General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

Noting in particular that capacity-building is a core objective of the Regular Process, as integrated within the programme of work for the period 2017 to 2020 fro the second cycle of the Regular Proces, we wish to draw your attention to the Mid-term strategy (2017-2020) towards the sustainability of the Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries (here forth referred to as the "mid-term strategy"), which was adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) at its annual session in 2016 as Resolution GFCM/40/2016/2.The mid-term strategy is aligned in a number of ways with the Regular Process, most notably through one of its main five targets which is dedicated to enhancing capacity-building and cooperation in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (Target 5). This target includes an output dedicated exclusively to improving national capacity for the management of fisheries resources and marine ecosystems where they are found, particularly with regard to assisting GFCM Contracting Parties in meeting their obligations stemming from adopted conservation and management measures. To this end, it foresees the operationalization of a mechanism for the provision of technical assistance to countries, through expert field missions and technical seminars, as well as a regional programme for education and training in order to level the playing field and bridge the North-South gap.Furthermore, a specific output is foreseen within Target 1 of the mid-term strategy towards strengthening the science-policy interface by enhancing scientific knowledge at the regional level. In order to reinforce this aspect, with is crucial in terms of capacity building, the GFCM is organizing the first “Forum on Fisheries Science in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea” (Fish Forum), scheduled to take place in December 2018 at the FAO HQs. The Fish Forum seeks to bring together the wider community of scientists and experts working on fisheries and the marine environment in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in order to build a lasting regional network, to discuss advancements in research, to integrate all available scientific knowledge in support of decision-making and to identify research priorities for the coming decade. As such, the Fish Forum is expected to improve the current policy-making process based on available scientific advice and biological, social and economic data. An additional key component of this event is the direct involvement of the region’s universities and research institutes so as to ensure that young scientists will be part of discussions and steered towards addressing the region’s challenges. The outputs of the Fish Forum will be reported, as feasible, to the Regular Process and the GFCM would welcome any opportunities to promote further synergies against this background.Lastly, I would be remiss without mentioning that in trying to build capacity within the Mediterranean and Black Sea region to respond to GFCM Contracting Parties challenges and priorities, the mid-term strategy relies on existing partnerships that have been formalized over the year with several other organizations. This is particular the case with those organization, roughly fifteen, which entered into a memorandum of understanding with the FAO – on behalf of the GFCM – in order to address common conservation and management objectives. All these organizations are actively contributing to the synergic implementation of the mid-term strategy, including its Target 5. As a result, a concerted approach to capacity building is being pursued, with a view to avoid duplications and optimize the use of resources. Further details on the mid-term strategy and it relevant activities can be found at the following link: http://www.fao.org./3/a-i7340e.pdf