Bycatch in small-scale tuna fisheries

The Special Meeting on Consolidation and Development of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) was held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 11 to 12 May 2010. The objective of the special meeting was to consider ways and means to enhance the role of RECOFI as a regional fisheries management organization. The meeting participants reviewed the preliminary findings of a technical review on the work and operations of the Commission. In addition, comparative information was provided on the statutes, budgets and structures of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and RECOFI. The meeting considered the financial status of RECOFI and future scenarios for the consolidation and development of the Commission with particular focus on the significant difference between Members' contributions and the total expenses of the Commission. The history and present structure of the GFCM was presented to the participants who agreed that the future strengthening of their own Commission would certainly benefit from the experience of the GFCM. The meeting agreed unanimously that RECOFI required strengthening to make it a more effective and legitimate organization. The meeting agreed to make three broad recommendations in relation to the future technical and institutional work of RECOFI and its financial needs. The proposals and recommendations from the meeting will be for consideration by the Commission at its Sixth Session in 2011.