Title: Report of the Sixth Session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries, Rome, 10-12 May 2011
Description: The sixth session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) was held in Rome, Italy, from 10 to 12 May 2011. The Commission reviewed a range of regional issues and intersessional activities of importance to the conservation and management of fisheries and aquaculture. Members considered and endorsed the administrative and financial reports, and endorsed the findings and outcomes of the Special Meeting on RECOFI Consolidation and Development including the technical review of RECOFI. The Commission noted the significant FAO Regular Programme contributions to support RECOFI's work and that capacity development remained a critical issue in the region. The Commission discussed the report of the Working Group on Aquaculture (WGA), including the fifth meeting of the WGA and the Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS).^

The report of the Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) was addressed, as well as the the outcome of the third and fourth meetings of the WGFM, stock status reporting and review of capture fisheries statistics, and unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region. The Commission agreed to adopt the FAO/RECOFI joint WGA and WGFM regional strategy on spatial planning for marine capture fisheries and aquaculture and, within available resources, to provide the necessary support for follow-up action for the strategy's implementation. The Commission adopted its first fisheries management recommendation on minimum data reporting in the RECOFI area and agreed that the recommendation would take effect on 1 January 2012. The Commission agreed on a threefold increase of the Members' annual contributions from 2013 provided that all arrears were liquidated by 31 December 2011. The Commission discussed and approved the programme of work for the WGA and the WGFM.^

In considering the programme of work and budget for the 2011-2012 biennium, the Commission approved nine activities for implementation. A further eleven activities were postponed for financial reasons. The Commission reconfirmed that the seventh session of RECOFI would be held in the Islamic Republic of Iran in May 2013.
Subjects: Aquaculture, Fishery policy, Congresses, Fishery management, International Fishery management