1. COPEMED CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL FISHERY COOPERATION IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN By Rafael Robles, COPEMED Project Director COPEMED CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL FISHERY COOPERATION IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN By Rafael Robles, COPEMED Project Director

2. Long-term objective To achieve a more rational management of resources of common interest by reinforcing countries´ capacities to sustainably manage their fishing activities, particularly in the developing countries involved In order to achieve the long and short-term objectives, all fisheries management policies should involve both the ADMINISTRATION and the INDUSTRY First question to be posed to the Forum’s audience :  ARE THE OBJECTIVES PURSUED BY BOTH ACTORS REALLY SHARED OBJECTIVES? We would like to ask both stakeholders to prepare a joint document on this, concentrating on the short-term objectives

3. To reach these common objectives, REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES should be established. WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE HAS REPEATEDLY SHOWN THAT :  the mechanical and restrictive application of technical management measures has not been sufficient (not even important and quite expensive control measures)  the implementation of general measures has failed because the specificity of each zone and each fishery has not been considered

4. NOVEL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES, WHICH INCLUDE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY, are needed  based on positive and constructive aspects and with a multidisciplinary approach  specifically adapted to Mediterranean fisheries. As a semi-enclosed and small sea, the Mediterranean can only be managed through well organised international cooperation  less directed only towards the reduction of activity, ignoring other alternatives

5. In addition to the steady adaptation of fishing structures to the state of resources, SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES of international cooperation should include:  Better scientific knowledge of fisheries of common interest  Proper functioning of the flow of information in the region -implementation and maintenance of common databases,…  Gradual harmonisation of international fisheries regulations of common interest  Improvement of communication and concertation among the different actors of the fishing system in order to set up shared co-management strategies among stakeholders  Fostering GFCM’s real capacity as RFO responsible for the management of Mediterranean resources

6. COPEMED has tried to achieve these short-term objectives with the following EXPECTED RESULTS  systematic compilation of basic statistical data, fishery by fishery, and its distribution by Operational Units, for an effective control of fishing effort  reinforcement of the research system as a whole (biology, oceanography, ecology, economics, sociology)  standardization of the most appropriate methodologies for the analysis and assessment of fishery resources  updating of national fisheries statistical systems  comparative analysis of fisheries regulations  improvement of building capacities of different actors through specific and on-the-job TRAINING activities  implementation of regional dialogue Fora among actors

7. INPUTS needed to develop the appropriate ACTIVITIES to get such results, should be provided by  the COUNTRIES (human resources, laboratory equipment, research organisation and planning, not in all cases, …)  with the support of FAO REGIONAL PROJECTS through COPEMED (adequate means for fostering research planning and development -sampling network, common databases, adequate training, GIS application, international cooperation, fisheries regulation comparative analysis, organisation of scientific meetings and Fora, etc.) As these regional projects are not going to be permanent, COUNTRIES must ensure the sustainable maintenance of the priority activities already developed. To facilitate this goal, national COPEMED sub-projects have been set up in the countries during this last phase

8. CURRENT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IS DEMONSTRATING THAT: the implementation of present FAO type REGIONAL PROJECTS, is the BEST WAY to achieve the expected results needed to attain the objectives for regional cooperation here presented. the implementation of present FAO type REGIONAL PROJECTS, is the BEST WAY to achieve the expected results needed to attain the objectives for regional cooperation here presented. Accordingly, we request EC DG Fish to take into account the convenience of ensuring the continuation of these type of regional projects for the future