
the areas under their jurisdiction. He asked them to come out with recommendations that would
promote the development of rational Ecosystem- based Fisheries Partnership Agreements.
5.
TECHNICAL SESSION
See Annex 1: Workshop Agenda.
Ms. Jane Mbendo, WWF-Eastern African Marine Ecoregion programme (WWF-EAME)
presented the objectives and framework of the Workshop. She reiterated that the GCLME project
and WWFs interest in access agreements, was mainly to:
· bring about an essential change of direction in fisheries access arrangements to improve
the livelihoods of poor fishermen and local communities;
· maintain and restore fish populations to healthy and productive levels;
· improve the conditions of fisheries access to ensure that local communities and local
fishing industries are not deprived from long term revenue opportunities;
· ensure that fisheries agreements are not in breach of the development goals agreed upon
by the international community, including the EU reformed Common Fisheries Policy
(CFP) which emphasizes the promotion of sustainability and true partnership with third
countries.
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5.1 GCLME Project and Regional Fisheries Management
Prof. Chidi Ibe, presented the GCLME project and its relevance for fisheries in the region. The
Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem stretches from Guinea Bissau in the north to Angola in
the south. The countries in the region share concerns about the management of their marine and
coastal resources, coupled with the need to fulfil their obligations to Regional (Abidjan
Convention) and Global (UNCLOS) Conventions. GCLME's objectives include the recovery of
fish stocks, the restoration of degraded habitats and reduction of land and ship-based pollution.
Prof. Ibe described the GCLME approach as `directed at reducing economic, legal, political and
social pressures'.
He elaborated on the recent Fish Stock Assessment Survey in the region conducted by the R/V
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2005, covering all GCLME states from Gabon northwards. In the survey,
Norwegian scientists and their GCLME counterparts undertook analyses of the data directly
onboard the vessel. The policy of the Nansen Programme is that the data and results are provided
to the coastal states for their use.
5.2 Summary of Country Presentations
Country representatives gave presentations on fisheries in their countries with special emphasis
on their experiences in Fisheries Partnership Agreements. These are summarised below.
Ghana
Ghana has no fisheries agreements with foreign nations. There are joint ventures only for tuna
fisheries (minimum ownership 50% Ghanaian), whereby Ghana obliges that 75% of the crew
must be Ghanaians. The Cotonou agreement is used as a guideline in these joint ventures. Japan
is allowed to fish for tuna in Ghanaian waters in return for investments in fisheries related
infrastructure in Ghana. The management priority for Ghana at this stage is fleet management.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone's latest stock information was from the 1980s. Sierra Leone has about 30,000
fishermen and 80,000 employees in the production related sector. There are restrictions on
fishing effort through licences; industrial vessels are supposed to register. There are vessels from
Egypt, China, Japan, Korea and Senegal operating in Sierra Leonean waters. Iran also operated
here before the insurgence. Foreign industrial vessels pay the same fees as local vessels.
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Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the top three fishing nations in the region with fishing contributing about 4.5%
of the nation's GDP There are about 4 million fishermen in Nigeria. The 5 nm coastal zone is
prohibited for industrial trawling. There were 235 fishing vessels registered in 2005, many of
which trawl for shrimp, which is a major resource in the Niger Delta. Mesh size regulations
aimed at conserving shrimps and other demersal fish stocks include minimum mesh size of 44
mm in the cod-ends of shrimp trawls plus compulsory turtle excluder devices (TEDs), and 70 nm
cod-end mesh in other trawls. There are no Nigerian companies operating offshore. Inshore
vessels are all registered in Nigeria, though many of them are owned by foreigners. Nigeria has
distant water fleet licences for vessels to fish in the waters of neighbouring Benin.
Angola
Angola described its participation in the following regional and international arrangements:
Benguela Environment Fisheries and Training (BENEFIT), Benguela Current Large Marine
Ecosystem (BCLME), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southeast Africa
Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) and the International Convention for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). There are fishing licence agreements with Mozambique, Saõ Tomé and
Principe, Cape Verde, Namibia, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea (research vessel) and Morocco
(training). International collaboration further exists with Norway, the EU, FAO, Portugal and
AECI (Spanish Development Cooperation). Angola seeks collaboration with neighbouring
Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo in order to establish arrangements for the
shared stocks of sardinella and other small pelagic species.
Cameroon
The number of people that are directly or indirectly dependent on marine fisheries in Cameroon
is about 500,000. Production accounts for about 1.7% of the GDP. There is a fisheries agreement
with Equatorial Guinea.
Guinea
Guinea has a 12 nm coastal limit in which industrial trawlers are prohibited. Fishing contributes
1.9% of the GDP and provides employment to about 100,000 people. Industrial vessels are only
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allowed to fish outside the 12 nm limits. Guinea has two international agreements: one with the
EU (2004-2008) and one with China, which is automatically renewed every two years.
Guinea-Bissau
Fishing contributes 40% of the GDP, which is extraordinary considering that the number of
fishermen is only a few thousand. Observers are compulsory on all foreign vessels, but are
considered unreliable. Guinea-Bissau currently has access agreements with the European Union,
Algeria and Senegal. There are also private agreements with Italian, Chinese and Korean
companies.
Congo
There are no agreements at the moment, though there were previous agreements with Gabon and
Cameroon. The presenter described the presence of blue whales, fin whales and humpback
whales in Congolese waters.
Gabon
The coastline of Gabon is 800 km long. Gabon is a member of the ICCAT, FAO and its organs,
and other regional bodies. Gabon has bilateral arrangements with Japan, France, Spain, China,
Egypt, Morocco and Senegal, mostly on training and research. There are two access agreements
for tuna; with Japan, which is annually renewed, and with the EU for six years (2005-2011).
Details of the Gabon-EU agreement were presented.
Benin
There are about 1,000 traditional pirogues in Benin, 40-50% of which are motorised. Benin has a
Sub-regional Fisheries Agreement with Nigeria. The presenter called for data collection at the
national level and exchange of information and strategies among countries in the region. It was
also indicated that MPAs were currently being established in Benin.
Sao Tome and Principe
There are three types of fisheries in Sao Tome & Principe: artisanal pirogues with and without
outboard engines, semi-industrial vessels up to 16 metres that operate longlines and purse seines
and 63 industrial vessels of the EU, fishing for tuna. In addition, Japanese tuna vessels fish in the
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country's waters in exchange for in-kind development support. The agreement with the EU is
considered to be difficult, because it is the EU that has the data, decides on the number of boats,
etc. The country acknowledges that it needs to be better prepared and equipped for negotiations
for access agreements.
