Marine Fishery Resources Of The Antilles

Issues discussed include: the state of fishery resources, and the situation and trends of fisheries in the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) region, increasing the contribution of small-scale capture fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security; and progress in the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

An approach that encompasses the human and natural dimensions of ecosystems is one that the Wider Caribbean Region knows it must adopt and implement, in order to ensure the sustainable use of the region's shared marine resources. This volume contributes towards that vision, bringing together the collective knowledge and experience of scholars and practitioners within the Wider Caribbean to begin the process of assembling a road map towards marine ecosystem based management (EBM) for the region. It also serves a broader purpose of providing stakeholders and policy actors in each of the world's sixty-four Large Marine Ecosystems, with a comparative example of the challenges and information needs required to implement principled ocean governance generally and marine EBM in particular, at multiple levels. Additionally, the volume serves to supplement the training of graduate level students in the marine sciences by enhancing interdisciplinary understanding of challenges in implementing marine EBM.

This publication updates the regular reviews of the state of the world's marine fishery resources, based mainly on official catch statistics throughout 2002 and relevant stock assessment and other complementary information available until 2004. It considers the global situation and major trends of world marine capture fish production, with detailed information for each FAO statistical area about catches and current state of exploitation, major trends and developments and stock assessment work undertaken in support of fisheries management. Other issues covered include: tunas and tuna-like species resources, world squid resources, deepwater fisheries, and long-term climate variability.

The three informal working groups, established during the previous meeting, discussed specifically: (i) shrimp and fish resources of the continental shelves (ii) pelagic resources and (iii) artisanal fisheries and island resources of the WECAF region. Separate reports of the informal working groups are given in annexes. Related information provided in national reports were reviewed and specific recommendations for further action revised. Other matters of common interest discussed at the meeting related to international coordination in resource matter, proposals for inter-sessional work, issued related to natural management areas and regional training needs. The meeting was attended by 31 scientists from 16 member countries and one international organization (CARICOM).