Fourth Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee 22-23 April 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Fourth Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the BOBP-IGO was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 22 - 23 April, 2009. Representatives of member-countries Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and an observer from the FAO took part.

The TAC reviewed activities carried out by the BOBP-IGO for the period April 2008-March 2009, especially the preparation of a management plan for shark fisheries. Member-countries also presented their proposals and priorities, on the basis of which an activity matrix for the period April 2009 to March 2010 was drawn up. The TAC suggested that the secretariat finalize the matrix in consultation with the Governing Council scheduled to meet on May 2009.

Regional Consultation on Sea Safety 4-5 June 2009, Chennai, India

The Final Meeting of the South Asia component of the FAO global project on Safety at Sea was held in Chennai, India, on 4-5 June 2009. It was organised jointly by the FAO and the BOBP-IGO. Objective: to evaluate the Project's accomplishments in South Asia; seek endorsement for Project activities; present the Safety Guidelines for Fishing Vessels under 24 m in length; and to discuss the sustainability of safety-at-sea initiatives by member-countries. Thirty two delegates representing the FAO, BOBP-IGO member-countries Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, project consultants and the BOBP-IGO secretariat attended the meeting.

Fifth Meeting of the Governing Council of the BOBP-IGO (GCM) 15-16 June 2009, Chennai, India

The Fifth Meeting of the Governing Council of the BOBP-IGO was held in Chennai, India on 15 - 16 June 2009. Representatives of member-countries Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka took part, along with an observer from the FAO and secretariat staff of the BOBP-IGO.

The GCM reviewed the BOBP-IGO's activities during the period April 2008- March 2009, the Work plan for April 2009- March 2010 and a Strategic Action Plan for 2010-14.

Activities during the period 2008-09 included successful completion of the South Asia Component of the Global Project on ‘Safety at Sea for Small-scale Fisheries' implemented by the FAO (Fisheries Industries Division); publication of a comprehensive Safety Guide for Small-scale Fishers; preparation of audio-visual guides for maintenance of long-tail engines and engines in fishing boats of Bangladesh; transfer of indigenously developed cost-effective technologies; organization of resource management services; and information dissemination.