Democratic Republic of Congo
With only 42 km of coastline, D.R.C has a weak fishing industry. There is no industrial fishery;
only artisanal. There are discussions with Angola and Namibia for possible fishing agreements.
There is an indication that the fisheries industry is being threatened by oil exploitation.
Togo
Fishing contributes 4% of the GDP. There are about 3,300 principal fishermen in Togo and a
number of supporting crew. 40% of the fishermen are Togolese; the other 60% are Ghanaians.
Marketing is done mainly by women. Togo actively participates in the International Whaling
Commission, the ICCAT, the FAO and its subsidiary bodies. No agreements exist but foreign
vessels are licensed to operate in Togolese waters.
Liberia
Fisheries contribute about 3.2% of the GDP. Most of the vessels are Ghanaian motorised
pirogues. There is no fisheries policy in Liberia and no fisheries management. Liberia does not
participate in any international or regional fisheries body except the Committee for the Eastern
Central Atlantic Fisheries (CECAF). In some opportunistic surveys carried out by the US Peace
Corps, 27 vessels were observed in Liberian waters, indicating intensive illegal operations.
Summary of discussions
Issues of interest identified during the presentations are summarised below.
· There were different levels of economic interest (smaller proportion substantial level);
· The number of agreements per country varies from zero to several;
· There is the need for exchange of views between coastal States;
· There were concerns of unbalanced agreements, in particular with the EU, and requests for
assistance.
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· Conservation measures taken in the management of these resources are inter alia, closed
seasons, MPAs, the use of TEDs (compulsory for Nigeria) and coastal strips closed for
industrial trawling (from 5 nm in Nigeria to 6, 8 or 12 nautical miles in other countries);
The conflict between Benin and Nigeria was expanded upon, illustrating the general interest in
arrangements for appropriate delineation of maritime zones between coastal states in the region.
Many participants requested for assistance in their efforts towards sustainable and fair
management of fishing activities in their waters, both at national and regional levels. Several
suggestions were given for collaboration in the region.
5.3 International
Perspectives
5.3.1 Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Ms. Jane Mbendo (WWF-EAME) presented the experience of the Indian Ocean Tuna
Commission (IOTC), established in Seychelles in 1996 under the auspices of the FAO, for the
conservation of tunas of the Indian Ocean. The IOTC's mission is to ensure the sustainable
exploitation of tuna and tuna-like species resources in the Indian Ocean. Although the IOTC is
supposed to conduct management of the tuna fisheries, no substantial management measures
other than general ones like voluntary limits for catch levels, have yet been taken on any species.
The political will seems to be lacking amongst Parties to introduce management measures. Some
outstanding challenges for the IOTC are an effective management of tuna stocks, full
participation of countries harvesting the tuna stocks, and the development aspirations of
developing states.
5.3.2 Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) - West Africa
Dr Papa Samba Diouf of the WWF West African Marine Ecoregion (WWF-WAMER) gave a
presentation on the marine fisheries in Northwest Africa, from Mauritania to Guinea. Fisheries
are of enormous social and economic importance in the region, in particular Senegal and
Mauritania. In Senegal, catches are about 400,000 mt/year, employment is created for about
600,000 people (15% of the working population) and 75% of animal proteins consist of fish
products. In Mauritania, 45% of export revenue comes from fishing/fish products and the catch
is up to 500,000 mt/year.
Dr. Diouf introduced the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) in the region. The SRFC
was established in 1986, starting with six member states; Sierra Leone joined in 2004. The
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Commission is still not able to take decisions on the management of shared stocks and appears to
have insufficient political support from member states.
Dr. Diouf noted that infrastructure in countries covered by the WWF-WAMER region are often
built with fisheries agreement revenues. 75-100% of investment budgets of Ministries of
Fisheries in the countries depend on funds emanating from fisheries agreements. He noted that
any sudden termination of access agreements would create problems for the coastal states. WWF
suggests strengthening negotiation skills of coastal states and providing information to
governments and civil society. This could be done by preparing countries for new Fisheries
Partnership Agreements and for promoting concerted (or en block) negotiations. Regional
Minimum Terms & Conditions are an important tool for future management plans, be they
national or regional.
5.3.3 Regional Access Agreement between the United States and Pacific Island States
Ms. Mary Beth West, ex-US Ambassador of Oceans and Fisheries, presented details of the
regional access agreement on tuna fisheries between the United States and Pacific Island States.
The highlights are as follows:
· Access is generally for all waters, with some exceptions.
· A limited number of US vessels are allowed to fish for tuna in the agreement area.
· Licensing fees are paid by the US industry, while economic assistance is provided by the
US Government in a separate agreement.
· There is an associated fund for observer costs that is paid by the fishing industry.
· There are rules and regulations in the form of standards for fishing, compliance and
enforcement and for regional administration.
A recent further development in the region was the 2004 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Convention, in which the US actively participates. Some of the benefits she highlighted were:
· A higher return per catch value;
· Encouragement of further investments and strengthening regional cooperation;
· Compatibility of management goals and decisions in the region; and
· Tangible contributions to conservation of the stocks and management of the fisheries.
Some problems the region is facing are: overcapacity, active re-flagging and no management
rules to control capacity and effort. The lessons from the South West and Central Pacific are
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that: an overall management framework is essential for success when addressing the fisheries of
shared resources; multilateral approaches should be constructed to maximize all benefits, not
just access fees; rules for the entire agreement should encourage responsible fishing behaviour.
5.3.4 Regional Minimum Terms and Conditions; Experience Elsewhere
Mr. Kees Lankester expanded on three international instruments with experience in Minimum
Terms and Conditions at the regional level. The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is the instrument
mandated to seek a common regional approach to fisheries management in the South Pacific.
The FFA has 17 member states, with a considerable list of achievements since its inception in
1979, including: Minimum Terms and Conditions (MTCs); Regional Register for Good Standing
of Vessels; Regional Treaty on enforcement and surveillance; Regional Vessel Monitoring
System (VMS); Regional Agreement for Preferential Access to domestic licences; Chamber of
the West and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC), (2004) and June 05: negotiating
effort-based restrictions.
The Organisation for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries (OPRT) was started in 2000
to combat IUU fishing by the Japanese long-line industry, which saw its revenues decreasing due
to illegal imports/landings of tuna. Black lists and later white lists were introduced, and the
ICCAT for example has made good use of this initiative by limiting the landings in Member
States from certain companies or countries. Japan only allows tuna from vessels appearing in the
white list to land tuna. The OPRT is also fighting tuna laundering through transhipment.
