WECAFC FIRMS WORKSHOP ON MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERIES INVENTORIES

Transcription

1 FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No FIPS/SLC/R1060 (En) ISSN Report of the WECAFC FIRMS WORKSHOP ON MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERIES INVENTORIES Corpus Christi, the United States of America, 1 2 November 2013

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3 FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No FIPS/SLC/R1060 (En) Report of the WECAFC FIRMS WORKSHOP ON MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERIES INVENTORIES Corpus Christi, the United States of America, 1 2 November 2013 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2014

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5 iii PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT This document is the final report of the WECAFC FIRMS Workshop on Marine Resources and Fisheries Inventories, which was held in Corpus Christi, the United States of America, from 1 to 2 November FAO Report of the WECAFC FIRMS Workshop on Marine Resources and Fisheries Inventories. Corpus Christi, the United States of America, 1 2 November FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No Rome. 22 pp. ABSTRACT The workshop s objectives were to revise and validate national inventories of fisheries, building capacity and appraisal on how such inventory approach can contribute to national fisheries monitoring goals and regional information sharing in support to fishery management, and develop regional collaboration towards functional data workflow. The workshop s results will be conveyed to the WECAF Commission meeting in March This workshop, involving officers from national, subregional and regional organizations in the Western Central Atlantic region was the fourth of this kind in the FIRMS initiative. It came after the ones held in CECAF, RECOFI and SWIOFC areas, and confirmed the heterogeneity of the regions and the need of adapting such experiences to the nature of the places and the political and geographical realities. It was held back-to-back with the WECAFC SAG-VI and the GCFI meetings to minimize costs and optimize the participation of the experts. Participants were fisheries experts from Anguilla, Barbados (CERMES), El Salvador, France (Guyana and Martinique), Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, CRFM, CLME Project, GCFI, CFMC, SICA/OSPESCA, CNFO-CU, the FIRMS Secretariat, the WECAFC Secretariat, and two technical support staff from FAO headquarters. The workshop resulted in: - The group s appraisal of the FIRMS framework, its concepts and operation, and its value addition and potential for return on investment; - The outlines of possible collaboration arrangements between WECAFC, CRFM and OSPESCA for implementing the FIRMS data sharing framework at subregional and regional level; and related roles and responsibilities including at Member State level; - The identification of a minimum set of data that will constitute the base for the initial WECAFC data contribution; - A Draft Annex 2 for WECAFC (to become part of FAO s umbrella partnership arrangement in FIRMS WECAFC being an FAO associated partner) as charter for formalizing the relationships between FIRMS and WECAFC and among WECAFC, CRFM and OSPESCA for FIRMS matters. - A road map for an effective and fruitful collaboration of all the parties involved (FIRMS, WECAFC, CRFM, OSPESCA and CLME+ project), including for the required funding support.

6 iv CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 1 WELCOMING ADDRESS... 1 OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING... 1 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA... 2 FIRMS PRESENTATION PARTNERSHIP S GENERAL OBJECTIVES... 2 MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERIES INVENTORIES: PURPOSE AND IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK... 2 BENEFITS OF FIRMS IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS... 3 STANDARD PROTOCOL ADDRESSING THE INVOLVEMENT OF COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES THROUGH RFBS... 3 PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK ON THE INVENTORIES... 4 Nicaragua (national view), and Central America (subregional view) (Mr Manuel Perez)... 4 Socio-economic indicators for assessing importance of fisheries (Ms Claudia Beltran)... 5 Feedback from Barbados (Mr Patrick Mc Conney)... 5 Feedback from France / Martinique and Guadeloupe (Mr Lionel Reynal IFREMER)... 5 Assessment of Saint Lucia inventory (Ms Elizabeth Mohammed)... 6 Feedback from the United States of America (Ms Nancie Cummings National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)... 6 Feedback from Trinidad and Tobago (Ms Lara Ferreira)... 6 INVENTORY ANSWERS TO IDENTIFIED ISSUES DURING FEEDBACK... 6 INVENTORY OF REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS... 7 Walked through the value-added chain: Can investment in FIRMS be justified because it serves regional decision-making processes?... 8 REVIEW OF FIRMS PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT... 9 RESPONSIBILITIES, ROLES AND PROTOCOLS AMONG WECAFC, CRFM AND OSPESCA FOR INVENTORIES AND INFORMATION ON STATUS AND TRENDS TO BE CONTRIBUTED TO FIRMS... 9 ROAD MAP... 9 APPENDIXES 1 List of participants Agenda Nicaragua, and Central America views presentation by Manuel Pérez Moreno Socio-economic indicators for assessing importance on fisheries (presentation by Claudia Beltran Turriago)... 16

7 v 5 Validation and update of fisheries inventory for Saint Lucia (presentation by Ms Elisabeth Mohammed) Regional resources assessments and responsibilities Annex 6a Fishery resources assessments: current working groups at regional and subregional levels Annex 6b Organizational chart (responsibilities and ownership); processes of preparation and validation of resource assessments Protocols for contribution of inventories and reports on status and trends to FIRMS Summary of roles and responsibilities in the FIRMS process Road map for the development of FIRMS reporting capacity in the region... 22

8 vi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CECAF CERMES CLME Project CNFO-CU CRFM FIRMS GCFI NOAA RECOFI RFB SAG SICA/OSPESCA SIRPAC SWIOFC WECAFC Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project Caribbean Network of. Fisherfolk Organisations Coordinating Unit Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Fishery Resources Monitoring System Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regional Commission for Fisheries regional fishery body Scientific Advisory Group Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana/Organización del Sector Pesquero y Acuícola del Istmo Centroamericano Sistema Integrado de Registro Pesquero y Acuícola Centroamericano Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission

9 1 INTRODUCTION 1. The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) Fishery Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) workshop was held in Corpus Christi, the United States of America, on 1 2 November The experts were selected on the basis of their specialized knowledge. They served in their personal capacities and not as representatives of their respective governments or organizations. Participants were fisheries experts from Anguilla, Barbados (Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies [CERMES]), El Salvador, France, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) Project, Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Caribbean Fisheries Management Council, Organization of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (SICA/OSPESCA), and Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organizations (CNFO). The Secretary and a member of the FIRMS Secretariat, the Technical Secretary of the WECAFC and two FAO technical support staff also attended the meeting. A detailed list of participants is available in Appendix 1. WELCOMING ADDRESS 2. Mr Raymon van Anrooy, Secretary of the WECAFC, welcomed the participants on behalf of FAO and introduced the FIRMS Secretariat represented by Mr Marc Taconet, FIRMS Secretary, and Ms Elena Balestri, data manager, who led the technical preparation of the workshop. He contextualized the WECAFC-FIRMS workshop in FAO and more specifically FAO FI mandate explaining what FIRMS is and how it can be of benefit for the region and for WECAFC. 3. Mr Taconet introduced FIRMS in the context of FAO s role to develop frameworks at global level, and added that the FIRMS framework finds its value when applied in regions and countries. He summarized FIRMS history, starting in 2003, officially launched in 2004, and supported by FAO s Strategy-STF for the development of fisheries and resources inventories in various regions including the WECAFC. The publishing of those inventories in FIRMS required a formal validation through regional fishery bodies (RFBs) and national focal points, and workshops have been organized with the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), Southwest Indian Ocean Fishery Commission (SWIOFC), and Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) in the last four years. 4. The present WECAFC FIRMS workshop was expected to benefit from the experience previously accumulated; it is also expected that the exchange in the specific context of the Caribbean region will contribute to enriching the FIRMS framework and benefit other regions. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING 5. The objectives of the meeting were presented as follows: a) Validation of national inventories and consolidation at regional level. b) Capacity building. c) Understanding regional and country needs and how the FIRMS inventory-based approach can respond to these needs.

10 2 d) Assessing protocol/organizational aspects that should prevail for validating, publishing, and regularly updating. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 6. The agenda was adopted noting that, for the second day, it could vary in relation to the needs and preferences emerging during the first day discussions. 7. Actually, the feedback received on the inventories from the participants at the end of the first day led the group to adopt a modification to the agenda originally proposed. The agenda finally followed is made available in Appendix 2 and structures this report. FIRMS PRESENTATION PARTNERSHIP S GENERAL OBJECTIVES 8. Ms Balestri presented the FIRMS partnership (original and present goals, structure, workflow and products). 9. The discussion that followed mainly focused on: a) Availability and quality of data: how to deal with it and how to ensure good understanding of the inherent uncertainty by users. b) In relation to the scope of FIRMS, it was discussed whether relevant socioeconomic data can be reflected adequately in the FIRMS inventory templates; this would allow the importance of national fisheries to be better reflected from a country s perspective. c) Presence of subregional organization in the region working in close collaboration with the WECAFC: how to ensure that the work done by these subregional bodies is included and how to provide the proper acknowledgement. d) Costs to be faced by RFBs willing to become FIRMS partners. e) FIRMS benefits and outcomes in the regions as can be documented by evidence of the consumption and use of products in regions where FIRMS is already present. In response, reference was made to FSC8 report 1 para. Target audience and communication strategy and related meeting document Each of these questions was discussed and some initial responses or solutions proposed. The outputs of this discussion and other similar ones throughout the workshop are reported in Appendixes 8 and 9. MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERIES INVENTORIES: PURPOSE AND IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK 11. Ms Balestri delivered a presentation summarizing the work done in the region in the last ten years, introducing the expected work on the inventory, and clarifying some key concepts for the understanding of the guidelines sent prior to the meeting. 12. The discussion that followed focused on the level of detail expected to be reported on the inventories and the concept of reporting level was further clarified. 1 ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/document/figis_firms/2013/report.pdf 2 ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/document/figis_firms/2013/inf4g_communicationstrategy.pdf

