The European Commission is looking forward to decisive progress at the third meeting on the establishment of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) to manage non-tuna fish stocks in the South Pacific which will start in Reñaca, Chile this week (30 April-4 May).
The Commission believes that an agreement is necessary and possible in order to adopt voluntary interim measures to be applied immediately. These measures should be focused on addressing destructive fishing practices by introducing a 'freezing' of the current level of fishing activities with bottom gears and banning the extension of this type of fisheries to new areas pending scientific advice. Such an approach should respect the orientations contained in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of November 2006.
Parties are also going to discuss possible voluntary interim measure to be applied to pelagic fishing activities which will be analysed in the light of the work currently being developed by a meeting of scientific experts. This scientific meeting will hopefully provide an assessment of the status of the main stocks in the area, notably jack mackerel.
The Commission considers that very important progress should also be made on the establishment of the legal framework for the new Regional Fisheries Management Organisation for the South Pacific, as well as on sharing of data and information on fishing activities in the area. It should be noted that the South Pacific is one of the few remaining parts of the Oceans which is not yet regulated by an RFMO for non-tuna species. The Commission is confident that the parties will conclude the negotiations at this meeting in order to ensure the establishment of an RFMO in the area as soon as possible, as well as the implementation of interim measures.
