Regional Strategic Meeting on European Union Regulation on IUU Fishing, September 2009, Negombo, Sri Lanka

The Regional Strategic Meeting (RSM:EU-IUU) to understand the impact of the European Union’s Regulation on IUU Fishing (Council Regulation No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008, or EU-IUU Regulation in brief) on BOBP-IGO member-countries Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka was held in Negombo, Sri Lanka from 11 to 12 September 2009. Representatives of the four member-countries, FAO and INFOFISH took part.

The meeting welcomed the EU-IUU Regulation as it is expected to help combat IUU fishing – a long-standing problem in the marine waters of the member-countries. A through review has been carried out of the preparedness of member-countries regarding the EU-IUU Regulation. It was concluded that member-countries have the necessary legal framework to address the requirements of EU-IUU Regulation, though the diverse nature of the fishery and resource constraints pose problems of implementation. Delegates also discussed at length the problem of catch certification from the small-scale fishery. After deliberations over two days, member-countries prepared roadmaps to address the issues identified.

As of now (13 Jan 2010), India, Maldives and Sri Lanka have notified EU about their arrangements for catch certification.

National Workshop on Monitoring Control and Surveillance
25-26 November 2009, Kelawewa, Sri Lanka

A National Workshop on Monitoring, Control and Surveillance in Marine Fisheries in Sri Lanka (NW-MCS) was organized by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the BOBP-IGO. The workshop was held in the National Inland Fisheries & Aquaculture Training Institute, Kalawewa, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, from 25 to 26 November 2009. Forty-three persons representing 15 national, regional and international fisheries organizations attended. The workshop examined the problems and prospects of fisheries management in Sri Lanka and came out with an Action Plan for strengthening MCS of fisheries resources in the country. The Action Plan has been submitted to the Government of Sri Lanka for further action.

Upcoming events

Second Regional Consultation on Preparation of Management Plan for Hilsa Fisheries, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 08-09 February 2010

Second Regional Consultation on Preparation of Management Plan for Hilsa Fisheries, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 08-09 February 2010.

Hilsa is a popular, commercially valuable fish found in the waters of the Bay of Bengal along Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. Sustainability of the stock is threatened by heavy demand and over-exploitation. The three countries had met in 2008 to chalk out strategies for a management plan for hilsa fisheries within the countries as well as in the region as a whole. The objective of the Second Regional Consultation is to review progress on hilsa management since then and facilitate preparation of national-level plans and a regional level plan. The Regional Consultation will be organized in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh.