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Report of the Ad-Hoc Workshop of the APEC Fisheries Working Group on Fisheries Management
Below are details of the APEC meeting held on 13-15 July 1999 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, including agreed actions.
For copies of the Agenda or/and Appendix contact Fisheries.
1. Opening of the Meeting
1.1 Address of welcome
Mr. Hiroaki Kameya, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of Japan, delivered a welcoming address.
1.2 Election of chairman
Mr. Glenn Hurry, Chairman of the Fisheries Working Group (FWG), was elected as Chairman for the workshop.
1.3 Adoption of agenda
The agenda of the meeting was adopted.
1.4 Election of rapporteurs
Mr. Matteo Milazzo of the U.S. Economy and Mr. Shingo Ota of the Japanese Economy were elected as Rapporteurs.
2. Opening statements
2.1 Member economies
The Economies of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Chinese Taipei and the United States made opening statements.
Agreed Actions:- A list of actions (recommendation, action plan or project) should be formulated at the workshop in order to address common problems
- As stated in the terms of reference for this workshop, each participating Member Economy should make its utmost effort in implementing the outcome of the workshop on a voluntary basis, while due consideration should be given to the APEC process for giving final endorsement to the actions.
2.2 International organization and regional fisheries management organizations
Dr. Erhard Ruckes of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) made a statement.
2.3 Others
No statement was made under this agenda item.
3. Reports on APEC's activities concerning stock management
3.1 Report from FWG
Mr. Glenn Hurry, Chairman of the FWG, gave a brief summary on the results of the 10th FWG meeting held in Cairns from May 15 to 17. One of the focal points that the FWG endorsed at the meeting in Cairns was cooperative fishery management.
3.2 Report from EVSL
The New Zealand Economy provided a paper on tasks to be completed by the FWG for the enhancement of international cooperation on fishery management as part of the EVSL initiative.
Agreed Action:
A questionnaire will be circulated among Member Economies to collect information on the past work in this area with the deadline of response set on August 31 this year. The results of the survey, along with the report of this workshop, will be sent to the Senior Official and Ministerial meetings, subject to the approval at the next FWG meeting.
3.3 1998 Oceans Conference
The U.S. Economy provided a brief report on the results of the APEC Oceans Conference held in Hawaii last year. .
4. Follow-up to FAO's activities and discussions in other regional and international fora
4.1 Implementation of the International Plan of Actions for the Management of Fishing Capacity, Conservation and Management of Sharks, and Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Long-line Fisheries
(a) Management of fishing capacity and conservation
Dr. David Doulman of the FAO made a presentation on the details of the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity. He reported that the FAO had already started identifying factors contributing to over-capacity of fishing vessels, strengthening the cooperation with the World Trade Organization with respect to the effects of fishery subsidies on sustainable fisheries, and participating in a cooperative undertaking with the World Bank called "Initiative for Sustainable Fisheries." He also reported that the FAO would hold a technical meeting for measurement of fishing capacity in cooperation with the Mexican government later this year. The participating Member Economies welcomed the initiatives of the FAO. It was stressed that there were many problems causing over-capacity, and urgent actions would be required for their solution.
The United States Economy introduced a project proposal (Appendix VIII) intended to contribute to implementation of the Action Plan in the APEC region.
Agreed Action:
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Member Economies will provide data on vessels that are over 24 meters in length and are authorized to operate on the high seas, whether or not they operate exclusively on the high seas or on the high seas and inside EEZs
- Member Economies will provide data to APEC FWG Lead Shepherd in a format consistent with the reporting provisions of the Compliance Agreement, and the data on high seas vessels will be collated and distributed to APEC Member Economies before the 11th FWG meeting
- The FWG will form a task force to consider how to utilize the above data to better understand high-seas fisheries issues and how to remedy these problems in the APEC region
- Chinese Taipei expressed her concern about the ability and mandate of APEC FWG on the 'Agreed Action', and the need for discussion on what role the FWG wants to play regarding fisheries management before collecting data on vessels.
