General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean – CGPM

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
(ISTANBUL (Turkey): 24, 27 January 2006)

As a result of our request, the CIPS was invited to take part, in a capacity as observer, in the CGPM Assembly. I and vice president Ferenc Szalay, responsible for environmental matters, took part as recreational fishing representatives.

The CGPM assembly was attended by about twenty nations, 2 observers of intergovernmental organisations and 4 non-governmental observers.

During the course of the Assembly the principal activities of committees were presented, with special reference to the evaluation of fishery “stocks”, data gathering, protection of the ecosystem and evaluation of vulnerable habitats. Also discussed were “sensitive” habitats and the management of fishery potential.
Executive secretary Alain Bonzon presented a report on FAO regional projects and on the activities of the aquaculture committee.

A number of recommendations were made regarding:
• the management of some types of fishing regarding demersal and small pelagic species
• a closed season for dolphinfish species, using fish aggregation devices (FADs)
• the establishment of restrictive fishing zones in order to protect deep-sea sensitive “habitats”
• actions to combat illegal fishing.

Recommendations issued by the international commission for the conservation of Atlantic tunas (ICCAT) at the General Assembly in Seville, Spain, were also adopted. Monaco presented a forecast for the protection of the “Pelagos Sanctuary”. This discussion would be resumed at the next plenary session.

There followed a reading of a work programme for the intersessional period 2006:

a) stock assessment subcommittee (stocks or potential availability of fish):

• to monitor socio-economic indicators, with reference to priority species
• to obtain maps on the distribution of juveniles for priority species
• to ensure continuous monitoring of “stocks”
• to document the impact of selected fishing gear on the environment with a view to adopting corrective measures referring to gear selection
• to foster the creation of a technological network and databank.

b) marine environment and ecosystem subcommittee:

• to conduct interdisciplinary pilot studies with a view to defining the compatibility of the ecosystem and the management of shared stocks
• to coordinate projects regarding the monitoring and control of the impact of fishing on protected or endangered species
• to conduct researches and draw up the relative programme referring to species living at depths in excess of 1,000 metres
• to study the interaction between cetacean species and fishery activities.

c) statistics and information subcommittee:

• to process collected data
• to compile a list of national databases on fishery activity.

d) economic and social sciences subcommittee:

• to develop the use of socio-economic indicators in fisheries management
• to study the legislative and socio-economic aspects of recreational fishing
• to analyse the impact of market forces (supply and demand, prices, quality control) on the fishing industry and related activities.

The Commission confirmed the make-up of the Scientific Committee, formed by members:

Corrado PICCINETTI: Italy, chairperson
Nicos HADJISTEPHANOU: Cyprus, vice chairperson
Karlou RIGA: Croatia, vice chairperson

CGPM Bureau:
Mohamed HAGALI SALEM: Tunisia, chairperson
Riccardo RIGILLO: Italy, vice chairperson
Ivan KATAVIE: Croatia, vice chairperson

Following the election of the Bureau, the candidature of CIPS as an Observer was put forward and accepted (article of CGPM minutes attached).

The next plenary session was arranged for 9-18 January 2007, to take place in Italy.

Marcel Ordan
CIPS President

Copyright © 2006 CIPS
Dernière modification: 9 March, 2006