Report of the Workshop on the Management of Shared Small Pelagic Fishery Resources in Northwest Africa

Abstract

The Workshop on the Management of Shared Small Pelagic Fishery Resources in Northwest Africa was held in Banjul, the Gambia, from 30 April to 3 May 2002. The objectives of the workshop were to examine the implications of national and joint management o f shared stocks using Sardinella sp. and Trachurus sp. as cas e studies, to explore possible ways o f how sustainabl e management o f shared stocks can be achieved, to propose options aimed at ensuring optimal and sustainabl e use of small pelagic fish resources for the benefit o f coastal countries, and to suggest the way forward for a regional management system for the adoption and implementation of fisheries management. As a general recommendation the group suggests to support the current FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagics in Northwest Africa. This group should be furthered and strengthened in o rder to maintain a high level of resource assessment studies in the coming years and the long-term future. Fisheries Research Institutes should identify research priorities and seek national budgetary allocations to sustain long-term research. A precautionary approach towards the management of small pelagic stocks should be adopted to maintain a sustainable spawning stock. The basis for setting the total allowable catch (TAC) and fishing capacity for the next year should not exceed the average annual catch during the past five years in order to ensure a sustainabl e and rational exploitation of the small pelagi cs. Countries should develop national management pl ans in support of a future joint regional management system.