Dr. Suzuki of the Japanese Economy made a presentation on over-capacity in world tuna fisheries. He explained that the tuna long-line fishing capacity had been increasing while its target species were over-exploited. He stressed that the reduction of the long-line fishing capacity should be done simultaneously on a global basis with adequate consideration to be given to an increase in catching efficiency. He also stated that more study would be required to measure and assess capacity in the purse seine fishery.
Dr. David Doulman of the FAO also made a presentation on the over-capacity in world fisheries, summarizing a paper prepared by Dr. Christopher Newton for a 1998 FAO Consultation. He stated that over-capacity had increased rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, exceeding the level needed to harvest at MSY. It was noted that the improvement of vessel registry systems as well as the FOC fishing operation problem needed to be addressed as urgent matters for controlling the world fishing capacity.
The Japanese Economy gave a presentation on its tuna vessel reduction program. It was confirmed that such reductions would be rendered ineffective if fishing vessels from other Economies, especially FOC vessels, were added to that fishery.
Agreed Action:
A recommendation was adopted calling for reduction in over-capacity of tuna long-line vessels.
(b) Conservation and management of sharks; and
(c) Reducing incidental catch of seabirds in long-line fisheries.
Dr. Erhard Ruckes of the FAO made a presentation on the Action Plans for Shark and Seabirds Bycatch. Support was given to these Action Plans.
Agreed Action:
Progress on implementation of these Action Plans by each Member Economy will be reported in a written form to the 11th FWG meeting.
Support was also given to the U.S. proposal on Seabird Bycatch Avoidance Information Exchange. It was suggested that a more detailed draft would be presented to the 11th FWG meeting for formal endorsement. It was noted that duplication of FAO's work on seabirds should be avoided.
(d) Measures against fishing vessels from non-member States and flag-of convenience (FOC) fishing vessels.
The Japanese Economy provided a list of FOC vessels. It was reported that the FOC problem was becoming more diverse and complicated than before as FOC vessels were moving to new flag states and from one place to another to avoid agreed international regulation and regional conservation and management measures, making it more difficult to understand the actual situation.
Agreed Action:
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Global cooperation will be required for immediate action on this issue to ensure the effectiveness of the vessel reduction programs by APEC Economies as well as the fair competition between vessels
- In addition to implementation of existing international agreements such as the FAO Compliance Agreement, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, a variety of measures should be assessed for resolution of this issue with due consideration given to international obligations of Member Economies. These measures could include, inter alia, prohibition on landing and port call, restriction of export of fishing vessels, trade measures, license suspension, restriction of transfer of fishing masters, monitoring and survey programs
- Effort should be made to ensure participation of Member Economies in regional and international fisheries management organizations, and
- The APEC Secretariat will write a letter to FOC countries informing them of the actions that the APEC FWG intends to take toward the solution of this issue.
A recommendation was adopted to address the issue of FOC fishing vessels.
(e) Measures against IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) and FOC fishing activities.
Dr. Doulman of the FAO made a presentation on FAO's initiatives on this issue. It was noted that the FAO, under the auspices of the Australian Economy, would hold a workshop in April or May 2000 to address the IUU problem, followed by a technical consultation before the next meeting of the FAO Committee on Fisheries.
Agreed Action:
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Further consultation will be necessary among Member Economies on several aspects of these meetings, including their modality and the list of topics to be discussed, for successful completion of this project. Preliminary suggestions were made as to the list of topics, which could include, inter alia, landing and port call prohibition, international inspection schemes, input and output control, trade measures, ecolabeling, administration of fishing vessel registries, improved vessel monitoring systems, information exchange on ratification of the FAO Compliance Agreement and study on provisions of the International Maritime Organization regarding FOC regulation
- Subject to an opinion on legal and privacy considerations, the FWG will develop and disseminate a list of IUU and FOC vessels.
A recommendation was adopted on the IUU fishing.
(f) Using market pressure to regulate trade in seafood products from non-members, IUU and FOC fishing activities.