11 3 13. Further discussion on how to structure national knowledge into a regional context was raised by Mr Van Anrooy and examples of contributions from the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea were provided. BENEFITS OF FIRMS IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS 14. Mr Taconet presented the benefits of FIRMS for various types of users based on the experience in different regions and RFBs; he clarified that requirements, feedback and testimonies received are actually driving the evolution of FIRMS. 15. Regarding involvement of RFBs, Mr Van Anrooy asked for clarification on how to evidence the contribution that would be expected from the CRFM and OSPESCA in the WECAFC context, where these organizations take leading roles for various resources or fisheries at either the regional or subregional level. 16. Participants also enquired about the usage of FIRMS by non-governmental organizations, such as Friend of the Sea. Ms Helga Josupeit explained how Friend of the Sea is operating, and Mr Taconet reported the evidence of their use of FIRMS information in the Web trends and of their recent request on formalizing a collaboration to the FIRMS Secretariat. 17. Other comments and questions referred to the possible interaction of the FIRMS database with others (FishBase, marine protected areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature status, etc.). In this respect, the enabling role of imarine regarding collaboration and connection among different sources of data was introduced. 18. Ms Laverne Walkers explained the CLME s approach to dispatching data in a suitable and easy-to-read format for interpretation by policy-makers, mostly based on maps. Mr Taconet followed up on that example to stress that FIRMS is striving to identify which competency questions policy-makers have in order to find better ways of delivering information to them. 19. A discussion on socio-economic indicators triggered by Mr Alejandro Acosta followed, highlighting the need to identify some key questions and standards for socioeconomic and management indicators. STANDARD PROTOCOL ADDRESSING THE INVOLVEMENT OF COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES THROUGH RFBS 20. Mr Taconet presented the standard protocol for the involvement of National contributors through RFB frameworks endorsed at the latest meeting of the FIRMS Steering Committee. 21. Questions were raised on how to deal with bibliographic sources not officially published; in response, the use of the Aquatic Commons web-based database for grey literature was explained. 3 3 Aquatic Commons thematic digital repository available at:

12 4 22. The need for capacity-building events was highlighted by Mr Van Anrooy. This in turn requires raising funding support, and the opportunity of contacting possible donors (in particular the United States of America and the European Union [Member Organization]) during the upcoming fifteenth session of the WECAFC was mentioned. 23. The involvement of subregional bodies such as the CRFM and OSPESCA was further discussed, recognizing the importance of finding a way of formalizing their participation as part of the WECAF FIRMS interaction. For some resources such as spiny lobster, queen conch and penaeid shrimp, the subregional approach was identified as the most suitable, while for others such as the four-winged flying fish, a regional approach would make more sense. In order to clarify the matter, a table highlighting availability of fishery status/trends information by institution has been elaborated in Appendix 6a, building from workshops held at subregional (CRFM and OSPESCA) and regional (WECAFC) levels. 24. The FIRMS Secretary suggested that CRFM and OSPESCA participate as observers at the next meeting of the FIRMS Steering Committee (2015) and to possibly apply for a full membership if/when the situation is appropriate. PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK ON THE INVENTORIES 25. National and regional experts were asked to attend the workshop with a presentation of their feedback regarding the draft inventories dispatched by the FIRMS Secretariat prior to the meeting. 26. A set of issues and questions coming from those presentations was annotated to be better answered on day 2. Nicaragua (national view), and Central America (subregional view) (Mr Manuel Perez) 27. Mr Perez (familiar with OSPESCA) was contracted by FAO in 2006 to prepare an inventory on fisheries and marine resources for Nicaragua. At that time, he was working for the Fisheries Institute of Nicaragua and he prepared a comprehensive and quality inventory. 28. His presentation started with a comprehensive summary of OSPESCA s work areas and instruments (in particular the Sistema Integrado de Registro Pesquero y Acuícola Centroamericano [SIRPAC] and Fishery working group) that FIRMS could consider building on/interacting with. He continued with his assessment of the Nicaraguan fisheries inventory in particular with a few necessary updates to make. A summary of the presentation is available in Appendix The discussion that followed concerned a possible formalization of OSPESCA s contribution to FIRMS within the WECAFC. OSPESCA would mobilize the existing network of national expertise already contributing to OSPESCA s work and help define their roles and the workflow for reporting to the WECAFC coordinator. Hiring a regional consultant for coordinating the work could be an option but would have to be accounted for in a project support request.

