WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries THE CARIBBEAN BILLFISH PROJECT (GCP/SLC/001/WBK) Project Background Introduction to the workshop, its’ expected products and adoption of the agenda Regional Workshop on Recreational Fisheries Data and Statistics in the Caribbean 20-22 June 2017 Nassau, Commonwealth of the Bahamas In collaboration with the Department of Marine Resources of The Bahamas

The WESTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC FISHERY COMMISSION (WECAFC) was established in 1973 by Resolution 4/61 of the FAO Council under Article VI (1) of the FAO Constitution. The WECAFC is the oldest Regional Fishery Body (RFB) in the Caribbean region and has the broadest mandate and membership.

WECAFC Area of competence WECAFC’s mandate area 51% High Seas 34 Member countries, including also The Bahamas

Area of Competence (2) depths 86% Deep Sea

Global status of marine stocks Percentage of stocks assessed Fishing areas Atlantic, Western Central Atlantic, Eastern Central Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic, Southwest Mediterranean and Black Sea Atlantic, Northeast Indian Ocean, Western Pacific, Southeast Indian Ocean, Eastern Atlantic, Northwest Pacific, Northwest Southern Ocean Pacific, Western Central Pacific, Southwest Pacific, Northeast Pacific, Eastern Central

Status of Fish Stocks in the Western Central Atlantic There are larger gaps with respects to straddling stocks, pelagic and demersal. There are RFMOs in addition dealing with salmon

Joint Working Groups OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Spiny Lobster; WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries; CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Queen Conch Working Group; CRFM/WECAFC/JICA/IFREMER Working Group on Fisheries using Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs); CRFM/WECAFC Flying fish in the Eastern Caribbean Working Group; WECAFC Working Group on the management of deep-sea fisheries; CFMC/WECAFC Spawning Aggregations Working Group; WECAFC/CRFM/IFREMER Working Group on shrimp and groundfish of the North-Brazil Guianas shelf; OSPESCA/WECAFC Working Group on Sharks; and Regional Working Group on IUU fishing (RWG-IUU)

WECAFC 14 (Panama City, February 2012) Established the: WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Tasks: Economic analysis of recreational fisheries Recfish data collection improvement Develop a Regional management and conservation plan Members: All countries in the region through RFBs 55 experts active from 17 countries Other partners:

Joint WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries Expert Workshop on the Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of Recreational Fishing – the Caribbean, a Beginning Santa Marta, Colombia 4 November 2012 Discussed the Manual on economic impact assessment of recreational fisheries in the Wider Caribbean Region (Rob Southwick & Brad Gentner) Agreed to develop a WB/GEF project on “Introduction of billfish management and conservation in the Western Central Atlantic Region”

Joint WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries 1st Workshop on the preparation of a billfish management and conservation plan for the Western Central Atlantic Ft. Lauderdale, USA, 19-20 March 2013 Discussed: The GEF/ World Bank pilot project proposal on the “Introduction of billfish management and conservation in the Western Central Atlantic Region”. The Establishment of the Consortium on Billfish Management and Conservation in the Western Central Atlantic (CBMC). The draft structure of the billfish management and conservation plan for the Western Central Atlantic.

Project development -2013/2014 Working Group members commented on the draft project document World Bank – FAO and other executing agencies of the OPP finalized and negotiated the project grant agreement. WECAFC 15 (March 2014) endorsed participation in the project –other partners also endorsed participation

Caribbean Billfish Project Title of Project: Caribbean Billfish Project (CBP) - Component of the GEF-funded, World Bank implemented, project P128437: Ocean Partnership for Sustainable Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation Models for Innovation and Reform (ABNJ) Project Project symbol: GCP/SLC/001/WBK Recipient Country: Regional Subproject for the Western Central Atlantic/Caribbean Resource Partner: The World Bank Government/other counterpart: Members of the FAO Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) Executing Agency: Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC/FAO) EOD (Starting Date): 23 February 2015 NTE (End Date): 31 December 2018 Total Budget: USD 1 949 220

Caribbean Billfish Project Development Objective Recapture lost wealth and contribute to sustainable livelihoods in the Western Central Atlantic region through investment in economically, technically and ecologically feasible billfish fisheries management and conservation. Specific objective: To develop business plans for one or more long-term pilot projects aimed at sustainable management and conservation of billfish within the Western Central Atlantic Ocean.

