REBYC
Reduction of Environmental Impact from Tropical Shrimp Trawling, through the introduction of By-catch
Reduction Technologies and Change of Management
(EP/GLO/201/GEF)
Summary Record of Project Task Force meeting, held at FAO HQs, Rome,
30 May 2006
Attendance
Members:
Grainger, FIDI (Chair)
Csirke, FIRM
Bianchi, FIRM
Moth-Poulsen, FIIT
de la Rocha FIDP
Barg FIRI
Kuemlangan LEGN
Skonhoft, LEGN
Fogelgren FIIT
Invited:
Thiele (Project Coordinator) FIIT
Absent with apologies:
Turner, FIIT
Agenda:
·
Project status report and planned activities in 2006.
·
Visit by Mr. Nakamura, UNEP, to FAO 1-2 June.
·
Any other business
Introduction
After welcoming the participants and introducing the agenda, Mr. Grainer invited the
Project Coordinator, Mr. Thiele, to brief the meeting on the current status of the project, as
well as planned activities in 2006.
Status report and planned activities in 2006
Mr Thiele gave a power point presentation (see annex 1).
The overall pace of the implementation of the project activities continues to be
satisfactory. Recognising the different stage of the project implementation in the participating
countries, and following the suggestions of the third International Project Steering
Committee, there is a need for a mid-term meeting of all the National Project Coordinators in
order to evaluate achievements and to exchange experiences and views on the project work
in the future. The meeting is scheduled for October 2007, kindly hosted by the Philippines.
What must be done before the current NTE date of May 2007:
Conduct further research on BRDs in all countries;
select an appropriate device which fits the requirements of the country (in the
Caribbean it will be the Mexican prototype trawl with possible fish eyes, in the
Asian region the JTED developed by SEAFDEC, Iran will use Australian
BRDs on industrial trawlers, and square mesh windows/codends on dhows,
Nigeria and Cameroon square mesh windows/codends and T90 codends)
review, and if necessary revise the national legal frame works (work started
with Indonesia, FAO legal department is involved)
strengthen the cooperation between countries and regions.
FAOs obligations:
·
Publication on Shrimp fishing (under preparation B. Gillett study)
·
By-catch guide published in English and Arabic, whereas Spanish and French version
under preparation
·
Inventory of legal and policy frame work (done)
·
Project web site established and reports are posted on it.
Visit by Mr. Nakamura, UNEP, to FAO 1-2 June.
Mr. Nakamura, Project Management Officer, International Waters, UNEP/GEF, will
visit FAO HQ 2-3 June. The visit was initiated by FIIT since UNEP, although being the
Implementing Agency, had so far not attended any of the project meetings they had been
invited to.
Topics of particular concern to discuss will be:
- the project budget, especially the allocation to FAO which provides an unrealistically low
budget for the Project Officer.
- the mid-term project evaluation: whether there is a need for one, and how it would be
funded.
- extension of the project duration: given the slow start, and that some 45% of the budget
remains with only one year left.
- FAO has received a proposal from BBC to make a documentary about the project. The
estimated cost is 55.000, and UNEP will be asked if they can identify all or part of the
funding.
- interest from UNEP whether FAO can initiate the process of a second project with similar
objectives, but involving other countries.
The visit by Mr. Nakamura will be an opportunity also for other FAO colleagues who are
working with the UNEP IW programme, to discuss problems/constraints.
Any other business
No other matters were discussed.
Closure
Mr Grainger concluded that after some initial difficulties, the project is now making improved
progress. He thanked the participants for their contribution to the meeting, and in view of Mr.
Thiele's departure, he extended his gratitude for the services extended to the project, and his
active involvement in the project. The meeting was advised that Mr. Moth-Poulsen will take
over as Project Coordinator on an ad interim basis, pending the selection of Mr. Thiele's
successor.
