Three Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) operating in the Western Central Atlantic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase the sustainability of fisheries.
On 27 January the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Organization of the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (OSPESCA) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations – Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (FAO-WECAFC) signed the agreement to facilitate, support and strengthen the coordination of actions among the three RFBs.
This initiative is part of CLME+ SAP – a ten year strategic programme bringing together the United Nations Development Programme, Global Environment Facility, countries, regional organisations and other stakeholders. Its focus is the “Sustainable Management of the shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Regions”.
Milton Haughton, executive director of CRFM, said: “This is a strategically significant development that should provide significant tangible benefits.”
“It will ensure that our policies, programmes and plans are more coherent, integrated and holistic, and hence more appropriate for addressing the challenges we face in the Caribbean Sea and adjacent Atlantic Ocean,” he added.
The three RFBs agreed to work on a number of areas such as the provision of advice in support of the management of fisheries of spiny lobster, queen conch, shrimp and groundfish, recreational fisheries, flyingfish, FADs fisheries, sharks, spawning aggregations and IUU fisheries.
Commitments have also been made to work towards the harmonisation of respective fisheries’ policies and legal frameworks.
The Interim Coordination Mechanism, to be tested through this MOU, will increase the uptake of information and advice generated at national and sub-regional level to regional level.
It will also provide a pilot structure that may lead to the establishment of one or more Regional Fisheries Management Organizations in the Western Central Atlantic Ocean.
Mario González Recinos, executive director of OSPESCA, said: “The signing of the MOU responds to the objectives of the new Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Integration Policy and the region’s commitment to promote better coordination at both national and regional levels.”