13 5 Socio-economic indicators for assessing importance of fisheries (Ms Claudia Beltran) 30. Ms Beltran (who is also familiar with OSPESCA) presented a study implemented some years ago to assess the soci-economic importance of a fishery in the national economy. A summary of the presentation is available in Appendix 4. The study evidenced that a minimum set of indicators is required to perform the calculations and to assess the importance of a fishery. 31. The discussion that followed pointed out the need to also assess the importance of fisheries from a social and cultural view point. This requires qualitative data that allow the identification of aspects that cannot be evidenced by numbers. It was concluded that it is also important to consider social information (e.g. possibilities of livelihoods diversification, main social problems and gender equity) in global reports. 32. The issue of employment generation by the sector was also raised. It was noted that employment in vessel construction/repair and other facilitating services is often not covered by conventional studies. 33. The group agreed that the FIRMS fisheries inventory template could be enriched with a few meaningful socio-economic indicators: production volume, export volume, price; combined with a fixed terminology indicating the destination market (e.g. international, national or local). 34. A comment was made about the value added through involvement of fishers communities in a socio-economic study. Feedback from Barbados (Mr Patrick Mc Conney) 35. The expert participating as Barbados representative reported that he had no comment on the validation of the inventories but rather looked for clarification on some important higher-level aspects of FIRMS: a) clarification on the utility and outcomes of the FIRMS approach; b) need to assess the sustainability of the framework involving the CRFM, OSPESCA and CLME; c) how FIRMS can be related to the ecosystem approach to fisheries. 36. It was further argued that fisheries management plans at the national or regional level need to be included in FIRMS. 37. The group agreed to walk through the above questions during day 2. Feedback from France / Martinique and Guadeloupe (Mr Lionel Reynal IFREMER) 38. Mr Reynal raised a question on the potential difficulties at the political level related to the recognition of subregional assessments for some stocks that are not reported upon at national level (e.g. how France as non-member of the CRFM could accept CRFM assessment results unconditionally). To accommodate these kinds of issues, a triple level of control would be desirable:

14 6 a) joint working groups, with participation of experts in their personal capacity; b) peer review under aegis of established RFBs; c) political-level arrangements. Assessment of Saint Lucia inventory (Ms Elizabeth Mohammed) 39. Ms Mohammed delivered a presentation summarizing her detailed checking and validation of the Saint Lucia s fisheries inventory. A summary of the presentation is available in Appendix A discussion on the revision process and data available followed the presentation, evidencing the possibility of having fact sheets at two aggregation/hierarchical levels: higherlevel fact sheets describing the fishery sector of each country ( production system approach), and lower-level fact sheets describing the métier per country ( fishing activity approach). 41. The need of finding a way of introducing a level of uncertainty for some fishery attributes was raised and recognized once more. Feedback from the United States of America (Ms Nancie Cummings National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 42. Ms Cummings emphasized being committed to having an exchange after the meeting to revise the inventory data for United States fisheries in Area 31 (Western Central Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico). She offered to provide web links to stock status descriptions prepared by the United States of America. 43. She also indicated willingness, upon agreement by her agency, to assist as a possible regional focal point, having a wide knowledge of the region and being involved in the WECAFC framework and working groups on regional stock assessment. Feedback from Trinidad and Tobago (Ms Lara Ferreira) 44. Ms Ferreira reported on the work still to be done on the inventory, evidencing the absence of the information in entire sections of the inventory. 45. She agreed to be the national focal point for Trinidad and Tobago. INVENTORY ANSWERS TO IDENTIFIED ISSUES DURING FEEDBACK 46. A presentation on the issues identified during the first day of the workshop was delivered by Ms Balestri. The following main points were clarified: a) harmonization of national, subregional and regional terms and adequate use of the combination of standard terminology and free text; b) use of fishery life cycle concept; c) scope of FIRMS (and in respect of inland fisheries); d) how to better recognize authors as sources of information; e) how to highlight the importance of the fishery sector for one country and the importance of a specific fishery (reporting level, etc.);

15 7 f) how to guarantee quality assurance (way of ranking the data reliability); g) identifying data ownership and reporting distant fleet fisheries; h) enhancing FIRMS guidelines. INVENTORY OF REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL MARINE RESOURCES AND FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS 47. Mr Van Anrooy (WECAFC) delivered a presentation jointly developed with Mr Manuel Pérez for OSPESCA and Ms Mohammed for the CRFM introducing the list of species assessed by each institution and the species for which fishery management plans are expected to be developed within next few years (within two years for queen conch, lobster, shrimp and flying fish, and five years for nassau grouper and marlin [blue and white]). 48. After some discussion, two lists were agreed for the initial minimum data that the WECAFC, OSPESCA and CRFM could contribute to FIRMS in collaboration: - marine resources (at either regional or subregional level): o queen conch, o spiny lobster, o penaeid shrimp, o four-winged flying fish; - fisheries (fishery management units, at country/national, subregional or regional levels): o queen conch; o spiny lobster; o Nassau grouper; o marlin (blue and white); o penaeid shrimp; o four wing flying fish. 49. Some discussion followed as to whether to include tuna and tuna-like species. As these are under the mandate of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, they should not be part of the WECAFC inventory of marine resources; however, national fisheries exploiting these species should be included in the WECAFC inventory of fisheries. 50. The possibility of including in the inventory national-level stock units for demersal or sedentary stocks that are assessed in the subregional or regional working groups, but which potentially have different status, was agreed by all the participants. 51. These lists reflect a precautionary approach in terms of the commitment that can be expected from the region for regular and timely updates of the information contributed. Moreover, the above-listed fisheries represent 80 percent in terms of value. The possibility of adding other resources as suggested by some participants was postponed to a later phase. 52. The organizational chart defining responsibilities and ownership (in Appendix 6b) was also discussed and agreed. It was agreed that the WECAFC, as the only organization covering the entire region and being already a FIRMS (associated) partner, would be the first and main contributor to the partnership at this moment in time. For the time being, information coming from the CRFM and OSPESCA will be channelled through the WECAFC; such an