4 Components Generating value and conservation outcomes through innovative management. Strengthening regional billfish management and conservation planning. A Functional and Responsive Consortium on Billfish Management and Conservation (CBMC). Business plans developed for pilot investments in sustainable management and conservation of billfish.

Implementation arrangements FAO/WECAFC –Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission –Executing agency Project Management Unit (PMU) hosted by WECAFC Secretariat at FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean in Barbados Project Steering Committee (PSC) – to provide guidance, discuss progress and planning Consortium on Billfish Management and Conservation (CBMC) hosted by International Game Fish Association (IGFA) in Ft Lauderdale, Florida

Capacity building supported by the Caribbean Billfish Project under activities 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.4 Second Regional Workshop on Caribbean Billfish Management and Conservation of the WECAFC/ OSPESCA/ CRFM/ CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries , Panama, 9-11 November 2015 Blue Week 2016: The International Conference to Promote Blue Growth and Investment, Grenada, 14-22 May 2016

Capacity building supported by the Caribbean Billfish Project under activities 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.4 3. Capacity building for Regional Fisheries Governance session at WECAFC 16, Guadeloupe, 20-24 June 2016

Capacity building supported by the Caribbean Billfish Project under activities 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.4 Participation of Caribbean SIDS delegates in COFI 32, July 2016, and in the ABNJ/Common Oceans side-event Participation in the CBD – FAO Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global dialogue with regional seas organizations and regional fisheries bodies on accelerating progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Seoul, Republic of Korea, 26-29 September 2016 6. Third Regional Workshop on Caribbean Billfish Management and Conservation, Barbados, 4-6 April 2017

Caribbean Billfish Project study reports 2016 Review of billfish stock status Review of legislative frameworks Socio-economic impact assessments Management approach options The value of billfish stocks The condition of billfish stocks Workshops and meetings reports

Introduction to the Workshop Contribute to Project Result 3.2. A regional Billfish management information system established by the CBMC and hosted at the WECAFC Secretariat 3.2.1: Draft a recreational fisheries data collection scheme, including information forms, for annual reporting by states to FAO for testing in the WECAFC region. 3.2.2: Organize a regional capacity building workshop on recreational fisheries data collection, with emphasis on billfish catch and landings data and information collection and analysis. 3.2.3: Establish a regional fisheries management information system (FMIS) for billfishes, in support of regional management plan implementation and the pilot projects. 3.2.4: Collect, analyze and disseminate billfish management information, using FAO systems and collaborative protocols with partners (CRFM, OSPESCA, IOCARIBE, ICCAT, TBF, etc)

Objectives of the Workshop To review data collection strategies and methodologies currently in use for recreational fisheries; To outline best practices and define minimum data requirements for Caribbean nations recreational fisheries; To finalize an agreed format and input sequence for prioritized data capture through the developing SmartForms software; To develop agreed policies and standardized processes for the collection, analysis and use of data from Caribbean recreational fisheries held within a centralized regional database; To improve the capacity of participants to effectively implement modern data collection programs for recreational fisheries; Investigate opportunities for the customized SmartForms template to also effectively collect comparable data from other fisheries that capture billfish species, and explore potential feedback mechanisms.

Agenda of the Workshop Tuesday: Recreational fisheries data collection methods and approaches (Roy, Juan Pablo, John) Logbooks (Yann) Wednesday: Billfish data and opportunities to fill data gaps (Nelson) Fisheries Management Information System (FMIS) (Yann) Thursday: Data collection tools and Smartforms (Anton) EU DevCo fish stats project development update (Raymon) Conclusions and recommendations (all)

Concluding remarks THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING This is a technical workshop – informal approach FAO, international and regional experts provide advise and facilitate discussions with presentations – but you decide the outcome We have some opportunities to continue the activities under the CBP and other projects – what should be the next steps? We can pay attention to the subjects that you find important. We can test smart forms, logbooks and other tools in some countries The Department of Marine Resources and FAO/WECAFC wish you a fruitful workshop THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING