Report of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Data Workshop Series


Book Description

Forty participants from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates participated in the RECOFI Data Workshop Series: Minimum Data Reporting (MDR) regional database, RECOFI-FIRMS stocks and fisheries inventories and SDG Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels. The workshop reviewed the MDR indicators and priority species list for endorsement, reviewed the presentation of pilot MDR RECOFI regional database and adopted an MDR data submission template. With regards to the RECOFI – FIRMS stocks and fisheries inventories, the workshop acknowledged the progress made so far and recommended that the Member Countries finalize and publish the RECOFI Fisheries inventory. The workshop also recognized the importance of publishing the work on the priority species presented at each meeting of the WGFM under the RECOFI - FIRMS collection as marine resource fact sheets. The workshop discussed the focal points list for MDR/FIRMS that will be circulated to Member Countries for finalisation and further discussed at the next meeting of the WGFM and approved at the next session of RECOFI. On SDG 14.4.1, the workshop agreed that the SDG 14.4.1 focal point list would be verified and validated and RECOFI Members’ reference list of stocks would be confirmed as either shared, transboundary and national, and communicate any issues with the outcomes.




Report of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Special Workshop on SDG Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of Fish Stocks within Biologically Sustainable Levels, Virtual Meeting, 5 August 2021


Book Description

In recognition of the fisheries sector’s contributions and responsibilities to the global goals, the Sustainable Development Goal Target 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development - includes a target and monitoring indicator specifically related to the sustainability of fish stocks which aims to monitor the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels in order to achieve the target of restoring fish stocks in the shortest time feasible. As part of a larger workshop series on the SDG 14.4.1, the community of Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) countries were invited to participate in a special 3-hour introductory session on 5 August 2021 to present the indicator and reporting process, and participate in discussions towards a reference list of stocks for each country and for the region.




Report of the Regional Commission for Fisheries/Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System Data Call Workshop


Book Description

This is the final version of the Report of the Regional Commission for Fisheries/Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (RECOFI–FIRMS) Data Call Workshop – Updating stocks and fisheries inventories, Virtual Meeting, 3–4 August 2021. This workshop focused on the update of the RECOFI–FIRMS national inventories on fisheries and the development of the RECOFI inventory on marine resources based on its priority species. Recommendations from the workshop included: i) the nomination of a National Focal Points (NFPs) for Minimum Data Reporting (MDR) and for the Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS), who would closely collaborate; ii) an increased collaboration with the FIRMS Secretariat towards the compilation and publishing of up-to-date marine resource and fisheries inventories and fact sheets; and iii) the utilization of the RECOFI–FIRMS inventories and templates for any submission of national stock information to the Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM).




Report of the Minimum Data Reporting Regional Database Workshop to Support the Strengthening of RECOFI’s Statistics and Information Capacity through its Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM), Virtual Meeting, 13–14 July 2021


Book Description

This is the final version of the Report of the Minimum Data Reporting Regional Database Workshop to Support the Strengthening of RECOFI’s Statistics and Information Capacity through its Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM), Virtual Meeting, 13–14 July 2021.




Report of the Ninth Session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI)


Book Description

This session took steps towards clearing an instrument for marine protection, added two species to the priority list, agreed to harmonize country data, and decided to proceed with the standard FAO aquaculture questionnaires.







Report of the Fourth Session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries


Book Description

The Session was attended by delegates from seven Members of the Commission and by observers from international, regional and national fishery bodies and institutions. The meeting was organized to evaluate the progress of intercessional activities relating to recommendations of earlier sessions, address regional fisheries and aquaculture issues of concern and review plans for short and medium-term activities.




Report of the Twelfth Session of the Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) Steering Committee Meeting. Virtual Meeting, 18–21 October 2021


Book Description

The Twelfth Session of the Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) Steering Committee Meeting (FSC12) was held online from 18 to 21 October 2021. The FSC12 deliberated to proceed with the publishing of the Global Tuna Atlas developed with active contributions from the five tuna regional fishery management organizations (t-RFMOs), with the Global Record of Stocks and Fisheries (GRSF) towards validation of all records and their public dissemination, and with the integration of national Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 14.4.1 data into the GRSF. The FSC12 also considered a survey on the use of FIRMS by partners for strategic decisions for the 2020–30 decade.




Report of the tenth meeting of the RECOFI Working Group on Fisheries Management, Doha, State of Qatar, 6-8 December 2016


Book Description

This document contains the report of the tenth meeting of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) which was held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 6 to 8 December 2016. The tenth meeting of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) was held in Doha, State of Qatar from 6 to 8 December 2016. The meeting was convened by RECOFI and FAO and attended by 11 participants from five RECOFI member countries ( Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) in addition to the FAO Secretariat and one invited expert. Participants provided updates of the current work ongoing at the national level with regards to the RECOFI priority species, and discussed data collection challenges. The WGFM reviewed the progress on the socio-economic work for RECOFI, and agreed that the socio-economic Task Group members must be updated, as well as the information provided in the socio-economic questionnaire. The WGFM took note that the general situation regarding the capacity of RECOFI members to report catch and effort information as defined in the Recommendation had slightly improved and acknowledged the progress that had been made regarding the integration of the current RECOFI regional data set into RAIS. The WGFM took note and considered the content and conclusions of the draft RECOFI review and noted with concern the low level of RECOFI members’attendance at intersessional meetings and workshops. The WGFM ackno wledged the benefits of developing FIRMS Marine Resources for the RECOFI region and recommended the initiation of the process focusing on the Spanish mackerel and shrimps as priority species. The meeting acknowledged with appreciation the efforts of the Secretariat for pursuing cooperation with ROPME, in particular considering the potential for mutual benefits of this cooperation for both organizations and their members. The WGFM agreed on a programme of work and budget for 2017–2018 to be submi tted at the ninth session of RECOFI for consideration.




Report of the Workshop on Fishery Stock Indicators and Stock Status


Book Description

"This document contains the report of the FAO/RECOFI Regional Workshop on Fishery Stock Indicators and Stock Status that was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 26 to 29 July 2009. At the fourth session (2007) of RECOFI held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Secretariat prepared for the minimum requirements of stock assessment. The Commission recognized that those requirements were too complicated and noted a shortage of expertise. The effort was resumed at the second meeting of the Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) in 2008 where a shift to a pragmatic approach based on an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management (EAF) with adaptive procedures was recommended. The objective of the Workshop was to review the availability of data on the biology of the identified priority resources, catch and effort statistics for the relevant fisheries, other socio-economic statistics, results of stock assessments and other relevant research activities in member countries; to identify the major gaps in knowledge and information, priority areas for regional cooperation and potential joint activities; and to formulate the RECOFI work program for regional cooperation in assessment of stocks and fishery status appraisal in the short and medium term..."--Publisher description.