By Mamadou Edrisa Njie, just back from Tangier, Morocco
The recently concluded ATLAFCO/COMHAFAT seminar in the Moroccan city of Tangier, held from 3-4 October, has also witnessed an exposition by Mr. Alexandre Rodríguez, Secretary, Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC).
Speaking on his topics of discussions: Best practices and National and Regional initiatives from European Union (EU) operators and Trade Unions on decent work conditions onboard fishing vessels; and Actions for implementation of International Instruments of Safety at sea.”
Secretary Rodríguez of LDAC assured the participants that his Office would continue to collaborate with ATLAFCO, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2013, and action plans agreed at the Annual Coordination Meetings held between both organisations in the past years, to identify developing joint initiatives and activities to improve on the fight against IUU fishing.
He also spoke of promoting leadership of the EU and African countries on International Ocean Governance to fulfill the United Nations Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals 14 and make alliances on the UN process on a Convention for Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
In the MoU, he pointed out that developing joint initiatives and activities to improve transparency of fishing activities and matters related to good governance in decision-making in fisheries management, “is also core for both parties”.
He outlined some examples of the signed MoU, such as gender equity policies, access to information by stakeholders, through regional dialogues on improving understanding and effectiveness of {the} use of sectoral support in the implementation of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs).
The implementation of the SFPA’s, according to him, would help them to better science for evaluation of fish stocks and determination of surplus. He highlighted this in his presentation by dissecting the EU Distant Water Fleet, saying they are all EU registered vessels above 24 metres LOA operating predominantly in non-EU waters.
He added that they include all fishing areas outside EU waters and in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, covered by Regional Fisheries Management Bodies and the International Waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
“The EU Distant Water Fleet are industrial vessels operating fishing trips six to ten weeks in average in the high seas,” he informed the audience.
On his office’s work plan for 2019- 2020, he avowed their continued crusade against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by implementing the EU fishing regulations.
Secretary Rodríguez reassured that LDAC would also work towards the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Consultation on social sustainability in the fisheries value chain.