Dr. Ruckes of the FAO made a presentation on FAO's work on the ecolabeling issue. The FAO will hold the second technical consultation on this issue around June 2000. The workshop noted that, through cooperation with importing country authorities and businesses involved in the importing, processing and marketing of fish and fish products, members of regional fisheries agreements can develop labelling and other relevant promotional programs to present consumers with a positive choice to purchase fish caught in compliance with regional management arrangements.
Agreed Action:
- The Japanese Economy introduced a draft project proposal for identifying and assessing the effectiveness of trade measures against IUU, FOC and non-member fishing operation. Full support was given to this proposal on the condition that the formal endorsement be made at the 11th FWG meeting as an APEC project, and that communication should be made between the Japanese Economy and the APEC Secretariat with respect to financial rules, especially as to a request for urgent funding.
(g) Stock management, taking marine ecosystem into consideration.
The Japanese Economy presented a paper on this subject which estimated that marine mammals consume 280 to 500 million metric tons of aquatic resource world wide annually. It reported that this issue had recently been raised and dealt with within the framework of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, the International Whaling Commission and the FAO. The Japanese Economy suggested that further analysis would be necessary, and certain actions might be required in the future for achieving sustainable utilization of fish stocks. The Member Economies took note of the information provided by the Japanese Economy. The Economy of Chinese Taipei expressed an interest in exchange of information on marine mammal predation on aquatic resources. The Australian Economy will provide information on its new ocean policy that deals with the ecosystem management.
(h) Sustainable aquaculture.
Information was provided on Japan's Sustainable Aquaculture Law and the Second International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching to be hosted by Japan in year 2001. Information was also provided on the NACA aquaculture workshop to be held early 2000. Member Economies were encouraged to attend these meetings.
Agreed Action:
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Each Economy will report at the 11th FWG meeting its performance for achieving sustainable aquaculture in accordance with Article 9 of the FAO Code of Conduct.
5. Future stock management policy of APEC Economies
5.1 Role of APEC's FWG in fisheries management
Mr. Hurry, Chairman of the FWG, gave a brief explanation about the five major ingredients contained in the revised mandate of the FWG adopted at the 10th FWG meeting.
In response to a question of prioritization of topics in fishery management, several ideas were raised, including: balanced approach for avoiding duplication of related work, cooperation with the Marine Resources Conservation WG, and exchange of information on management concepts. It was suggested that a discussion paper would be drafted and distributed among members.
Agreed Action:
- In response to a concern about the lack of attendance of particular Economies and about the shortage of time for following up the actions agreed at the workshop, the duration of the 11th FWG meeting will be extended so that enough time will be allocated for facilitation of discussion on the follow-up of the agreed actions. The details of this arrangement will be finalized through communication among Member Economies, and the draft agenda for the fishery management part will be finalized jointly by these Member Economies: Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Japan and the United States.
5.2 Cooperative Fisheries Stock Management
The Republic of Korea Economy introduced a paper on possible cooperative fishery management in the Yellow and East China Seas as a case study. Various concerns were expressed about this issue.
Agreed Action:Further study is necessary to understand the implications of the paper, given the complexity of the issue.
5.3 Role of APEC FWG
It was understood that this agenda item had been covered under Agenda Item 5.1.
6. Other Matters
The chairman introduced two meetings related to fishery management: the International Convention of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Fishing Activities to be hosted by the Chilean Economy from January 25 to 27, 2000 and the Fish Rights 99 Conference to be hosted by the Australian Economy in cooperation with the FAO from November 11 to 19 this year.
7. Decision and activities of the Meeting
It was noted that the Republic of Korea Economy lodged a reservation on the recommendations from the workshop until the report is accepted at the next FWG meeting.
It was agreed that the report would be presented to the FWG11 for endorsement, in line with the reservations expressed by the Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei. In the interim however, it was agreed that that each Member Economy would start implementing the actions agreed at the Workshop on a voluntary basis, and report its performance at the 11th FWG meeting.
8. Adoption of the report
The report was adopted by consensus.
9. Closing of the Meeting
The workshop was adjourned at 13:00 on July 15 1999.