Charles Nurse, Quality Assurance Officer at the Seafood Industry Development Company Limited (SIDC), helped organise the Commonwealth People's Space event and spoke to the CFP to express his view on fisheries issues in the Commonwealth.

As the Commonwealth People's Space was designed to engage a wider participation to key areas of Commonwealth policy, what were your impressions of the CFP findings

The information itself was of high value and was very informative. It touched upon real issues with respect to fishers, fisher folk and other fisheries stakeholders and the increasing scarcity of fish resources for future generations. It seems logical that the next step for the CFP should be to undertake the implementation of its recommendations to manage fisheries better.

However, the bulk of the recipients, it seems, were not able to access to the findings of the reports. This information could be packaged in a much more user-friendly way.

How relevant do you think these findings were to your organisation, and why

As our company is concerned with harvesting and developing fisheries with the aim of adding-value, the findings were relevant as it put in to perspective how far this can be done without addressing the question of sustainability. It helped us to review our strategies and communication with our various stakeholders.

What would your priorities be for improving fisheries policy both in Trinidad and Tobago and in the wider Caribbean region

The first priority would be to get the right legislation to support a modern framework to manage fisheries. Currently, Trinidad and Tobago has dated legislation on fisheries management and allows 'open-fishing'. Once this legislation has been put in to place it will compliment education of stakeholders on sustainable fisheries management. Currently, the SIDC is working to get an amendment to the 1914 Fisheries Act.

The first thing to consider is that the fisheries resources in the Caribbean are a shared stock due to the close proximity of Caribbean states. Therefore with overlapping Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) it is fundamental to have a shared fisheries management plan to benefit all Caribbean states.

Azard Mohammed , Director of Blue Bamboo Cunupa Fishing Association, shares his views on participating in the CFP events at CHOGM addressing issues relevant to traditional fishermen.

What was your impression of the CFP through the Commonwealth People's Forum

I'm very impressed with the CFP and think they are doing a great job. We have to protect the environment and we are happy that we are finally getting help to do so.

How do you think you benefited from being part of the Commonwealth People's Space event and the Environment and Climate Change Assembly

Personally, I think it was great being able to get to know so many people affiliated with the Commonwealth and that they are so determined to do something good for the environment because the marine environment needs to be protected.

Since attending the CFP and CPS, in what ways do you think your understanding of challenges facing coastal fishermen has improved

As a fisherman, there are many challenges coastal fishermen face but I think were all making the effort to protect the coastal environment. Hopefully this will improve.

What was the highlight of your experience with the CFP in the two main events

The highlight of my experience has been the seminars. If you train and teach we will listen and follow. I think that if there were more seminars and training programmes it will only help in improving our efforts further.

Please could you give us any suggestions you may have for the further development of the Commonwealth Fisheries Programme

Firstly, focus is required on training programmes for fishers so that they can learn new skills and add-value to their current earnings. Secondly, small fisher organisations would benefit from office facilities near to landing sites, so that they can manage organisations effectively but also continue to fish.

We spoke to Bharat Patel, Director of Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (MASS) - a trade union for fish workers in Kutch, Gujurat - about his thoughts on fisheries policy and the CFP.

In what ways (if any) do you think a 'Commonwealth' initiative can enhance the sustainability of coastal fisheries and livelihoods

In the context of climate change and global warming, issues such as fish migration and catch reduction are affecting livelihoods of coastal fishing communities. This has been visible in the Gulf of Kutch and the Bay of Bengal. A Commonwealth initiative which allows for swapping of ideas and providing insight in to new areas is an invaluable way of inspiring new solutions to problems that are an effect of climate change. Therefore co-operation on an international basis to promote ideas such as community management, debt-reduction and a rights-based approach would be welcome.

What was the highlight of your experience at the Commonwealth People's Forum, in respect to fisheries

In a personal capacity, I have never given a presentation in English before so this was very challenging but rewarding. I am grateful to the CFP for allowing me the opportunity to raise awareness of the problems in Kutch (India). Furthermore I have gained extra knowledge about the management of natural resources by attending the CPF and listening to colleagues from across the Commonwealth. As well as this it was a great opportunity to network on behalf of my organisation.

What would be your priorities for improving fisheries policy in India and South Asia

The main priority would be to strengthen the bottom-up approach that has been gaining momentum through various nationwide forums for fishworkers. This is particularly important for the context of India as policy makers are too focused on developing industries. However, this is done at the cost of degradation of the coastal environment.

The main priority in the South Asian context is to sustain regional and national networks and forums so new ideas can reach isolated areas. This would also encourage dialogue between states in South Asia for mutual co-operation and benefit.

A great triumph for the CFP has been the reference to fisheries in Paragraph 80 of the final CHOGM communiqué. Click here to view the final CHOGM communiqué.

The CFP Session was the first session of the Energy and Climate Change Assembly and was chaired by, member of the Commonwealth Foundation's Civil Society Advisory Committee, Zuzanka Kutena and facilitated by Marta Lang. The overall aim of the sessions within the Energy and Climate Change assembly was to contribute content for the drafting of the People's Statement.

For this, CFP members such as Richard Bourne (CPSU) and Nicholas Watts (CHEC) gave presentations on the Study Tours and Case Studies respectively. As well as this the CFP invited South Asia Study Tour participant, Bharat Patel from the organisation Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti (Kutch, India) to give a presentation. The presentation included his participation on the tour as well as the findings and recommendations which emerged. Other guest speakers included Milton Haughton, from the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Sarah McIntosh from the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). The event was very well attended and the Q and A session gave Commonwealth-wide civil society bodies an opportunity to share views and exchange ideas.

From the drafting process of the Energy and Climate Change section, the CFP succeeded in making sure the content of the statement reflected the findings and focus of the CFP. Please see the final version of Energy and Climate Change section in the People's Statement (this can be found on page 14, paragraph 49 under the 'Marine, Coastal and Freshwater Resource Management' section

Please click here to view the final statement.

Pictured: Bharat Patel, from the organisation MASS in Kutch (India), presenting at the Energy and Climate Change session at the Commonwealth People's Forum

On Sunday 22^nd November, the CFP with the help of the Seafood Industry Development Company arranged an event at the People's Space, in the Savannah Park in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of the book (From Hook to Plate: The State of Marine Fisheries-a Commonwealth Perspective) and the CFP; to share findings of the study tour and case studies with a wider audience, to local fishermen, fishing co-operatives, businesses and other interested parties. Richard Bourne gave a presentation on the Study Tours and Nicholas Watts presented on the Case Studies. The event also had a special guest speaker, Milton Haughton, from the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) who also authored a chapter in the book. A Question and Answer session allowed guests to engage in a discussion with the speakers.

The CFP would like to give a special thanks to the Seafood Industry Development Company for arranging the event.

Pictured: The panel at the People's Space event (Sunday 22nd November 2009) (L-R) Dr. Nicholas Watts, Mr. Charles Nurse (SIDC), Milton Haughton (CRFM) and Richard Bourne (CPSU)

The Commonwealth of 53 nations, whose leaders will be meeting in Trinidad and Tobago next week, has a unique opportunity to stop the crash in world fish stocks and promote sustainable management. “From Hook to Plate”, an expert, up-to-date report on the state of marine fisheries from a Commonwealth perspective, has been sent to each of the governments as a call to action.

The authors conclude that the situation, where 75 per cent of commercial fisheries are being exploited at or above the maximum sustainable yield, is serious but not yet irreversible. They argue that proper implementation of controls on illegal fishing, promotion of marine protected areas, and community involvement in the sustainable management of inshore fisheries could turn round the looming desertification of the seas. It is time to stop the destructive “race to fish.”

The report calls on Commonwealth leaders to:

• Establish a Ministerial task force to deal with illegal fishing and sustain stocks, especially within exclusive economic zones

• Convene a Commonwealth fisheries conference, perhaps in conjunction with the meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's committee on fisheries in March 2011, to share best practice

• Create a voluntary fund to build capacity in the fisheries sector, particularly for small island developing states

The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme (CFP) is responsible for this report to countries with an unequalled marine heritage. It has been conducted over the last two years by the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, with financial support from the United Kingdom and Australian governments.

Recognising the interplay between illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the sustainability of fisherfolk livelihoods, the CFP addresses governance of fisheries, transferability of successful practice, and underlines the need to better understand the contribution of small-scale subsistence and artisanal fisheries to Commonwealth national economies, as well as the risks associated with the breakdown of coastal ecosystems and fish stocks as a result of overfishing and climate change.