The third example is the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) in Northwest Africa,
embodying all countries from Mauritania down to Guinea. The six coastal states, in a series of
workshops and other events, established a wish list for minimum terms and conditions that could
be applied in their region. These are categorised in conditions for the fishing vessels, for the flag
state and for the coastal state.
He noted that coastal states should include all types of fisheries access, including south-south
agreements and joint ventures, since management concerns all fishing effort in the region.
Regional conditions could serve as a framework for any bilateral arrangement by any coastal
state, the most prominent one possibly being a complete prohibition for transhipments at sea.
Finally it should be recognised that traceability is increasingly becoming a useful instrument to
support management.
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5.3.5 The Relevance of UNCLOS, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and
other Recent International Agreements to FPAs
Dr. Ben Satia introduced the main international management instruments. The UN Convention
for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) marked an important shift in the long history of high seas
fishing. It strengthened the collective responsibility of states in the conservation and utilization
of high seas resources and defined how fish stocks were to be managed through regional bodies
and encouraged the creation of regional organizations. It further provides a legal basis for fishing
access agreements. Art. 56 gives coastal states sovereign rights in their EEZs for the purpose of
exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the living marine resources. On the other
hand, coastal states must allow for harvest of any surplus by others.
The 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement, permits countries to take effective action consistent with
international law, to deter the re-flagging of vessels by their nationals as a means of avoiding
compliance with high seas conservation and management measures.
The UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), in force since 2003, establishes minimum standards
which are applicable for fishing both migratory and straddling stocks as well as stocks under
national jurisdiction. Regional Fisheries Management Organizations should strive for regionally-
agreed minimum terms and conditions of access. Regionally-agreed minimum standards should
be reflected in bilateral access agreements. Compliance with regional standards should be pre-
conditional to granting access.
The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), a global voluntary instrument,
subscribed to by all FAO Member States, sets out principles and standards of responsible
behavior and practices. It is intended to ensure effective conservation, management and
development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity.
Whilst a well-formulated document, its voluntary nature has probably contributed to limiting its
effectiveness.
Dr. Satia listed some issues relevant for fisheries access arrangements as follows: Interest of
small-scale fisheries; Total permitted catch consistent with a sustainable level of fishing;
Adequate Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) should be in place by coastal state
(directly or through third party); Flag State should ensure compliance by vessels; Distant Water
Fleets (DWFs) should bear environmental costs; DWFs should cooperate in scientific research
etc; and thorough review of existing agreements before renewal.
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5.3.6 WB/FAO/WWF Sub-Saharan Africa Fisheries Initiative and the World Bank
PROFISH
Dr. Kwame Koranteng presented the two finance instruments, PROFISH and the Sub-Saharan
Africa Fisheries Initiative. He recalled that at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD), donor agencies and stakeholders were called upon to create new and flexible
partnerships that would respond to the growing crisis in world fisheries and implement set
targets. WSSD recommended a partnership of donors, technical agencies and NGOs as the best
vehicle to assist developing countries to change both policies and practices in fisheries
management and the governance of large marine ecosystems.
Thus, a ten-year Strategic Partnership for a Sustainable Fisheries Investment Fund is being set
up, focusing on the LMEs of Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a Global Environment Facility (GEF)
mechanism for funding of US $60 million to leverage other funds to the tune of US $240 million
to support sustainable fisheries in Africa. The Strategic Partnership is coordinated by the World
Bank, FAO and WWF with the African Union chairing the Regional Advisory Committee. It is
to encourage country-level investments that assist individual coastal states to undertake the
necessary policy, legal, and institutional reforms for managing fish resources.
The World Bank (WB) launched its Global Programme on Fisheries (PROFISH) at the "Fish for
All Summit" held in Abuja, Nigeria in August 2005. The overall objective of PROFISH is to
improve sustainable livelihoods in the fisheries sector and to make concrete progress towards
meeting the WSSD's goals in fisheries. PROFISH is to assist countries in the preparation of WB
country profiles, which is a necessary condition for accessing funds from the Strategic
Partnership. He stressed that the two programmes are not competitive but complementary.
5.3.7 Ecosystem-based FPA: It's Importance in Sustainable Use of Fisheries Resources
Dr. Theodore Djama, Fisheries Expert of the GCLME project gave a presentation on Ecosystem-
based Fisheries Partnership Agreements. The objective of his presentation was to stimulate
collaboration for regional stock management to ensure sustainable utilization of fisheries
resources. He said that the overall objective of ecosystem-based management is to maintain a
healthy and fully functioning ecosystem. He made reference to art. 61 (2) of UNCLOS which
enjoins coastal states to take into account the best scientific evidence available to ensure living
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resources in the EEZ are not endangered by over-exploitation. He gave the defects of present
Fisheries Partnership Agreements as including:
· Focusing on species or group of species;
· Based on fisheries that are not well regulated;
· Arbitrary (that is lacking scientific information on the resources);
· Having no concern for MCS.
Dr Djama called for ecological consideration of fisheries resources in negotiating Fisheries
Partnership Agreements and enumerated the advantages of the ecosystem-based FPAs as
including: being holistic in nature; environmentally friendly; promoting sub-regional or regional
integration; resulting in reduced management cost; and placing emphasis on common issues.
He indicated that in preparation for ecosystem-based FPAs, the GCLME project is designed to:
· Undertake regional fish stock assessments surveys;
· Support identification and mapping of critical habitats;
· Promote multi-species fisheries management;
· Support improvement of relevant institutional and legal framework in participating
countries.
5.4 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
5.4.1 International Experience
Dr. Ben Satia presented the international perspective of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
(MCS). The Forum Fisheries Agency has a suite of regional MCS components, including: a
centralized administration for the 16 countries; well-established concepts, philosophy and legal
frameworks; harmonized VMS legislation; application only to tuna vessels and directed at non-
member state flag vessels. Common protocols exist, inter alia for the use of Inmarsat-C only.
Australia, New Zealand and the EU give technical and financial support, and each Member State
concludes bilateral agreements. These agreements must however comply with harmonized
minimum terms and conditions. Recommendations were made to the meeting on the following
issues:
· Make establishment of MCS a pre-requisite;
· Lay emphasis on instituting Observer Programmes;
· Agreement by Parties to fulfill obligations as port/flag States;
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· Agree on a set of minimum terms and conditions;
· Create a DWFN/Coastal States Working Group to study possibilities to increase MCS
capabilities of Coastal States;
· DWFNs to invest in capacity building;
· Coastal States to use compensation payments and license fees to improve fisheries
management, in particular MCS;
· Transparency should be the cardinal factor in all negotiations.
