E - Iccat

OPENING ADDRESSES & STATEMENTS
The Commission is a truly global organization with delegates here today from more than 40 nations worldwide.
Your deliberations and decisions this will have global implications not only for the Atlantic tuna stocks, but also
for the fishermen and ancillary workers who depend on them for their livelihood.
The mandate of the Commission and its Delegates to put in place effective conservation measures for Atlantic
tuna and tuna-like species cannot be underestimated. ICCAT like other international organizations are guardians
of our shared maritime resources.
Rational exploitation, based on sustainable catch levels and guided by scientific advice, is the key to addressing
the conservation imperative.
The Commission is charged with achieving a balance between this imperative and adequate income earning
opportunity for our fishermen. The stocks must be future proofed because without them our fishermen
themselves have no future.
Your work, in Dublin, is of critical importance and I want to wish you well as you embark on a difficult voyage.
In particular, I want to convey our hopes for a successful meeting to your Chairman, Mr. Masanori Miyahara,
under whose guidance and wise counsel the Commission will reflect and consider this week.
A successful outcome will, of course, be a team effort and therefore much will on the chairpersons of each of the
Panels and the various committees and working groups that will meet during the Dublin conference, and most
importantly on you the Delegates.
I also want to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Adolfo Lima and his permanent staff at ICCAT. This is the most
important week of their working year. I am confident they will assist you, the Delegates, in their usual
professional and efficient manner.
In conclusion, I want to thank the Authorities at Dublin Castle for making these excellent facilities available and
the staff of the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources for their assistance in organizing this event.
Ireland is proud to host the 18 th Regular Meeting of the Commission and I hope that in the midst of your very
heavy work schedule you have time to enjoy your stay in our capital city.
3.2 OPENING STATEMENTS BY CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE PLENARY SESSIONS
Algeria
Algeria is very honored to take part in the 18 th Regular Meeting of ICCAT in this lovely city of Dublin and
wholeheartedly thanks the European Community for its invitation and the Irish Government for hosting the
annual Commission meeting.
In these past years, the sincere and sustained efforts of the Commission, through all its Parties and structures,
have been crowned by success, particularly during the meeting that took place in Bilbao, concerning the
important decisions made by ICCAT. Therefore, the number and the complexity of the conservation and
management measures implemented by the parties continue to increase.
In this sense, Algeria has made every effort since its adherence that was effective in 2001 to implement these
regulations and to increase the efficiency of the tuna conservation and management measures, particularly in the
waters under its jurisdiction.
In pledging to faithfully follow these efforts, Algeria again wishes everyone a successful 18 th Regular Meeting
that constitutes, among others, a first step to assess the degree of imple mentation and efficiency of the measures
adopted in Bilbao.
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