To celebrate World Fisheries Day this year, “From Hook to Plate” is offered as a free pdf download below. A discussion of the issues will take place at the Commonwealth People's Space on the Port of Spain Savannah, starting at 11 am on Sunday 22 November. A further opportunity to learn the lessons of the programme is at the Commonwealth People's Forum Environment and Climate Change Assembly, Monday 23 November Introduction and Session 1, 10.50am-1.30pm.

Download 'From Hook To Plate' using link below.

From 22 September to 8th October 2009, a Commonwealth Fisheries Programme team led by Marta Lang and assisted by Homera Cheema visited India, Bangladesh & Pakistan. The study looked at best practice in sustainable fisheries management at the coastal community level. The team conducted interviews with fishers, met officials and witnessed the many ways in which non-government community level organisations are working with fisherfolk. Marta and Homera were joined by Arjilli Dasu (Fisher Folk Foundation), Bharat Patel (Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti), Hafeez Ullah (WWF-Indus for All), Asgher Ali Shah ( IUCN), Sayed Nobin (NGO NSS) and Abdul Mannan (World Fish Centre) in Bangladesh 28 September to 3 October. All team members were community level co-ordinators who work in a leadership role on issues of fisher folk livelihoods and coastal fisheries sustainability.

A visit to Visakhapatnam (Andra Pradesh), on the South-East coast of India was facilitated by the Fishfolk Foundation. Two consultations were held (one with local co-ordinators and one with fisherfolk), and the team visited a solar fish-drying plant and coastal communities. In Kutch (Gujurat) the CFP was hosted by Machimar Adhikar Sangarsh Samiti (MASS) a union who fight for the visibility of local fishers, and who have set up cooperative marketing schemes. Both organisations are dealing with problems of encroaching industry and the devastating effects caused by chemical outfalls and mangrove destruction.

In Bangladesh, the team came together to discuss key issues of relevance for coastal communities in South Asia. The team visited Dhaka, Barisal (Barguna district) and the coastal town of Kuakuta. Major socio-economic issues explored included fishermen mobility, microcredit schemes, disaster preparedness, and the operation of middlemen. In Dhaka the team prepared and delivered a presentation to academics at the University of Dhaka synthesising the team's collective experience as applied to the Southern Bangladesh situation.

The Pakistan visit saw Marta and Homera make trips to several coastal sites to interview community members. These were supported by WWF who are implementing mangrove restoration, women's cooperative structures, and small-scale solar and wind technologies to enable power in homes in Keti Bunder. Other visits were supported by IUCN (to Korangi Creek mangrove plantations) and by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (to Ibrahim Hyderi communities). The tour ended with a visit to the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority.

Social issues across the board included lack of access to freshwater, salination of underground water due to overextraction and its percolation up to the land, human waste management, displacement of people due to rising sea levels, indebtedness, and multi-layered middlemen exploitation in the context of informal local economies. Ecological issues include the fishing out of large fish in coastal zones, and large-scale industry polluting the sea with hot or saline water outfalls and toxic waste.

Richard Bourne of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) and Dr. Nicholas Watts of the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) shared their findings from the study tours and case studies with ecological experts from around the world. The International Conference on Human Ecology organised jointly by CHEC, the Society for Human Ecology and the University of Manchester brought together scholars and practitioners associated with the study of human ecology to examine the current challenges facing human ecology. The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme gave delegates insight in to how the idea of sustainable management of fisheries had been developing around Commonwealth.

The session called 'Fisheries management' was also contributed to by Karl Bruckmeier from Goteborg University (Sweden) who presented on the topic of 'Swedish fisheries and coastal communities: resilience and sustainable resource management' as well as Meriel Brooks from Green College in Vermont (USA) who talked about the 'Drift pattern of larval fish in the Poultney River'. Alastair McIntosh did a reading of a poem about growing up in a traditional community on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. After a Q and A session the morning concluded with the participants engaging in a lively discussion sharing their experiences regarding the different coastal communities they had visited.

The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to award three grants totalling £23,080 from its Commonwealth Fisheries Programme fund for fishing communities.