16 8 arrangement is facilitated by the fact that most assessment working groups are jointly organized. 53. The need to draft a WECAF FIRMS Annex 2 was highlighted. This Annex 2 document should be presented to the WECAFC for formal approval. Walked through the value-added chain: Can investment in FIRMS be justified because it serves regional decision-making processes? 54. Mr Taconet delivered a presentation on the possible use and application of the wellestablished and mature FIRMS framework. This included a summary of the contribution to the CLME/IMS, the results of the collaboration with WIOFish in the South West Indian Ocean region, the formalization of the management section in the CECAF Morocco context. 55. A survey was conducted on possible competency questions to enrich FIRMS capacity in collecting and disseminating effective information. This led the group to conclude that it is essential to include socio-economic information. It was recommended that Ms Beltran s input on socio-economic indicators be considered and that enrich the market section of the inventory template be enriched in close collaboration with Ms Josupeit. 56. Reference was made to a recent review on fishery management performance in the region implemented by FAO-FI in close collaboration with the WECAFC and CRFM 4 within the context of the ecosystem approach to fisheries. The question was raised whether a regular update of FIRMS fishery fact sheets would substitute the need for such review. The role of the FAO Fishery Country Profiles in relation to the FIRMS framework also received attention. 57. Mr Patrick Debels, CLME regional project coordinator, recognized in FIRMS a wellestablished tool, which could serve their needs to present information in a suitable and effective manner for policy makers. He explained that CLME had developed a strategic action plan that would require a decision-support system to assist and influence decision-makers. In view of the subsidiarity principle, the system will necessarily be decentralized, linking up all initiatives that can be useful for the programme, and it will have to integrate indicators feeding competency questions that decision-makers have. In this context, FIRMS boundaries will have to be assessed, e.g. to understand whether more qualitative measures of adaptive capacities of a certain fishery are part of FIRMS or not. 58. Some discussion also took place on scenario building within FIRMS, linking GIS maps with fisheries and socio-economic information, and the flexibility required from FIRMS to cater for such functions. 59. In conclusion, it was agreed by all the participants that there is an effective value added by investing in FIRMS inventories and in the use of its tested and operational template. 4 The draft report, as made available to the sixth session of the Scientific Advisory Group of the WECAFC is available at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/document/wecafc/6th_sag_2013/4e.pdf

17 9 REVIEW OF FIRMS PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT 60. As requested the first day, Mr Taconet presented examples of existing FIRMS Annex 2 (RECOFI, North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, and North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization); upon request of the group, he agreed to prepare a draft Annex 2 document for WECAFC FIRMS to be presented during the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) VI meeting (next day). 61. With reference to the NatFIRMS debate in FIRMS, 5 explanation was given as to why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has not been approached to become a FIRMS partner: there is currently no agreement for national participation in FIRMS outside of RFBs. Various possibilities are being explored to implement NatFIRMS, such as a collaboration between FIRMS and the RAM-Legacy database project led by Mr Ray Hilborn (Washington University). 62. In response to question from the CRFM, explanations were also given on how to apply for observer status in FIRMS. 63. Mr Perez said that recommendations would be made to OSPESCA regarding relationships between the WECAFC and OSPESCA in the FIRMS context. 64. Ms Josupeit highlighted the need for a formalization of the CLME FIRMS collaboration. Mr Debels agreed that implementation of the strategic action plan, which will require the establishment and coordination of arrangements between regional organizations, should also include formal relationships with FIRMS. RESPONSIBILITIES, ROLES AND PROTOCOLS AMONG WECAFC, CRFM AND OSPESCA FOR INVENTORIES AND INFORMATION ON STATUS AND TRENDS TO BE CONTRIBUTED TO FIRMS 65. Mr Marc Taconet summarized the collaborative workflow discussed and shaped during the workshop. After some discussion, the protocol highlighting responsibilities in the workflow was formalized as reported in Appendix 7. ROAD MAP 66. Finally, the FIRMS Secretary presented a tentative road map for the development of FIRMS reporting capacity in the region. 67. On the basis of the ensuing discussion, it was agreed that an enriched version of the road map (as reported in Appendix 9) would be presented at the WECAF SAG VI meeting for endorsement The FIRMS Secretariat asked the CRFM, OSPESCA and WECAFC representatives and all the participants to start thinking about possible contact names to represent national/subregional focal points. 5 See FSC6 report at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/document/figis_firms/2010/report.pdf 6 The revised and enriched version of the roadmap was effectively presented end endorsed, without modifications, during the WECAF SAG VI meeting.

18 The group was also requested to propose a name for the regional WECAFC FIRMS focal point for possible endorsement during the WECAFC SAG VI meeting. 70. The meeting was officially closed at hours.