The meeting agreed that whereas the functions of the SRFC in Northwest Africa is particularly
directed at industrial fisheries, entire range of fishing, including small-scale pirogues, should be
subject to an MCS mechanism.
5.4.2 Ghana MCS Experience
Mr. Papa Attobrah of the MCS Division of the Fisheries Directorate presented the extensive
MCS programme of Ghana as involving the following:
· Inspections for licensing of fishing vessels;
· Quayside inspection at ports for the enforcement of the Fisheries Act;
· Fish import monitoring for compliance;
· Observer programmes on both trawlers and tuna vessels;
· Dedicated fisheries Patrols with the Navy for the enforcement of the Fisheries Act and
the protection of the fisheries resources;
· Beach combing and Volta Lake patrols;
· Monitoring of fisheries related gears and equipments imports;
· Inspection of net-manufacturing factories;
· Running of VMS station.
He further presented detailed descriptions of the VMS make-up, the communications hardware
and software system, system design and capabilities and the financial arrangements for the
system. Despite reported successes, there are also many challenges to be addressed to make the
system work more effectively. In principle, continuous development of the MCS system is
needed since there are always new ways employed by fishermen to avoid the control
mechanisms. In conclusion, there appears to be enormous progress made in Ghana on MCS,
especially the operation of the VMS system.
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Following discussions, the delegates requested the GCLME Project, in collaboration with the
FAO and WWF, to assist member states to develop and implement National Plans of Action to
combat IUU and to explore the possibility of a cooperative MCS operations predicated on an
expanded Ghana VMS system.
5.5 WWF's International Strategy on Fisheries Access
Ms. Jane Mbendo presented the WWF strategy on marine fisheries that is relevant to access
arrangements. In recent years, WWF lobbied to secure several key commitments in the
Europrean Union during its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform process. The CFP now
contains key commitments to aspects of these broad objectives:
· Eliminate over-capacity of the EU fleet as a whole, so the fleet size and structure matches
available resources.
· Reform subsidies through changed spending patterns that support the transition to a
sustainable, profitable fishing sector.
· Reduce the footprint of the EU elsewhere through fair and sustainable fisheries access
agreements that respect the needs of local people: Fisheries Partnership Agreements.
· Protect the marine environment through an ecosystem-based management framework that
secures long-term viability of marine biodiversity and maritime-dependent communities.
To assist fishing nations and third countries develop fair agreements, WWF has developed a
global strategy to negotiate fairer access agreements. WWF is working in Africa, Latin America
and the Pacific Ocean to share this strategy with fishers, governments, fisheries managers and
other stakeholders. A handbook was published for developing nations to use when negotiating
sustainable fisheries deals, based upon one basic requirement and seven key principles.
WWF's principal requirement is that fisheries agreements should only be granted under the
auspices of a fully developed fisheries management plan and after conducting Environmental
Impact Assessments. WWF continues lobbying DWFNs such as the EU Member States, USA,
Japan, etc., to influence access agreements in terms of sustainability and development.
5.6 Minimum Terms and Conditions, Issues in Practice
Dr. Papa Samba Diouf described the practical limitations in establishing and applying Minimum
Terms and Conditions (MTCs) for fisheries access, as encountered in the Sub-Regional Fisheries
17
Commission in Northwest Africa. Some issues identified in 2005 as impediments for progress
were:
· the non-integration of MTCs in national legislation;
· the consequential transparency of some MTCs, for example in cases of a shared regional,
vessel register;
· the concern for losing national sovereignty;
· the practical limitations to implementation of some of the envisaged MTCs;
· the differences in development level among the SRFC member States;
· insufficient means for the SRFC to promote MTCs once adopted;
· insufficient coordination and the lack of continuity of initiatives concerning MTCs; and
· the apparent absence of a communications strategy for adopting and promoting MTCs.
While all these issues can be resolved in principle, their resolution depends on the commitment
of SRFC member States to ensure their success.
5.7 Key Decisions for Managing Shared Fish Stocks in GCLME States
Dr. Kwame Koranteng gave an informative account of issues arising when seeking to manage
fisheries on shared stocks in the GCLME states:
· Determination of the abundance and potential yield of target stocks;
· Knowledge of the biology and population dynamics of principal species;
· Mode of allocation of total potential yield of shared fish stocks between nations;
· Mode of allocation of potential yield between artisanal and industrial fleets within
nations;
· The need for compliance, hence investment in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
systems;
· The need for sound fisheries management plans with scientific, management and political
considerations.
Dr. Koranteng noted that the GCLME project had already taken steps to address some of these
issues and encouraged the participating countries to commit themselves to ensuring the success
of these efforts.
18
5.8 Regional Fisheries Management Organisations
Dr. Ben Satia presented experiences in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
By definition, RFMOs are formed by three or more States or international organizations that
become parties to an international fishery agreement or arrangement. They engage each other in
multilateral management of fishery affairs related to transboundary, straddling and highly
migratory or high seas stocks and work together in the collection and provision of scientific
information and data. The RFMO serves as a technical and policy forum and takes decisions for
the development and conservation, management and responsible utilization of resources. The
adoption of UNCLOS led to a 33% increase in the number of active RFMOs in the world.
At the First Meeting of Regional Fishery Management Organizations held under the auspices of
FAO in 1999, representatives acknowledged that these organizations have not performed well
over the years. The poor state of world fishery resources indicates that regional fishery
organizations have not been able to achieve the objectives for which they were established. The
following reasons for failure were identified:
· Membership of some organizations is restrictive as there is resistance to admitting new
members;
· Failure by some states to accept and implement international instruments to enhance
fisheries governance;
· Lack of willingness, by member States to delegate sufficient decision-making powers and
responsibilities to regional organizations;
· Members not providing complete and accurate information and data as required in a timely
manner, as well as non-reporting;
· Governance mechanism is often not inclusive and participatory;
· Absence of appropriate links between scientists and other stakeholders;
· Poor Flag-State control both by members and non-Members;
· Lack of or inadequate enforcement powers or capability both at national and regional
levels;
· Absence of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance mechanisms to enforce management
decisions;
· Absence of an umbrella structure to perform oversight functions for all organizations;
19
· The phenomenon of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;
· Inadequate human and financial resources to enable organizations carry out mandates
satisfactorily;
· Low participation by members in activities of the organizations.
