REBYC
Reduction of Environmental Impact from Tropical Shrimp Trawling, through the introduction of By-catch
Reduction Technologies and Change of Management
http/www.fao.org/fi/gefs
hrimp.htm
Report of the first Meeting of International Project Steering Committee
(IPSC).
Guaymas, Mexico, 19 September 2002
The First Meeting of the IPSC was held immediately after the last session of the
preceding Inaugural Meeting of National Coordinators.
The full list of participants and observers is given in Appendix A, the Agenda in
Appendix B.
Welcome
Mr. Fogelgren welcomed the participants on behalf of FAO, and noted that
representatives from five countries as well as SEAFDEC (observer) and the
Project Coordinator were in attendance. Unfortunately, no delegate from the Gulf
Region was able to attend, nor the representative from the Project Implementing
Agency, UNEP.
He then called for the election of a Chairperson.
Election of Chairperson
The representative from Mexico, Mr. Ignacio Mendez Gomez was proposed to be
nominated Chairperson for the meeting, which was seconded by Mr. Effendi A.
Sumardja of Indonesia. Mr. Mendez Gomez extended his gratitude for being
suggested, and accepted the Chairmanship. He formally opened the meeting,
and continued by expressing his satisfaction of the formal launching of this
important project. He recapitulated the more significant findings and conclusions
of the Inaugural Meeting of the National Coordinators, and after reviewing the
agenda for the IPSC meeting, he remarked that since the project had recently
commenced, he anticipated the IPSC to proceed smoothly.
Adoption of the Agenda
The Committee adopted the agenda for the first IPSC meeting.
Proposal for reporting
Mr. Fogelgren volunteered to prepare the minutes of the meeting.
Review of the Project Document
Mr. Fogelgren gave an account of the background of the Project Document, and
the obligations for the participating parties. A discussion followed on the Project
Document.
Mr. Virgilio Alforque (the Philippines) remarked that the preparation phase of the
project document had been very transparent, and the countries had been
involved throughout the process. At this stage, he did not see any need to
immediately revise the project document or the workplan, although it would likely
become necessary later.
Since the IPSC meetings will be held only every 18 months, he suggested any
comments on the Project Document could be communicated to FAO in writing.
Mr. Effendi A. Sumardja (Indonesia) noted the requirement for half year
Operational Reports. Since these reports would partly be based on nationally
undertaken activities, the achieved results and encountered problems, Mr.
Sumardja recommended that detailed guidelines should be produced how to
prepare the reports, also to enable the countries to use the same format.
Mr. Thiele supported the proposal, and suggested that the guidelines should be
made available on the internet webpage, which FAO currently is preparing. The
National Reports could be published, even as drafts, which will facilitate each
country to monitor progress/constraints in the other countries, and to easily share
information on how problems have been resolved by them. The Project
Document, names of the members of the International Project Steering
Committee and the National Coordinators, as well as technical reports and other
useful information and links to related webpages, could be posted. Mr. Thiele
also suggested that any recommended change of the Project Document should
be posted on the webpage.
Mr. Mr. Oumarou Nujfonjuou (Cameron) observed that the total budget allocation
for Cameron was US$ 50,000 over the five year period. Since there are a number
of activities to be undertaken, he felt some concern whether the funds would be
sufficient, and asked if additional funds could be requested from GEF.
Mr. Fogelgren explained that the overall budget provided by the GEFSEC can not
be increased. However, minor shifting of funds between budget lines or between
the budgets of the participating countries, would be possible. One alternative
approach is to try to obtain additional co-financing. He further advised the
countries to keep detailed records of how their national in kind contributions were
being spent.
Mr. Jose J. Alio (Venezuela) raised the issue of the country Letter of Agreements.
Since few activities in the countries can commence before funds have been
made available, he stressed the importance to promptly finalise them, so the first
transfer of funds can be released.
Mr. Fogelgren described how the Letter of Agreements are prepared and
processed within FAO. Given that the duration of the project can not be
extended, FAO will ensure that the Agreements are completed and submitted for
signatures as early as possible.
Recommendations to FAO
The Meeting recommended FAO
- to finalise the outstanding Letters of Agreements;
- to design and open a project webpage, which should be reviewed by the
participants of the project, and to post the format of the national reports on the
webpage,
- to provide technical and administrative comments on the draft reports;
- to copy relevant communication on project issues to the National
Coordinators for the project, so they can quickly assist in resolving any
obstruction in the implementation of the activities.
- to design a logo for the project;
Any other business
Since there were no other business, the Chairperson thanked the participants for
their contribution to the first IPSC meeting, and expressed his pleasure that the
project is moving in the right direction. The meeting thanked the Chairperson.
Date and venue for the next IPSC
The Committee gratefully accepted the offer of the Philippines to host the Second
IPSC, scheduled for January 2004. Confirmation of dates and venue will be
obtained in mid 2003.
ANNEX A
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
CAMERON
Mr. Oumarou Nujfonjuou
Researcher
IRAD/SRHOL
Telephone: (237) 9981446
E-mail: njifonjo@caramail.com
INDONESIA
Mr. Effendi A. Sumardja
SPECIAL ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATION'S/GEF
FOCAL POINT-INDONESIA
FAO/Ministry of the Environment
Telephone: (62) 218580066
E-mail: sumardja@yahoo.com
eas@menlh.go.ia
MEXICO
Mr. Ignacio Mendez Gomez-H.
DIRECTOR GENERAL DE INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO TECNOLOGICO
PESQUERO
INP/PITAGORAS 1320, COL. STA. CRUZ ATOYAC, DEL. BENITO
JUÁREZ,MÉXICO
Telephone: (55) 54223044/54223006/56880677
E-mail: imendez@inp.semarnat.gob.mx
The PHILIPPINES
Mr. Virgilio Alforque
OIC-REGIONAL DIRECTOR OFFICE NO. IV-B (MIMAROPA
GOVERMENT-BARBAO OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES
Telephone: (632) 3725051/3711173
E-mail: jod_bfar@info.com.ph
VENEZUELA
Mr. Jose J. Alio
INVESTIGADOR
INIA/CUMANA, VENEZUELA
Telephone: (293) 4317557/4325385
E-mail: josealio@hotmail.com
FAO
Mr. Wilfried Thiele
Project Coordinator
Senior Fisheries Ind. Officer
FIIT
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100, Rome
ITALY
Telephone: (3906) 57055836
E-mail: wilfried.thiele@fao.org
Mr.
Janne
Fogelgren
GEF Programme Support Officer
TCI
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100, Rome
ITALY
Telephone: (3906) 5705 2377
E-mail: janne.fogelgren@fao.org
SEAFDEC
Mr. Bundit Chokesaguan
INFORMATION AND EXTENSION DIV. HEAD
SEAFDEC, Thailand
Telephone: (66) 24256100
E-mail: bundit@seafdec.org
ANNEX B
Agenda for the first International Project Steering Committee meeting of
EP/GLO/201/GEF Reduction of Environmental Impact from Tropical
Shrimp Trawling, through the Introduction of by-catch Reduction
Technologies and Change of Management
19 September 2002, Guaymas, Mexico
-
Election of Chairperson;
-
Adoption of the Agenda;
-
Proposal for reporting;
-
Review of the Project Document;
- national workplans
-
budgets
-
other
-
Recommendations to FAO;
-
Any other business;
-
Date and venue for the next IPSC.