Sixteenth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, Guadeloupe, France, 20-24 June 2016.
Abstract
The Sixteenth Session of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission was held in Guadeloupe, France, from 20 to 24 June 2016. The session was attended by 28 members of the Commission. Observers from four Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) and four intergovernmental organizations also participated. The Commission adopted five regional fisheries management recommendations respectively on: (1) the regional plan for the management and conservation of Queen conch, (2) spiny lobster management and conservation, (3) the sub-regional fisheries management plan for flyingfish, (4) the management of deep sea fisheries in the high seas, and (5) the management of shrimp and groundfish resources. The Commission also adopted two resolutions on: (1) sea cucumber fisheries management and aquaculture, and (2) Marine Protected Areas as fisheries management tool in the Caribbean. The Commission agreed to launch a process to establish a Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) in the WECAFC area of competence, being the Western Central Atlantic (area 31) and the Northern part of the South West Atlantic (area 41) and to collaborate in fisheries management and conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) of straddling stocks, deep sea fish stocks and highly migratory species that are not under the mandate of ICCAT. The Commission discussed intersessional activities of Working Groups and regional collaboration in addressing Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, and approved the Programme of Work (2016-17).