6.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Participants recommended that the GCLME Ministerial Meeting:
1
Creates a Fisheries Sub-Commission;
2
Supports and stimulates collaboration between GCLME Member States for regional
fisheries management;
3
Provides assistance to improve regional fisheries management in the context of access
arrangements in the region;
4
Strengthens the partnership with WWF in the GCLME region;
5
Increases the capacity of GCLME Member States for negotiating fishing access
arrangements and for regional collaboration in fisheries management;
6
Develops capacity for data validation in the GCLME Member States;
7
Provides assistance to review and harmonise fisheries laws and regulations in the
GCLME region;
8
Develops transparent governance structures to strengthen fisheries management at the
national and regional levels
9
Resolves outstanding issues on the designation of maritime boundaries in the region;
10 Facilitates collaboration between GCLME Member States in order to develop
Minimum Terms and Conditions for fisheries access arrangements, such as, but not
limited to:
- a regional standardised vessel register;
- a regional vessel monitoring system;
- the development of a joint system for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance;
- regional conditions for preferential access to domestic/small scale fisheries;
- regional observer programmes;
20
- data collection at the regional level;
- transparent exchange of information and strategies on vessel access arrangements;
11 Develops, as a matter of urgency, a joint Regional Strategy and Workplan to effectively
combat IUU fishing in the GCLME region;
12 Promotes regional fisheries management based on an ecosystem-based approach;
13 Develops national fisheries management based on an ecosystem-based approach;
14 Supports a regional cartography project to map the priority issues (key areas, pollution
levels, etc.) in the GCLME region that are relevant for regional, ecosystem-based
fisheries management.
7.
CLOSING CEREMONY
The GCLME/WWF Regional Workshop on Fisheries Partnership Agreements was officially
brought to a close at 2:30 pm on 26th January 2006, by the Regional Director, Prof. Chidi Ibe.
Prof. Ibe expressed gratitude to the Directors of Fisheries for their commitment to the project. He
commended the staff of WWF (Dr. Koranteng, Dr. Diouf and Ms. Mbendo) and the international
experts (Ms. Mary Beth West, Dr. Ben Satia and Mr. Kees Lankester), for their collective efforts
towards the success of the meeting and for their informed contributions to a better understanding,
amongst the GCLME Member States, of international and regional issues related to Fisheries
Partnership Agreements. He added that recommendations from the Workshop would be useful
instruments for guiding the GCLME Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for summer of 2006,
towards regional collaboration in the area of marine fisheries management.
Dr. Kwame Koranteng thanked Prof. Ibe for accepting the proposal to hold the Workshop under
the auspices of the GCLME project. He also thanked the participants for their diligence, interest
and contributions during proceedings, and urged them to use the knowledge gained to assist their
governments in future Fisheries Partnership Agreements negotiations.
21
ANNEX 1: AGENDA
Time Event
Lead
Day 1: Tuesday, 24th January 2006
Session 1: Registration and Opening
07:30 08:30
Arrival of participants
08:30 09:00
Registration of participants
09.00 10:00
Opening ceremony
Chair: Mr. Edward Tapsoba, FAO Deputy Regional
Representative for Africa
Welcome statement
Prof. Chidi Ibe
Statement by WWF
Dr. Kwame Koranteng
Keynote address/opening
Honorable Minister of Fisheries
Chairperson's remarks
Group photo
All
10:00 10:30
Tea/Coffee
10:30 11:00
Presentation of the GCLME Project
Prof. Chidi Ibe
Session 2: Objectives of the Workshop and Country Presentations
Chair: Dr. Kwame Koranteng
Rapporteurs: Kees Lankester / Jane Mbendo
11.00 - 11:15
Objectives and framework of the workshop
Jane Mbendo
10:15 - 12:30
Country presentations
Country presentations
Country presentations
Country presentations
Country presentations
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 16:00
Session 2: Country Presentations Continued
Country
presentations
Country
presentations
Country
presentations
Country
presentations
Country
presentations
16:00 17:00
Discussions
All
Day 2: Wednesday, 25th January
08: 30- 10: 30
Session 3: Other experiences
Rapporteurs: Kees Lankester / Jane Mbendo
IOTC-
Experience
Jane
Mbendo
SRFC West Africa experience
Dr. Papa S. Diouf
22
WCFPC- Pacific experience and minimum terms and conditions Kees
Lankester
Regional access agreement between the US and Pacific Island countries benefits both for
Mary Beth West ( US Ambassador-at-large)
proper management and economics.
The EC Policy and fisheries partnership agreements
Fabrizio Donatella
10:30-11:00
Tea/Coffee
11.00 12.30
Fisheries partnerships within the framework of the Abidjan Convention
Dixon Waruinge - UNEP
UNCLOS, FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries other relevant international
Dr. Benedict Satia
Arrangements
WB/FAO/WWF Fisheries partnership and WB-PROFISH
Dr. Kwame Koranteng
Discussions
All
12.30- 13.30
Lunch
13.30- 17.00
Session 4: Fishing access and sustainability
Chair: Fisheries Director Liberia
Rapporteurs: Kees Lankester / Jane Mbendo
Ecosystem-based Partnership Agreement : its importance in sustainable use of fisheries
Dr. Theodore Djama (GCLME)
resources;
Monitoring Control and Surveillance : "an important component in ensuring responsible
Dr. Benedict Satia
fisheries management in the Context of Access Agreements"
MCS - Ghana's experience project
Minimum access conditions from the prospective of European fleet
Luis de Ambrosio
WWF strategy on international fishing access
Raul Garcia
Day 3: Thursday, 26th January
Session 5: The Way Forward
Chair: Fisheries Director Congo
Rapporteurs: Kees Lankester / Jane Mbendo
08:30- 10.30
Summary of outcomes from Session 1-5 Discussions
Kees Lankester
Minimum terms and conditions for granting access
Dr. Papa S. Diouf
Key Decisions for managing shared stocks in GCLME states including Financial Resources Dr. Kwame Koranteng
Discussions
All
10:30-11:00
Tea/Coffee
11.30- 12.30
Discussion on Sub-Regional Fisheries Management Organization
Statement from Development partners
Wrap up and Conclusions
Adjourn
12:30- 13: 30
Lunch
23
ANNEX 2: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
COUNTRIES
Angola
Benin
Maria Esperança Pires Dos Santos
Gbaguibi-Aziable Amelie
Head of the Crustaceans Program
Box: 04BP 0758
Instituto Nacional de Investigacao Pesquería (INIP)
Cotonou, Benin
Luanda
Tel.: +29990912691
Tel/Fax: (244) 222 449519
Email: aziable2002@yahoo.fr
Cell: (244) 912243214
Email: esperancamaria2000@yahoo.com.br
Hounkpe Catherine Kossiba
mariasantos35@hotmail.com
01BP 383
Cotonou Benin.