Grants have been released from a larger £57,500 fund aimed at helping Commonwealth fishing communities to improve their resilience through strengthening advocacy networks and accessing training initiatives. Submissions are still welcome and details on how to apply at www.commonwealthfoundation.com/about/grantseekers

The grants awarded will be used to fund projects covering Sri Lanka, Tuvalu and Mauritius. The organisations managing these projects are:

• Tuvalu National Association of Fishermen (TNAF)
• Tourism Concern (TC)
• Kalipso

Tuvalu National Association of Fishermen

The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme's £7,745 grant will help the TNAF to minimise and ease fishing pressures on coastal resources through developing and improving fishing technology encouraging fisherfolk to move from coastal fishing zones towards distant fishing areas.

Project objectives include:

- offering fisherfolk basic diagnostic and maintenance skills for outboard motors

- training women (mostly spouses of the fishermen) in basic business management of small fishing businesses

- collecting information on areas where the TNAF can assist in the transition of fishing pressures from coastal to distant fishing area

- evaluating the impact and effectiveness of this transition.

Tourism Concern (TC)

Tourism Concern is an independent, non-industry based, UK charity with a membership of almost 900 partners based in over 20 destination countries.

The £5,835 grant from the Fisheries Programme will go towards enhancing the technical skills of their Sri Lankan partners in tourism management while improving participants' skills in documentation and monitoring. This will be achieved through a study visit offering tools to help empower coastal communities and enable effective tourism policy engagement in Sri Lanka.

Kalipso

Kalipso works to defend the rights of coastal peoples and the marine environment they depend upon. This is done by raising awareness of marine issues and engaging in pacific and legal actions to protect stakeholders' rights and the marine biodiversity of Mauritius.

The overarching goal of their ongoing work is to prevent IUU fishing through stopping Commonwealth nations from granting flags of Convenience (FoC) to foreign Fishing vessels and Fish Carriers / Refrigerated Transport Vessels.

The £9.5K grant will help them develop recommendations and best practice for the end of the use of FoC by fisheries vessels. This will be presented at CHOGM 2009 and/or other relevant Commonwealth fora. Action by Commonwealth nations on FoC will set a precedent that can be used in international legal efforts to end FoC in fisheries globally.

Further information about the grant schemecan be found in the Grants Scheme section of this site.

This Economic Paper from the Commonwealth Secretariat considers the likely effects on African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of the European Union's Directive on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, planned to be implemented from 2010. It will be difficult for developing countries to meet the requirements of the directive at time when many aspects of globalisation are supportive of IUU fishing.

The authors argue that even though measures to combat IUU fishing are welcome, developing countries will require comprehensive technical and financial resources to effectively implement this directive, otherwise a disproportionate burden of global efforts to combat IUU fishing will fall on them.

Copies can be bought at: http://publications.thecommonwealth.org/fairer-fishing--678-p.aspx

04/02/09: A Commonwealth study tour team, completing a three nation Caribbean inquiry in Belize today, concluded that countries in the region need a more balanced approach to development and tourism, which gives a higher priority to fisheries and traditional fishing communities.

The team, from four nations, has been on an intensive study tour to St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Belize from 24 January to 4 February, 2009. They have met fishery and environment officials, fishers and their cooperatives, and non-governmental organisations and appreciate the generous assistance of all of them, especially the relevant Ministers in St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. They have made field visits in each country - to the Soufriere Marine Management Area in St Lucia, to the Bucco Reef Marine Park in Tobago, and to see marine protected areas near Caye Caulker and San Pedro in Belize (Hol Chan, etc.).

The study is part of a two year Commonwealth Fisheries Programme which will position the Commonwealth as a major player in reducing the depletion of marine fish resources, promoting sustainable management strategies, and supporting the long-term viability and sustainability of coastal fishing communities. Other findings of the study tour include:

- The need for increased monitoring and surveillance to implement fishing regulations, and the prevention of illegal fishing
- The urgent need to update legislation governing fishing and marine resources
- That there is a strong case for the Commonwealth to introduce a carefully designed Fisheries Fund to support initiatives in traditional fishing communities, and for donor countries to earmark support for small island states
- That mechanisms be devised to ensure the continued survival of the small-scale fishers

The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme is jointly managed by the Commonwealth Foundation, an intergovernmental body which supports civil society, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, a think-tank which is part of London University, and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council, the Commonwealth's environmental NGO. It is funded by the Department for International Development, UK, and AusAid, the aid arm of the Australian Government.