GEF /FAO Project
"Reduction of Environmental Impacts
from Tropical Shrimp Trawling, trough the
Introduction of By-catch Reduction
Technologies and Change of
Management"
Third Meeting International Steering Committee
Bandar Abbas; Iran
25 27 April 2006
GEF /FAO Project
"Reduction of Environmental Impacts
from Tropical Shrimp Trawling, trough the
Introduction of By-catch Reduction
Technologies and Change of
Management"
Status of the project by end of May 06
Wilfried Thiele
Project Coordinator FAO
· The reduction of by-catches and discards of unwanted
catch is thus a policy for many States, as well as for an
increasing number of regional and sub-regional fisheries
management organisations and arrangements. The
reduction of discards, and the environmental impact of
this, is a priority activity under FAO's Regular
Programme, and is addressed specifically in the rolling
MediumTerm Plan entitled "Reduction of discards and
environmental impact from fisheries" which includes the
evaluation of by-catches and discards resulting from
various fisheries, plus assessment of the impact of
trawling and other similar fishing methods on the sea-
bottom, and on the environment in general.
· Additional to the RP funds The Global
Environment Facility (GEF) has provided funds to
a joint FAO/UNEP project on "Reduction of
environmental impact from tropical shrimp
trawling, through the introduction of by-catch
reduction technologies and change of
management." The project commenced in July
2002.
· Twelve countries and one Intergovernmental Organisation
are participating in the project. Asia is represented by
Indonesia and the Philippines, Western Africa by Nigeria
and the Cameroon, the Gulf Region by Iran and Bahrain,
and Latin America and the Caribbean by Colombia, Cuba,
Costa Rica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela.
· Following the Inaugural meeting held in Mexico in
September 2002, the participating countries developed
work plans, and the project activities started.
· Recognising the different stage of the project
implementation in the participating countries, and
following the suggestions of the International Project
Steering Committee there is a need for a mid term meeting
of all national Coordinators in order to evaluate
achievements and to exchange experiences and views
about the project work in the future.
· FAO has published an updated estimate on global
discards. In general, it is stated there has been a
substantial reduction in discards since the first
assessment was made in 1994. There are two
major reasons for this reduction:
Use of more selective fishing gears, the introduction of
by-catch and discard regulations and improved
enforcement of regulatory measures; and
Increased retention of by-catch for human or animal
food, as a result of improved technologies and
expanding market opportunities.
Evolution of discard estimates and recorded catches
The sum of the recorded discards is 6.8 million t with respect to a
total recorded catch of 78.4 million t. The global summed discard
rate is 8.0% (quantity of discards as a percentage of the total
catch).
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r e c o r d e d n o m i n a l c a t c h
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( A l v e r s o n )
Discards by major gear types
Shrim p traw l
62%
Tuna and HMS longline
29%
Dredge
28%
Trap and pot
23%
Dem ersal finfish traw l
10%
Dem ersal longline
8%
Tuna purse seine
5%
Midw ater (pelagic) traw l
3%
Handline
2%
Other gears
1%, or less
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percentage
· Where are we in the project execution
Our start was slow, mainly caused by difficulties in
administrative procedures in FAO as well as in the
participating countries
After solving those problems, we made good progress in all
countries
According to the individual workplans the status of the
project is different in each country
· Bahrain
conducting of a regional demonstration and
training course in October 2004
Awareness campaign
Attendance of Bahrain experts on a Workshop in
Iran
· Cameroon
National Steering Committee was formed and meet regularly
Cooperation with Nigeria is established
Workshops in Nigeria were attended by people from Cameroon
Observer programm and data collection is ongoing
Training and demonstration cruise was conducted, supported by
external experts
The political will to introduce BRDs is high
Problem: Lack of funds
How can the ISC help?
Nigeria will support ( participation of Cameroonian experts in
meetings etc.)
· Colombia
National Steering Committee established and meets regularly
Workshops and training courses on both coasts are conducted
Transfer of Mexican technology under progress
First results from trials with the transferred Mexican
technologies were very promising
Unwanted by-catch could reduced by 22%, fuel consumption of
vessels were reduced by 20%
Problem : Lack of funds, financial help is needed!
