The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF)’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) held its first annual meeting at the beginning of February 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The meeting focused on eight key topics and the challenges within them. The two-day meeting identified a long list of important action areas under each topic plus the immediate priorities for the months ahead.
Priorities include: strengthening the collection, compilation and dissemination of fisheries data in pole and line fisheries; looking at a generic approach to bait fish assessment; and developing a good understanding of the role of FADs in pole and line fisheries.
The meeting also identified the need to encourage existing and new observer programmes and port-sampling activities with the objective of characterising bycatch in terms of species and quantities, along with providing data to refute incorrect claims on certain pole and line fisheries issues.
Under the subject of advocacy and governance, three important priorities were highlighted: To study the implication of Indonesian membership in RFMOs; to communicate stock status and the overcapacity of purse seiners (and fishing fleets generally) to nation states’ fisheries departments; and to increase collaborations and information exchange with NGOs.
Finally, it was agreed to review the quality of fish from various fleets and develop best practice guidelines for post-harvest handling, and to review relevant information on the social benefits of pole and line fisheries.