The programme is preparing a report for Commonwealth leaders who meet in Trinidad in November 2009 and includes study tours, case study work, and meetings of civil society and presentations to Fisheries Ministers in Southern Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean. Progress reports will be given to London High Commissioners in June, 2009, and to Commonwealth officials at their FAO fisheries meeting in Rome next month.

Members of the Commonwealth Study Tour in the Caribbean


Belize
Celia Mahung, Executive Director, TIDE ( Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment )
Armando Ramirez, President, Southern Fishermen's Association

St Lucia
Sonia Cazaubon, Project Officer, Soufriere Marine Management Association
Laudiana Laurence, Ranger, Soufriere Marine Management Association

Trinidad and Tobago
Nerissa Lucky, Seafood Industry Development Company
Arthur Potts, Institute of Marine Affairs, University of Trinidad and Tobago

Study Tour Coordinators
Homera Cheema, Project Officer, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Sandra Grant, Consultant in Fisheries Management, Belize

Study Tour Leader
Richard Bourne, Associate Fellow, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit

-Ends-

24 Jan - 4 Feb '09: The third Fisheries Programme study tour will be looking at innovative or significant fisheries management strategies in:

• St Lucia (24-27 Jan)
• Trinidad and Tobago (28-30 Jan)
• Belize (1-4 Feb)

Two qualified persons from each country, plus Richard Bourne, study tour leader, and Homera Cheema, study tour coordinator - both from the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit -- will be staying at the Rex Hotel Castries (tel: 7584573010), the Cascadia Hotel, Port of Spain (tel: 8686233511), and the Radisson, Belize City (5012234461).

This will be an intensive tour, but contact can be made with the team via these hotels, or by email (Homera.Cheema@sas.ac.uk or Richard.Bourne@sas.ac.uk).

A report will be published following the tour.

28/11/08: A Commonwealth study tour team, completing a three nation Pacific inquiry in Samoa today concluded that community management initiatives for fish and shellfish are producing results and are the right way to go. They foster community ownership and responsibility, and deserve long-term help from governments and donors.

The team, from six nations, has been on an intensive study tour of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Samoa from 16-28th November. They have met fishery and environment officials and made field visits in each country - in Samoa to Tafagamanu village, which has a fish reserve, and to Safata, to meet committee members for the Safata and Aleipata Marine Protected Areas. In each country they have appreciated the generous assistance of government, NGO and village community organisations.

The study tour is part of a two year Commonwealth Fisheries Programme which will position the Commonwealth as a major player in stopping the depletion of marine fish resources, in promoting sustainable management strategies, and in supporting the long-term livelihood of coastal fishing communities. Other findings are:

• That the question of sustainability has to be addressed, as too many projects depend on short-term funding or a handful of individuals for their operation
• That good collaboration between government departments, levels of government and chiefs or those responsible for marine management in the villages is crucial - the team was impressed by the good examples seen in Samoa
• That community management initiatives and no-take zones are already working successfully - with a return of inshore fish and shellfish, and coral recovery - although full recovery and abundance may take decades

The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme is jointly managed by the Commonwealth Foundation, an intergovernmental body which supports civil society, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, a think-tank which is part of London University, and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council, the Commonwealth's environmental NGO. It is funded by the Department for International Development, UK, and AusAid, the aid arm of the Australian Government.

The programme is preparing a report for Commonwealth leaders who meet in Trinidad in November 2009 and includes study tours, case study work, and meetings of civil society and presentations to Fisheries Ministers in the Pacific and Caribbean. Progress reports will be given to London High Commissioners on 20 January, 2009, and to Commonwealth officials at their FAO fisheries meeting in Rome in March.

Members of the Commonwealth Study Tour in the South Pacific Papua New Guinea
John Aini, Director, Ailan Awareness, New Ireland
Almah Tararia, Environmental lawyer

Samoa
Chief Seuala Patone, Aleipata Marine Protected Area Trust Fund Chairman
Chief Tuala Peniamina, Mayor of Tafagamanu

Vanuatu
James Graham, Chairman, Krab Bay Tabu Committee
John Ronneth, Nguna Pele Marine Protected Area

University of the South Pacific and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council
Dr Joeli Veitayaki, Director, Marine Studies Department

Study Tour Coordinator
Marta Lang, New Zealand lawyer on contract to the Commonwealth Foundation

Study Tour Leader
Richard Bourne, Associate Fellow, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit

3/11/08: The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU), the Commonwealth think-tank, working as part of the Commonwealth Fisheries Programme has brought together fisheries experts from Tanzania, Mozambique and Mauritius in an exchange programme looking at innovative methods in fisheries management.