19 11 List of participants Appendix 1 Anguilla GUMBS, Kafi Deputy Director, Scientific Research Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Ministry of Home Affairs, Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries, Lands PO Box 60 The Valley Tel.: (+1 264) (+1 497) 8705 Fax: (+1 264) kafi.gumbs@gov.ai El Salvador BELTRAN TURRIAGO, Claudia Stella Economist Consultant on Planning and Socioeconomics Studies in Fisheries and Aquaculture Calle Maximo Jerez y Pasaje Nicardo Edificio capn. Apto 1B, Colonia Escalon San Salvador, El Salvador Tel: (+503) Mobile: (+503) clabeltu@gmail.com clabeltu@hotmail.com France REYNAL, Lionel French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea (IFREMER) Pointe -Fort Le Robert, Martinique Tel.: (+596) Fax: (+596) Lionel.Reynal@ifremer.fr BLANCHARD, Fabian French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea (IFREMER) French Guyana fabian.blanchard@ifremer.fr Trinidad and Tobago FERREIRA, Lara Senior Fisheries Officer (Acting) Fisheries Division, Ministry of Food Production St. Clair Circle, St. Clair, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago lferreira@fp.gov.tt United States of America CUMMINGS, Nancie Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center Florida, United States of America Tel.: (+1) Nancie.Cummings@noaa.gov Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) FARCHETTE, Carlos President 270 Muñoz Rivera Ave., Suite 104 San Juan, Puerto Rico Tel.: (+1) Fax: (+1) carlosfarchette@gmail.com Caribbean Network For Fisherfolk Organization Coordinating Unit (CNFO- CU) LAY, Mitchell Coordinator Head of Delegation New Winthorpes, St.Georges, Antigua Tel.: (+1 268) mitchlay@yahoo.co.uk Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat MOHAMMED, Elizabeth Programme Manager Research and Resource Assessment Programme CRFM Secretariat Halifax Street Kingstown Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Tel.: (+1 784) Fax: (+1 784) elizabeth.mohammed@crfm.int Organización del Sector Pesquero y Acuícola del Istmo Centro Americano (SICA/OSPESCA) PEREZ, Manuel Consultant Colinas de Sta Cruz, Casa A32 Managua, Nicaragua maper59@hotmail.com

20 12 Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project (CLME) DEBELS, Patrick Regional Project Coordinator CLME Project, UNOPS/UNDP/IOCUNESCO Calle de la Factoría Cartagena, Colombia Tel./Fax: (+57) / PatrickD@unops.org WALKER, Laverne Senior Project Officer CLME Project Coordination Unit c/o IOCARIBE Chambacu Building Office 405 Cra 3B, No Cartagena de Indias Colombia Tel.: (+57) Fax: (+57) LaverneW@unops.org Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) McCONNEY, Patrick Senior Lecturer Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus Tel.: (+246) Fax: (+246) patrick.mcconney@cavehill.uwi.edu Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GFCI) FRANKS, James S. Chair, Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Senior Research Scientist University of Southern Mississippi Center for Fisheries Research and Development Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Dr. Ocean Springs, MS United States of America Tel.: (+1) jim.franks@usm.edu ACOSTA, Alejandro Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish Wildlife Research Institute/S. FL. Regional Lab Overseas Hwy., Suite 119. Marathon, FL United States of America Tel.: (+1) ext 121; Fax: (+1) alejandro.acosta@myfwc.com alejandroacosta12@gmail.com Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations BAHRI, Tarub Fishery Resources Officer FAO-FIRF Viale delle Terme di Caracalla00153 Rome, Italy Tel.: (+39) tarub.bahri@fao.org JOSUPEIT, Helga Senior Fishery Policy Officer Viale Terme di Caracalla Rome Tel.: (+39) Fax: (+39) Helga.josupeit@fao.org WECAFC Secretariat VAN ANROOY, Raymon Fishery and Aquaculture Officer, Secretary to WECAFC FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean 2nd Floor, United Nations House, Marine Gardens, Hastings Christ Church, BB11000, Barbados Tel: (+1 246) /11 ext. 249 Fax: (+1 246) Raymon.vananrooy@fao.org FIRMS SECRETARIAT TACONET, Marc Senior Fishery Information Officer and FIRMS Secretary Chief Statistics and Information Branch (FIPS) Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economics Division Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Rome, Italy Tel.: (+39) Fax: (+39) marc.taconet@fao.org

21 BALESTRI, Elena Fishery Specialist, FAO consultant Statistics and Information Branch (FIPS) Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economics Division Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Rome, Italy Tel.: (+39) Fax: (+39)