Rosario Antonia
Tel: +22921331551/ 213359969
Ruo padre pombo No. 20,
Fax :+22921335996;
Luanda-Angola
Email: c_hounwanou@yahoo.fr
Tel : +244 2923629692
Email: doloresrosario05@yahoo.com.br
Cameroon
Congo Brazzaville
Chiambeng George Youngbi
Appolinaire Ngouembe
Box: PMB 77 Limbe
Box 1650
Tel: +23717233321
Brazzaville Rep. of Congo
Email: Chiambeng@yahoo.fr
Tel.:+2425580822 / +242811097
Fax: +242811545
Malloum Ousman Baba
Email: ngouembe@yahoo.fr
Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries & Animal Industries
Yaoundé-Cameroon.
Lucien Malouek
Tel: +2372316049 / 9973408
Box 1286
Fax +2372313048
Pointe Noire Congo
Email: dirpec2000@yahoo.fr
Tel : +2425344953
Fax: +242943981
Email: lumaloueki@yahoo.fr
Cote d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
N'da Konan
Emmanuel Wango Enganya
14 BP 1821
Box 12348
Abidjan
Kinshasa 1
Tel: +22505921097
Tel: 0990966795
Email: ndakonanci@yahoo.fr
Email: emmawangos@yahoo.fr
Gayo Lemba François
Equatorial Guinea
Ministère de l'agriculture, Pêche et Elevage
/Direction des Pêches
Pedro Luis Mitogo Milam Nengono
Tel: +243999912450
c/o 3 de Agosto,
Email: gayowadeur@yahoo.fr
447 Ela Nguema Malabo
R. Guinea Ecuatorial
Tel: +240242490
24
Gabon
Ghana
Georges Mba-Asseko
Alfred Tetebo
Box: 9498, Libreville Gabon
Box GP630, Accra Ghana
Tel: +241711414 / 748992
Tel: +23321772302
Fax: +241764602
Fax: +23321776005
Email: gmbasseko@yahoo.com
Email: nufrd@africaonline.com.gh
Doumambila Jean de Dieu
Samuel Quaatey
Box 13300
Box BT-62, Tema-Ghana
Libreville Gabon
Tel: +23322202346
Tel : +241762630 / 06958360
Fax: +23322206627
Email: doumambila@yahoo.fr
Email: samquaatey@yahoo.com
Guinée
Emmanuel Kofi Ankamah
Box AX 1745, Takoradi Ghana
Sylla Ibrahima Sory
Tel :+233243229762
Ministère de Pêche & Agriculture Conakry
Email: ekankamah@yahoo.com
Box 307
Tel: +224260734
Ledo Seena Fafa
Fax: +224413660
Box PMB L 45, Legon-Accra
Email: isorel2005@yahoo.fr
Tel:+23321518710/+233244462117
Fax:+23321518709
Tall Hassimiou
Email: nefsee@yahoo.com
Box 1330 Conakry
Rep. du Guinée
Papa Yaw Atobrah
Tel.: +229214289
Box 630 Accra
Fax: +229413660
Tel: +23321776005 / 244633163
Email: tallhassimiou@yahoo.fr
Fax: +23321776005
Email: papayaw-gh2002@yahoo.com
Guinea Bissau
Mary Appiah-Kuto
Mr. Armando Dunga
Box c/o DF Appiah Ghacem Limited
Chef du Gabinet d'étude
Tel: +233276028262
Ministere de peche et Economie Maritime
Email: marykuto@yahoo.com
Email: c/o vieiracirilo@yahoo.com
Mario Biague
Nigeria
Ingenieur Agronome
Ministère de l'énergie et des Res. Nat.
Amire Akinsola Vincent
Tel : (245) 7219726 / 6635494
Box PMB 12529 Marina Lagos
E-mail: m_biague@yahoo.fr
Tel: +23408053662324/018536717
Email: akinsolamire@yahoo.com
Liberia
Zabbey Nenibarini
Seilay J. Frederick
Box NO 60BO Nwanboke Street,
Bureau of Fisheries
Post office building, Ogale-Nichia, Eleme, Rivers
MOA-MON Liberia, Box 5060
State, Nigeria
Tel: +06562895
Tel: +2348037504608
Fax: c/o +23484236365
Horace Momo
Email:nigerdeltaproject@yahoo.com/
Cuttington University
zabbey@yahoo.com
Bong Country, Liberia
Tel: +2316593157
Foluke Areola
Email: momohorace@yahoo.com
Box PMB 12529 Marina Lagos
Tel: +2340833205882/23418040996
Email: areolaf@yahoo.com
25
Sao Tomé & Principe
Sierra Leone
José Dias Sousa Lopes
Farma Onita
Box: Bobo - Forro Sao Tomé
Box 69 Bass Street Brookfields
Tel: +239912837/222828
Freetown Sierra Leone.
Fax: +239222828
Tel: +2322276654228
Email: lopesjose@hotmail.com
Email: onikama_2000@yahoo.com
Virginia Cavalho d'Almeida Godinho
Gbondo Winston
Box 59 Sao Tomé
Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources Freetown,
Tel: +239907655 / +2399271303
Sierra Leone.
Fax: +239222828
Tel: +23222240485
Email: virginiacarvalho998@hotmail.com
Fax: +23222235135
Email: Fishmare@sierratel.1l
Togo
USA
Kossi Maxoe Sedzro
Box 1095 Lomé-Togo
Ms. Mary Beth West
Tel: +2282213645
ex-US Ambassador of Oceans and Fisheries
Fax:+2282217120
Box 3311 Rowland Washington DC 20008
Email: peche@laposte.tg
Tel:+2023622625
Email: west.marybeth@gmail.com
Netherlands
Dr. Benedict Satia
Mr. Kees Lankester
Box 10012
Box Eerste Helmersstraat 183 NL 1054 DT
65th Ave South Seattle Wain USA
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Tel: +2067098408
Tel: +31206122843
Email: bsatia@hotmail.com
Email: k.lankester@scombernl
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
WWF
US-NOAA
Dr. Kwame Koranteng
Dr. Bradford Brown
Box 62440-00200
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Nairobi, Kenya
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Tel.: +254203877355
Miami, Florida 33149
Fax: +254203872630
Email: Brad.Brown@noaa.gov
Email: kkoranteng@wwfearpo.org
European Commission
Dr. Papa Samba Diouf
WWF Sacre Coeur 3, Dakar Sénégal
Koen Duchateau
Tel: +2216446321
The Round House, 81 Cantonments road,
Fax: 2218693702
P.O. Box 9505 KIA, Accra, Ghana.