Mexico will provide nets and material for further project
activities in Colombia
· Costa Rica
National Steering committee established,
Problems in the project execution, because of
administrative difficulties
Cooperation with Mexico is established
Costa Rican experts participated in trials/WS in Mexico
Workshops and tests of BRDs with support of Mexican
consultants are under preparation
Additional to the technical work assistance in the
development of the legal framework is needed
· Cuba
National Steering Committee established, which
meets regularly
Several experiments with BRDs (Fisheyes)
Cooperation with Mexico established
First joint trials with Mexican experts were done
Cooperation with Costa Rica on by-catch
utilisation
· Mexico
National Steering Committee established
Several trials with BRDs and the new trawl concept
Same delays because of outstanding training from SIMRAD
Training courses will take place form June to September 06
Preliminary results from commercial vessels shows a reduction of
by-catch between 30 and 60%, fuel savings rate around 50%
New technology is accepted by the fishermen and 140 vessels are
using the new devices
Leading country in the Caribbean region, all regional activities
depends on availability of Mexican experts.
· Nigeria
National Steering Committee established
Programme on data collection, socio economic effects has
started
experiments with BRDs supported by external experts
First results are good, the percentage of marketable fish in
the codends was increased and discards considerably
reduced
Effort has been focused on TED installation in order to be
recertified for export to the US
Cooperation and support to Cameroon
· Indonesia
National Steering Committee established
Training courses and workshops in different areas
conducted
JTEDs, developed by SEAFDEC are the chosen devices
WS IN Merauke shows clear that some more work
(training/demonstration) is needed to introduce by-catch
reduction technologies
Awareness campaign on by-catch problems has started
Assistance in development of legal framework is needed
Cooperation with SEAFDEC and Philippines
· The Philippines
National Steering Committee established
Workshops and training Courses in different regions
Data collection and awareness campaign
Cooperation with SEAFDEC and Indonesia
Good progress in implementation
Three different types of BRDs are under investigation,
results shows by-catch reduction between 33 and 68%
18 trawlers are using the new technologies voluntarily
A Workshop on Implementation of BRDs in Samar Sea
Region is under preparation
· SEAFDEC
Assistance to Philippines and Indonesia
Development of BRDs and TEDs fitting the regional
requirements
Development of promotion material
Support to other countries in development of by-catch
reduction technologies By Experts from SEAFDEC
Lack of funds, financial support from other countries is
needed ( Philippines and Indonesia will finance SEADEC
experts)
· Trinidad & Tobago
- National Project Steering Committee established
- Public Awareness campaign
Data collection in continuing (Observer Programme)
Cooperation with Venezuela and Mexico in preparation
First trials, supported by Mexican experts will start in July
Aiming to introduce the Mexican technology
Some activities (gear trials) must be postponed because of
seismic investigations of the oil industry (to September)
· Venezuela
National Stering Committee established
Several tests and trials with BRDs in artisanal
fisheries and industrial fisheries
Data Collection (Estimation of by-catch
composition; fleet characteristics)
Tests with Mexico to introduce the " Suripera"in
Lake Maracaibo are under preparation ( June/
July), followed by tests with BRDs in the
industrial sector (October/ November)
· What must be done in the remaining project time (ONLY
ONE YEAR LEFT!!)
Conduct research on BRDs in all countries;
select an appropriate device which fits the requirements of the country (in
the Caribbean it will be the Mexican prototype trawl, in the Asian region
the JTED developed by SEAFDEC, Iran will use Australian BRDs on
industrial trawlers, and square mesh windows/ codends on dhows, Nigeria
and Cameroon square mesh windows/ codends)
develop the necessary legal frame work (work started with Indonesia,
FAO legal department is involved)
strengthen the cooperation between countries and regions
FAOs obligations:
· Publication on Shrimp fishing (under preparation B.
Gillett study)
· By-catch guide published in English and Arabic, Spanish
and French version under preparation
· Inventory of legal and policy frame work (done)
· Web site established and reports are published on it
·
Thank You!