22 14 Appendix 2 Agenda Place: Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America Schedule: Morning (coffee break 10.30) Afternoon (coffee break 15.30) Day 1 Morning: 1. Opening of the Session and welcome address 2. Goals of the meeting 3. Election of chairperson and rapporteurs 4. Adoption of the agenda 5. FIRMS Presentation (by FIRMS Secretariat) a. Description of the partnership s objectives b. Marine resources and fisheries inventories: purpose and implementation framework c. Benefits of FIRMS approach in various context d. Standard protocol addressing the involvement of Nations through RFBs 6. Discussion Identification of roles, responsibilities and gaps in the Workshop context Afternoon: 7. Assessment of the inventories (by the participants) a. Presentation and discussion of national inventories b. Presentation and discussion of regional and subregional inventories Day 2 Morning: 8. Feedback United States of America 9. Inventory answers to pending questions 10. Regional and subregional Marine resource inventories a. Under which Institution are done assessments b. Under which ownership are the concerned stocks c. List of stocks and ownership 11. Regional and subregional Fisheries inventories a. Under which Institution are done management reviews [and management plans?] b. Under which ownership are the concerned managed fisheries c. List of managed fisheries and ownership Afternoon: 12. Walk through value added chain / can investment in FIRMS be justified because it serves regional decision-making process a. State of Resources regional level FIRMS Secretariat inputs to CLME / IMS b. State of Fisheries regional level WIOFish example c. Fishery management plan national level Morocco example d. Break-out groups walk through a case study 13. Example of Partnership arrangement 14. Responsibilities, roles and protocols 15. Road map

23 15 Appendix 3 Nicaragua, and Central America views presentation by Manuel Pérez Moreno Nicaraguan inventory: Comparing the Nicaragua fishery sector nowadays with the inventory prepared in , there are not great discrepancies. Fishing activities are more or less the same. There are not management plans, data availability, landing and catch statistics and research for fisheries management are scarce. There are efforts to harmonize data collection at subregional sublevel (OSPESCA) through SIRPAC (Sistema Integrado de Registro Pesquero y Aquicola Centroamericano) and landings/biological sampling (large pelagics working group). Outstanding issues: Long distance tuna fisheries must be added? New fishery to be added: sea cucumber in the Caribbean Caribbean spiny lobster and coastal Caribbean shrimp: considered as subexploited now (limited to open acces) There are still maritime conflicts to define the boundaries of the fisheries, e.g. with Colombia Small scale/artisanal fisheries in inland waters not included Info is outdated OSPESCA Starting from 2008, there has been an effort for promoting a Regional Governance Model for the formalization of the following goals: 1) Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Register System 2) Regional management of the caribbean spiny lobster fisheries 3) Regional vessel monitoring system of industrial fishing vessels 4) Code of ethics for responsible fisheries and aquaculture 5) Shark finning ban 6) Use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) SIRPAC has been developed and guidelines and templates for landings data collection developed with the support of IATTC. Main problems faced are: Budget and staff limitations Bibliographic sources not publicly available Unavailability or unreliability of catch statistics Data availability in seafood companies but not at governmental level Fisheries offices don t always have the responsibility of collecting data. Personal recommendations from Mr Perez for the FIRMS approach were the followings: Making use of the OSPESCA working groups (Fishery or SIRPAC) or national focal points to complete the inventories in OSPESCA countries through WECAFC Formal validation of the information by the countries (e.g. fisheries authorities) Providing technical assistance/capacity building

24 16 Appendix 4 Socio-economic indicators for assessing importance on fisheries presentation by Claudia Beltran Turriago To assess the importance of a fishery for the fishery sector a decision maker would want to know how much money the fishery is generating, how much employment and export earnings generated. To understand importance of a fishery, the main things to know would be: What is the effective contribution to the economy of a country or a region Which is the potential in the national and/or international market Which is the contribution to the employment generation (on board and ashore) Some background information for value chain analysis is necessary and it is necessary to get updated information. For good analysis, data on prices and production and updated production statistics are necessary. The example presented concerned the Spiny lobster fishery in Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize). Taking into consideration the contribution of the fishery to the economy, a commercial analysis (based on production volume, export volume, export prices per ton and production value) and the employment generation, this fishery has been identified as strategic and very important generating both exports and food for many persons.

25 17 Appendix 5 Validation and update of fisheries inventory for Saint Lucia presentation by Elisabeth Mohammed The work done on the inventory has been conducted in a very detailed way trying to achieve the following objectives: Review and validate existing information; Identify any data gaps; Identify new information; Seek clarification on inputs. A certain number of questions were raised thanks to the revision process. They refer mainly on: The use of bibliographic references (not published reports, aggregated and elaborated sources of data, etc.); How to report personal knowledge during the revision process; How to use some standard terminology and how to report also non-standard information; How to correct and edit the inventory together with some doubt on the comprehension of the guidelines delivered before the meeting.

26 18 Regional resources assessments and responsibilities Appendix 6 Appendix 6a Fishery resources assessments: current working groups at regional and subregional levels OSPESCA (Subregional) 1. Spiny lobster 2. Queen conch 3. Penaeid shrimp CRFM (Subregional) 1. Four-winged flying fish 2. Queen conch 3. Spiny lobster 4. Dolphinfish (mahi mahi) 5. Wahoo 6. Spanish mackerel 7. Blackfin tuna 8. Penaeid shrimp 9. Seabob WECAFC (Regional) 1. Queen conch 2. Spiny lobster 3. Nassau grouper 4. Goliath grouper 5. Marlin (blue and white) 6. Four-winged flying fish 7. Penaeid shrimp 8. Seabob Appendix 6b Organizational chart (responsibilities and ownership); processes of preparation and validation of resource assessments OSPESCA 1. Experts/consultants 2. (Joint) Working Groups 3. Steering Committee 4. WECAFC or FIRMS CRFM 1. Experts/consultants 2. Annual scientific meetings and/or joint Working Groups 3. Caribbean Fisheries Forum 4. WECAFC or FIRMS WECAFC 1. Experts/consultants 2. (joint) Working Groups 3. Inputs from OSPESCA and CRFM processes 4. SAG 5. FIRMS