Email: psdiouf@wwfsenegal.org
Tel: +23321 774094
Email: Koen.Duchateau@cec.int.eu
Ms. Jane Rowena Mbendo
Box 63117 Dar Es Salaam
FAO
Tel: +255222700077
Fax: +255222775535
Alhaji Jallow
Email: jmbendo@wwftz.org
FAO Regional Office for Africa
Gamal Abdel Nasser Road, Accra Ghana
Tel: +23321675000 Ext.3193
Fax: +23321668427
Email: Alhaji.Jallow@fao.org
26
GCLME RCU
Prof. Chidi Ibe
Dr. Jacques Abe
Regional Director, GCLME
Environment Expert
No. 1 Akosombo Road
Cell: 233- 243 630649
PMB CT 324, Accra, Ghana
Email: gclme@unido.org, jabel@hotmail.com
Tel: 233- 21- 781225 / 768592
Cell: 233- 244- 863388
Mr. Napoleon Gbolonyo
Fax: 233- 21- 781226
Administrative Officer
Email: c.ibe@unido.org, gclme@unido.org
Cell: 233-244- 524298
Email: gbolonyo@yahoo.com
Dr. Theodore Djama
Fisheries Expert
Ms. Kelechi Ihemeje
Cell: 233-243- 670614
Personal Assistant to Regional
Email: theodoredjama@yahoo.co.uk
Director / Editor
gclme@unido.org,
Cell: 233- 243- 668758
Email: kihemeje@yahoo.com
Mr. Joshua Okechuku Ndubuisi
ICT Specialist
Ms. Selina Kuukuwa Yawson
Cell: 233- 243- 667 102
Public Awareness & Participation Advisor
Email: nduijooch@hotmail.com
Cell: 233- 244- 515 026
Email: s.yawson@yahoo.com
Ms. Sylvia Osei Nsenkyire
National Programme Assistant
Ms. Thelma Hodey
Cell: 233- 244- 642 858
Secretary/Receptionist
Email: s.nsenkyire@yahoo.com
Cell: 233-277- 5824 68
Email: takrumah@yahoo.co.uk
Mr. Kweku Duah-Yentumi
National Service Personnel
Ms. Gabriella Koranteng
Cell: 233-244-872 549
National Service Personnel
Email: kduah_yentumi@yahoo.co.uk
Cell: 233- 208 488 614
Email: gnkoranteng@yahoo.co.uk
Ms. Adelaide Asante
National Service Personnel
Cell: 233-244 567 666
Email: adelaidegh@yahoo.co.uk
27
ANNEX 3: SPEECHES DELIVERED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MR. DANIEL DUGAN, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR FISHERIES
Mr. Chairman,
Regional Director, GCLME,
Representatives of UN Agencies,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Workshop Participants,
Distinguished Members of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It affords me great pleasure to be invited to open this very important Workshop on Fisheries
Partnerships Agreements. This Workshop is particularly significant because it brings together
Directors of Fisheries and others to share information and establish dialogue among themselves and
promote Ecosystem based Fisheries Partnership Agreements and above all to share individual
country experiences with other colleagues.
Mr. Chairman, since time immemorial, fish has contributed to the socio-economic development of
the human race. Historically, communities along the shores of water bodies harvested living
resources of these waters within the framework of informal traditional management systems. These
systems were based on traditional ecological knowledge, community wisdom, superstition and
taboos which, for example, dictated days and seasons during which fishing was prohibited, types of
fish to be caught and areas within which fishing was prohibited. At the level of nations, marine
living resources were identified as important sources of protein for the populations as well as for
employment and revenue generation. For many states, fishing contributes significantly to their
political, social and economic well being. These nations have accordingly adopted conscious and
elaborate measures to conserve and manage these resources to enable their benefits to be
sustainably realized.
With the advent of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal
states have been granted sovereign rights over the fisheries resources within their respective
Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) which is established at 200 nautical miles from their coastline.
On the other hand, in another article of the convention, coastal states unable to fully exploit their
fisheries resources can enter into partnership agreements with foreign vessels to harvest its surplus
28
fish. Ultimately Fisheries Partnership Agreements characterize most fishing activities within the
EEZs of Coastal African States.
Mr. Chairman, the question one will ask is, how rational are these partnership agreements mostly
between technologically advanced countries and not too endowed developing coastal countries
particularly along the Guinea Current. Most of these developing countries do not even have the
facilities to effectively carry out monitoring and surveillance activities within the areas under their
jurisdiction.
Mr. Chairman, that is why this workshop could not be held at a better time than now. Our nations
have been complaining of overexploitation and depletion of living Resources; which is what the
GCLME intends to address. The objectives of this workshop as stated in the Aide Memoire are very
laudable. They will bring to the fore revelations of challenges faced by individual participating
countries. Of particular interest will be the promotion of ecosystem based Fisheries Partnership
Agreements.
At the end of this three-day workshop expected outputs, I am informed will be:
·
Minimum access conditions established;
·
Regional stock assessment carried out at least every year; and
·
Transboundary nature of the fisheries resources considered in Fisheries Partnership
Agreements.
Distinguished Participants, your various governments will be waiting to see the results of the
recommendations that will come out of this workshop, translated into practicable and workable
ideas that will go a long way to reduce poverty among the coastal populations in our countries. It is
my expectation that within these few days you will be able to share experiences to the mutual
benefit of all participating countries.
I wish to congratulate the organizers of this workshop the GCLME under the able leadership of
Professor Chidi Ibe and collaborators from World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
I wish you fruitful deliberations and Season's Greetings for the year 2006.
Thank you and God bless you.
29
WELCOME ADDRESS BY PROF. CHIDI IBE, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GCLME
Mr. Chairman,
Deputy Minister for Fisheries,
Representatives of Diplomatic Missions and UN Agencies,
Representatives of the European Commission and US-NOAA
Distinguished Participants,
Distinguished Members of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again we have gathered here for yet another important workshop the first in the series to be
organized by the GCLME in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund and other partners. On my own
behalf and on behalf of the GCLME family and our partners, I wish to welcome you all to this
meeting.