The international exchange programme, which began in Dar-es-Salaam on 3rd November 2008 and lasts for twelve days, seeks to highlight major challenges in fisheries management. The team convened in Mauritius for a discussion with local stakeholders to look at how as a small island it has responded positively to challenges affecting its fisheries. The Managing Director of Princes Tuna, representatives from the Fisheries Division and the National Coast Guard all participated in the lively discussions.

The Commonwealth Fisheries Programme study tour is designed to facilitate discussion of ideas and uncover initiatives to address the major threats to fishing; and to provide examples of good practice to other countries in the region on issues including:

• Declining fish stocks
• Management techniques
• Livelihoods of traditional coastal communities
• Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing

The team will be focusing the rest of the study tour on field research and will be visiting the Black River region to meet coastal communities, as well as the industrial sector and tuna processing centres.

The research and awareness-raising of the study tour will feed in to the Commonwealth programme. This will report its findings to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to take place in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009. The programme is being managed by a Commonwealth consortium consisting of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC).

4/07/08: Ministers from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) met today to issue a statement of commitment to address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

15/05/08: Civil society organisations shared and prepared prior to a Ministerial meeting addressing concerns of those dependent on the good management of the fishing industry.

A recent civil society conference on sustainable fisheries management and livelihoods gave civil society organisations the chance to share and prepare prior to a SADC Ministerial meeting to address the concerns of those dependent on the good management of the fishing industry.

A fisherman telling his story to the international community said,

"Our communities suffer greatly from industrial trawlers coming, at night, to fish illegally in zones which are normally reserved for small scale fishing. They destroy our resources, they destroy our coastal zones, they destroy our nets and they even kill our fishermen, when fishing with their lights off they collide with our artisanal boats,"

As a result of incidents like these, the Department for International Development (DIFID) - along with the Australian government - are funding a two-year Commonwealth programme on marine fisheries management.

The programme, which is being managed by a Commonwealth consortium consisting of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council, held a civil society conference in Namibia (14-15 May 2008) to prepare a declaration which will be taken to a meeting of Fisheries Ministers from the countries of the Southern Africa Development Community due to take place 2-4 July.

The main focus of the Ministerial meeting will be illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including illegal harvesting, shipment, processing, landing, sale and distribution of fish and fishery products. Such illegal activities have a massively detrimental effect on the economies of affected nations, and direct impacts on the livelihoods and incomes of artisanal and other fishing communities.

Illegal fishing sees pirates taking advantage of developing countries lack of resources to police fishing grounds and also exploits local populations by running their activities at the lowest possible cost, exposing crews to unregulated labour and poor and often extremely dangerous working conditions.


At the Namibian conference, civil society organizations from Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo met to discuss, share information and engage with these issues.

Commonwealth Foundation Director, Dr Mark Collins, who opened the meeting alongside Namibia's Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Kilus Nguvauvu MP, said,
"What is clear from this consultation is that there is a growing marginalisation of people in coastal communities. Their unimpeded access to fishing grounds is being jeopardised - which is a human rights issue; their source of food and livelihoods are threatened; and their cultural and artisanal heritage is also in danger when the ability to fish is removed.

There are serious social implications here that greatly complicate the fisheries and environmental questions. Impoverishment of coastal communities through fisheries mismanagement undermines the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and has collateral impacts arising from community impoverishment, including increased risk of the spread of HIV and AIDS, spread of drugs use, disempowerment of women and other serious problems."

The delegates of the civil society conference will present the SADC Ministerial Conference to Stop Illegal Fishing with a demand for inclusion on decisions made that effect their livelihoods and futures, including negotiation in transparent access agreements. The full civil society and ministerial declarations will be available on this website when published.

14/05/08: The Namibia Civil Society Consultation is the first step in a two-year Commonwealth programme on Marine Fisheries Management and Coastal Zone Communities, which has been underwritten by the UK Department for International Development and the Australian government. It is being managed by a Commonwealth consortium consisting of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) and the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC). Findings will be reported to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to take place in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009.

