Fisheries Conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region through FAO's Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC)
United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
#SDGAction40016
Description
Fishery scientists, experts, managers and decision-makers of member countries, Regional partner organizations and NGOs participate in the working groups, which have specific terms of reference and are time bound. The data used by the working groups to generate fishery management advice and (non-binding) recommendations are collected by the participating countries and NGOs. Countries and relevant stakeholders are invited to make the non-binding recommendations binding at the national level by incorporating these in national laws, regulations, policies and management plans.All the working groups will conduct activities captured in the Approved Work Programme for the period 2014 -2015. Examples of goals include application of the 2010 FAO International Guidelines on Bycatch Management and Reduction of Discards by WECAFC members; capacity building among WECAFC members for implementation of the Port States Measures Agreement in the WECAFC region; establishment of a joint WECAFC/CRFM/OSPESCA Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; implementation of the strategy, action plan and programme proposal on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in fisheries and aquaculture in the CARICOM region; organization of an FAO/WECAFC Training workshop for fisherfolk and fisheries managers on marine protected area (MPA) management; resource assessment carried out and a draft regional management plan Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus; development and endorsement of the Subregional Fisheries Management Plan for Flyingfish in the Eastern Caribbean; development of a draft regional management plan for Queen Conch, Strombus gigas.
Each Working group has elements of Capacity Building and Technology Transfer
WECAFC accomplishes most of its work through the following Working Groups, which are general joint efforts with other regional partner institutions:1. OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Spiny Lobster 2. WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries3. CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Queen Conch Working Group 4. IFREMER/WECAFC Working Group on Development of Sustainable Moored Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) Fishing in the Lesser Antilles (see also http://en.magdelesa.eu/ )5. CRFM/WECAFC Flying fish in the Eastern Caribbean Working Group 6. WECAFC Working Group on the management of deep-sea fisheries 7. CFMC/WECAFC Spawning Aggregations Working Group 8. WECAFC/CRFM/IFREMER Working Group on Shrimp and Groundfish in the Northern Brazil-Guianas Shelf9. CRFM/WECAFC Working Group on IUU Fishing10. OSPESCA/WECAFC Working Group on Sharks
Regional partner organizations: Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Organization of Fisheries for the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). NGOs, experts and academic organizations
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
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- Europe
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Contact Information
Kristen Koyama, International Affairs Specialist