I wish to extend a special welcome to the Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Daniel Dugan for the
honour of your presence at this high level meeting. I also wish to welcome our high level participants,
Directors of Fisheries and other participants for responding favourably to our invitation despite your
very heavy schedules and the winding flight itineraries that you were subjected to.
This particular workshop is very important to the GCLME project because its objectives, when
attained, will go a long way to further enhance the achievement of the aims of the GCLME Project
combating the depletion of living resource and coastal area degradation in the GCLME.
This Workshop will provide a forum for Directors of Fisheries of the GCLME countries to deliberate
and exchange views and perspectives on issues related to Fisheries Partnership Agreements. Among
us this morning are resource persons who will share with us experiences gained in other parts of the
world.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I can assure you that this Workshop is going to be a
particularly exciting one as the country representatives will share with their colleagues their own
experiences within their respective countries.
Once again let me welcome you to the Regional Office of the GCLME Project. I wish you a
successful Workshop and best wishes for the year 2006. Thank you.
30
SPEECH BY DR. KWAME KORANTENG, WWF EASTERN AFRICA REGIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Chairman
Deputy Minister for Fisheries,
Representatives of Diplomatic Missions and UN Agencies,
Regional Director, GCLME Project,
Directors of Fisheries,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the WWF Director-General Mr James Leape, and the Director of the Africa and
Madagascar Programme, Dr. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, I welcome you to this important Workshop taking
place in this peaceful city of Accra.
Ladies and gentlemen, WWF-the Global Conservation Organization (also known as the World Wide
Fund for Nature, or World Wildlife Fund in North America) is one of the world's largest and most
respected independent conservation organizations. WWF has a global network active in nearly 100
countries and has almost five million supporters. Our Mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's
natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
conserving the world's biological diversity; ensuring sustainable use of renewable natural resources;
and reducing pollution and wasteful consumption.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Participants, as you well know, sustainable fisheries and the
conservation of marine resources in Africa are of pre-eminent importance to the livelihoods and
health of many Africans. Yet, we know that many fisheries resources are under enormous stress from
a variety of factors, including fishing pressure, notably pressure from fishing entities originating from
nations far away from ours. We at WWF believe that sustainable future for coastal communities
depends upon wise stewardship of natural resources. In our Coasts and Oceans work, our two global
targets are that by the year 2020: a network of effectively managed, ecologically representative MPAs
covering at least 10% of the world's seas would be established, and the number of fish stocks which
are currently categorized by FAO as over-exploited or depleted would be halved.
It is normal, Mr Chairman, that faced with increasing poverty and in trying to improve the quality of
life for the average citizen, governments, especially those of developing countries are constantly
faced with challenges of balancing development needs, conservation goals and judicious use of
natural resources. Due to such challenges, many countries are enticed into granting access to fishery
31
resources in their waters without really understanding the implications of the agreements that come
with it nor knowing the real value of the resources under the negotiation. WWF has committed itself
to assisting developing coastal states to understanding the implications of fisheries agreements. This
Workshop is one of a number that WWF has helped to organise for this purpose. At these workshops,
WWF always articulates its objective of reducing the footprint of Distant Water Fishing Nations by
ensuring fair and sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements that respect the needs of local people.
We also underscore the cardinal principles of fairness and mutual respect in such agreements and we
affirm our determination to monitor the impacts of FPAs on local economies and ecosystems. These
fora look at the opportunities and challenges of Fisheries Partnership Agreements, particularly the
issue of coastal states granting access to Distant Water Fishing Nations to fish in their waters.
One recommendation that usually comes out of such workshops is that before agreements are
concluded or renewed, the impact of the intended operations on the environment, local economy and
livelihoods of local people should be adequately assessed. It is also recommended that fisheries
agreements be linked to the sustainability of the resources and the ecosystem. The need for coastal
states to take a regional approach in these negotiations, especially with regard to the management of
highly migratory species like tunas always comes up at these workshops. In the next three days
starting from today, we will hear from participants their experiences on this subject; we from WWF
will bring you experiences from other parts of Africa and the world at large. Thereafter, we shall
together formulate minimum terms and conditions for Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the
GCLME area. We consider this as an interactive and participatory process of sharing ideas rather than
lectures to give you instructions to take back home.
Mr Chairman, the discussion that has given birth to this Workshop is only the beginning of a long-
term collaboration between WWF and UNIDO in general, and the GCLME project in particular to be
embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding between our organizations. WWF has the expertise in
many of the issues that the GCLME project is addressing.
I would like to thank the UNIDO/GEF GCLME project for making this consultation possible. Let me
personally thank the Regional Director, Prof. Ibe for being so receptive to the idea of organising such
a consultation for the benefit of countries within the programme area. I can assure you that this will
be time well spent.
Thank You.
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SPEECH BY MR. EDWARD TAPSOBA, FAO DEPUTY REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
FOR AFRICA
Deputy Minister for Fisheries,
Regional Director, GCLME
Directors of Fisheries of the 16 GCLME member countries
Resource Persons and Invited Experts
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to be here today and to speak to you as the Chairman of this opening ceremony. I
would like to express my appreciation to the GCLME Project Team for bestowing the privilege to
FAO and myself to chair this ceremony.
This Workshop came at a time of great concern in the region for the sustainable exploitation of the
fisheries resources and the protection of the marine environment. There has been a lot of pressure
from within the region for access to fish and fisheries resources for food security and revenue.
The livelihoods of fishing communities are of concern to all the stakeholders (including FAO)
because regional pressures are now being exacerbated by the increasing bilateral and collective
European Union Fisheries Partnership Agreements. These legal commitments threatens some of the
stocks that are also exposed to the yet to resolve illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU
fishing) in the waters of all the countries present here today.
The European Union, as a major partner in these partnership agreements, has recently identified the
need to better integrate sustainable fisheries management into its fisheries agreements as a major
challenge. That will not be an easy task without the cooperation and collaboration of the countries
engaged in the agreements. So the region also has to be collectively committed to addressing the
many problems associated with the need to manage fisheries resources based on sound scientific and
technical advice, to improve policing and controlling fishing activities through better Monitoring,
Control and Surveillance (MCS), and to maximize the benefits generated by the partnership
agreements through compulsory landings for local use, improvement of onshore infrastructure and
development of added value operations.
Honourable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have no doubt that the deliberations of the experts and
resource persons assembled here will produce results that will further strengthen the resolve of the
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countries concerned in providing an environment that will maintain the quality, diversity and
availability of fisheries resources for food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
I wish the workshop participants success in their exchanges.
Thank you for your attention.
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