Following a successful launch of the Commonwealth Fisheries Programme, held in London on the 19th April 2008, the Windhoek meeting responds to a recognised need for a civil society platform to address the real-life concerns, practices and experiences of SADC fishing communities within the broader topic of fisheries management, and SADC and national fisheries policy

The consultation will bring together stakeholders from across the SADC region involved in sustainable fisheries management including: civil society groups involved in the advocacy of coastal fishing/artisanal fishing communities, fishing co-operatives, and other ad hoc groups working in coastal fishing communities within Southern Africa. This will help build representation, enhance a capacity for dialogue, and support an ongoing input into fisheries management policy. The Commonwealth consortium's mission is to:

• provide participants with a voice; a platform for these representatives to share their specific experiences with other delegates from Southern Africa
• gather and record a regional plethora of experiences, best practice solutions, and raise awareness of issues that do not receive media or official attention
• to integrate a civil society perspective, with practical knowledge and insights, into national and international policy.

29/04/08: The Commonwealth Foundation, in partnership with the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU), today launched a new programme on fisheries management and coastal communities.

Unsustainable fishing, caused by poor fisheries governance, weak management and wasteful, destructive fishing practices, is depleting the world's fisheries and destroying the ocean's ability to renew itself. This not only threatens the future of the oceans and the fishing industry, but the livelihoods and food security of millions of people across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, said.

"There is growing concern amongst Commonwealth civil society networks - fishing communities and artisanal fishermen everywhere are alarmed and looking to their governments to take decisive action to preserve their livelihoods,"

In response to this situation, the Foundation has launched a new programme on fisheries and the Commonwealth. The Foundation's partners in this project are the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) and the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU). The findings of the project will be presented to Commonwealth Heads of Government when they meet in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009.

To launch the programme the Foundation hosted a briefing given by a high-level expert panel of speakers who between them have experience and insight into the governance, environmental, social and economic aspects of fisheries.

Highlighting the importance of fisheries to the Commonwealth, Dr. Timothy Williams, Head of Enterprise and Agriculture at the Commonwealth Secretariat, explained that the Commonwealth includes some of the major fishing countries and regions of the world. He also pointed out that fisheries are significant for food security and are an important source of animal protein in many member countries. Dr. Williams also mentioned that fisheries contribute significantly to foreign currency earnings, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and that the fisheries sector is an important source of employment and income.

Gareth Thomas, UK Minister for Trade and Development, said that economic growth and poverty reduction could not be achieved without trade, and that for many developing countries trade in fish is vital. He pointed out that the international trade in fish is currently worth over US $80 billion a year with more than half that amount from the developing world.


The Minister said, however, that illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) is a problem whose effects are felt the hardest by the poorest countries "who can least afford the losses of income, jobs and food that illegal fishing entails." He mentioned that new research indicates global annual losses, due to illegal fishing, run to at least US $10 billion, and may be as high as US $23 billion.

Jonathan Shaw, UK Minister for the Marine Environment, said that a range of actions, with international teamwork, is crucial to combat the global problem of illegal fishing. He emphasized how UK departments are cooperating with each other, new UK legislation is being put in place, and European nations are working together on meaningful and effective regulations backed up by monitoring.

The High Commissioner of Mauritius, Abhimanu Kundasamy, spoke about the importance of fisheries to Mauritius and other countries in Southern Africa. He said that fisheries represent a key economic sector which contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of member states, and fair trading agreements are essential. "Of paramount importance is its impact on food security, poverty alleviation, employment creation as well as deepening regional integration." Mr. Kundasamy went on to stress that "the industry must be sustainable for the long-term benefit of countries in the Southern Africa Development Community - SADC."

Elliot Morley MP, former Environment Minister and Chair of the High Seas Task Force, illustrated vividly the collateral damage to marine ecosystems arising from unsustainable methods. He spoke about the importance of taking effective measures to combat IUU and stressed the need for "crucial political will that will not allow our seas to be destroyed and developing countries to be robbed."

As Richard Bourne, Advisor to the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit explained in the lively question and answer session, the project will go on to make representations to Fisheries Ministers in Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific; draw together case studies of good stewardship in practice; and bring this body of evidence to the Commonwealth Heads of Government at their Trinidad and Tobago meeting. The aim is for CHOGM to use this work as a basis for concerted Commonwealth action to improve fisheries governance and management, prevent illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU), and ensure sustainable world fisheries for the good of all.