27 19 Appendix 7 Protocols for contribution of inventories and reports on status and trends to FIRMS Reports on state of marine resources In FIRMS, the WECAFC reports on marine resources are under the primary ownership of WECAFC, CRFM or OSPESCA, and published under the corporate ownership of WECAFC. At regional level: As associated partner through FAO, WECAFC is entitled to publish in FIRMS regional assessments made on the priority species (table 1) and regularly update these, as well as those on additional species on an opportunistic basis. Scientific working groups are organized by WECAFC, CRFM and OSPESCA based on their respective priority species (table 1) and funding opportunities. In practice, these Working groups are organized jointly among the three organizations and involve countries at WECAFC level (i.e. beyond the strict membership of the leading organizing agency). The leading organization for the working group holds primary responsibility for the content and data quality of assessment reports, and its FIRMS focal point packages the information according to FIRMS reporting requirements. In some cases the organization that has conducted the stock assessment will take a leading role, although not always coordinating the respective Working Group. Flexibility is required on this subject. Straddling and migratory stocks are reported at subregional or regional level, while for the non-straddling stocks (mostly demersal / sedentary species), the assessments might be reported at national level with specific (possibly distinct) state of stock. The subregional contributions are peer reviewed and eventually endorsed during SAG sessions. The WECAFC FIRMS focal point has final responsibility for publishing the inventories in FIRMS when SAG eventually endorses the corresponding assessment reports. Report on the status of fisheries and their management In FIRMS, the WECAFC inventories of fisheries are, depending on the approach (i.e. production systems, managed fisheries, fishing activities) and the reporting level, under the primary ownership of WECAFC, CRFM or OSPESCA, or the reporting country. Some flexibility is required in order to get inventories published in a timely manner. The inventories are published under the corporate ownership of WECAFC. At regional level: Fisheries for which regional fishery management plans are developed under either CRFM or OSPESCA (table 2) are reported in FIRMS. These organizations hold primary responsibility for the content and data quality of fishery management reports and their FIRMS focal point is responsible for packaging the information according to FIRMS reporting requirements. At national level: Fisheries inventories are developed through national focal points who interact with FIRMS Secretariat to ensure technical validation and uploading in FIRMS, and who are responsible to have the inventory validated at national level according to national policy.

28 20 Updates: when invited to regional assessment working groups, national focal points are requested to prepare fisheries data for stock assessment purpose, including the update of the fisheries inventory using the FIRMS format. Other subregional or regional events (e.g. WECAFC-SAG, OSPESCA or CRFM sessions) also constitute milestones for update of the fisheries inventories. National focal points interact with FIRMS Secretariat to ensure technical validation and uploading in FIRMS of the updated inventory. For both regional and national FIRMS Fishery inventories, the WECAFC FIRMS regional focal point is responsible for their final publishing according to the quality conventions adopted by WECAFC (i.e. regional consistency, minimum quorum, agreed terminology, update frequency and mechanism, etc ).

29 21 Appendix 8 Summary of roles and responsibilities in the FIRMS process WECAFC Commission Endorses the WECAF-FIRMS Annex 2. WECAFC SAG Ensures overall coordination: Defines regional conventions for inventory, compliant with FIRMS IMP. Nominates the WECAFC FIRMS regional focal point (and alternate) having final responsibility for publishing and primary interaction with FIRMS Secretariat, and for representing WECAFC as part of the FAO delegation in the FIRMS Steering Committee. Agrees on roles/responsibilities of subregional organizations OSPESCA and CRFM and related transmission protocols. Endorses the subregional and national focal points proposed by OSPESCA and CRFM, and ensures updated the list of focal points closely interacting with the FIRMS Secretariat. Holds overall publishing responsibility: SAG keeps inventories under review, ensuring their compliance with the regional conventions and FIRMS IMP, and validates their updates. This is operationalized through a FIRMS reporting standard agenda item at SAG sessions and through the final publishing responsibility role of the WECAFC FIRMS regional focal point. OSPESCA and CRFM Fulfill an operational role to facilitate country contributions: Mobilize within their network national focal points. Organize training session. Define requirements with the goal to optimize synergies with subregional data collection initiatives. Optimize use of FIRMS information as part of regional processes, including updates. Hold ownership over subregional inventories: Responsible for the content and data quality of contributed information using FIRMS formats. [Interact with FIRMS Secretariat through subregional focal point(s) for formatting.] Report to WECAFC FIRMS regional focal point for final validation and Publishing Are entitled to access data in the restricted area. Are encouraged to apply as Observer in FIRMS, and might eventually become full member. All Mobilize funding support.