CopeMed II - ArtFiMed TD Nº18 - Report of the ... - Fao - Copemed

Concerning the high biomass and the catches of species of no commercial interest, itwas recommended to minimize discards, improve the selectivity of fishing gears and theharvesting strategy.Regarding the large fluctuations in abundance of these species, owing to natural factors,which cause great instability in the catch and therefore in revenue, it was recommendedto conduct studies and research aimed at establishing patterns of abundance of differentpelagic species so as to improve fishery performance, sustainability of the economic,social and environmental coastal zone of the Alboran Sea, where fishery is an essentialsocial and economic activity.Considering the emergence of the Location and Tracking System of Andalusian FishingVessels (SLSEPA) as a powerful tool for coastal fishery control and monitoring, it wasrecommended to test its implementation in other countries as a tool for small coastalpelagic fishery management. It was also recommended that CopeMed II convey theinformation to the organizers of the next VMS meeting of the GFCM hosted by theEuropean Commission.Concerning the inadequacy of the implementation of management measures and thespecific regulation of Alboran Sea small pelagic resources, it was recommended toimprove communication and coordination among the governments of the region and theadoption of a common approach to the development of management tools andprocedures that lead to the sustainability of small pelagic resources in the Alboran Sea.Regarding the need to improve the effectiveness of management measures in order toachieve the sustainability of small pelagic resources in the Alboran Sea, bettercommunication and coordination among the governments of the region, and theadoption of a common approach to the development of management tools andprocedures, were recommended; all this, bearing in mind again that the EuropeanCommission has responsibility for management plans with third countries.Considering that cooperation among countries is essential to advance to the jointmanagement of small pelagic fisheries, and bearing in mind the importance of applyingthe ecosystem approach to fisheries, the creation of a permanent working group underCopeMed II to move towards the management of the small pelagic fisheries of theAlboran Sea was recommended, following the example of the Adriatic Sea andimproving, in the medium-term, the issues concerning cooperation in an ecosystemapproach to fishery management. To this end, it was agreed that representatives offishery administrations will send a proposal to CopeMed II supporting the organizationof a working group on common management issues, which CopeMed II could organize.The draft Terms of Reference of the second working group will be prepared byCopeMed II, at the request of interested parties.7. Closure of the Working Group sessionFollowing expression of the gratitude of participants to CopeMed II for havingorganized the meeting and of the hope that the project will continue and provide a newopportunity for experts from the three countries to meet, the CopeMed II Coordinatorthanked the participants for their participation and their contributions to the discussionsand for the friendly atmosphere of cooperation shown by all. He restated CopeMed II’sintention to support the organization of a new meeting if the CopeMed project is11