Ministers and distinguished delegates
Chairperson of the International Commission for the Conservation Of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Miyahara-San
Honorable Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Animal Resources and Fishery, (Côte d’Ivoire)
Honorable Nayon Bilijo, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, GHANA
Executive Secretary of the ICCAT, Mr Driss Meski
Committee and Panel Chairs
Delegates
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen.
Introduction
On this very auspicious occasion of the very first International Commission for the Conservation Of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Commission meeting to be held in South Africa, I warmly welcome you to our country, the Republic of South Africa.
As a nation, South Africa has always strongly supported the efforts of the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organisation to enhance global food security and international governance. We have therefore actively participated in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations such as ICCAT, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and we are in the process of acceding to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.
Saluting ICCAT
South Africa has a long history with ICCAT as one of the first countries to ratify the ICCAT Agreement in 1967. As a founding member, we have long since wanted to have the privilege of hosting the Commission. However, during the decades of oppressive Apartheid rule South Africa had to be excluded from the fraternity of nations. As such the prospect of hosting the Commission only became a possibility after 1994 when Apartheid was banished and we became a nation free to look the world in the face.
In our view ICCAT can today be held up as a model which other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations can aspire to emulate. Over the years ICCAT has grown and matured as an international organisation that conducts excellent scientific research. It anchors its management on a transparent process of integrating scientific, social, economic and political considerations in a balanced way and upholds the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in all its dimensions (ecological, human and governance).
ICCAT has shown that declining fish stocks can be rebuilt, such as the recent evidence-based success story on the rebuilding of the North Atlantic swordfish stock. ICCAT has also adopted stringent conservation and management measures to rebuild the iconic North Atlantic bluefin stocks, which is once again a testimony to the level of responsibility and maturity displayed by Member Parties of this organisation.
ICCAT has taken the lead in the protection of ecologically important and threatened shark species and the protection of seabirds with effective mitigation measures. To this end we have strengthened the conservation of seabirds in South Africa with an National Plan of Action that dates to as far back as 2008. This plan includes measures that are currently being adopted by this Commission.
The South African government has adopted a long-term plan, aptly called the National Development Plan, and I am proud to say that ICCAT fits into that.
ICCAT has also shown a determination to combat Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing by implementing effective measures such as:
- Catch document schemes for bluefin;
- Blacklisting vessels engaged in IUU fishing;
- Minimum standards for inspection in port, and,
- An at sea trans-shipment programme.
We consider that ICCAT as a best proctor of international collaboration and applaud all parties for making ICCAT what it is today.
SA’S ICCAT membership and compliance with protocols
South Africa is proud to be a member of ICCAT. We view ourselves as an exemplary and committed ICCAT member and have introduced a range of measures which embodies the Commission’s Resolutions
We have developed an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries which includes mitigation of bycatch species such as sharks, turtles and seabirds. We are also implementing strong measures to combat IUU fishing by way of a range of flag and port state measures.
Despite fiscal constraints we have always sent a delegation to participate and to represent our interests and will in future be extending the range of ICCAT activities in which we participate, such as full participation in relevant stock assessment and other scientific meetings and participation in policy formulation and content issues.
We are grateful to have the privilege of hosting this meeting as it provides a unique opportunity to expose many of our departmental officials and industry members to the workings of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and allows for capacity building within the country.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are fully aware of the rights that the ICCAT Convention confers on coastal states and that ICCAT supports developing coastal states in a number of ways. However, we should further address how coastal states, especially those in Africa which have been disadvantaged through their colonial legacy, can gain equitable access and the full economic benefits and capacity that they are entitled to.
Through a rights allocation process that places these fishers at the forefront, South Africa is now, in 2013, attempting to right some of the wrongs of the past. We would like to see that international commissions such as ICCAT also take such issues into account when country quotas are being allocated. As such, large and rich fishing nations have ensured that they receive the lion’s share of quotas and sharing arrangements and there should be more equity in future.
Focusing on the meeting objectives
Delegates, despite the many successes and milestones which have been recorded by ICCAT, there remain a number of tasks that require our attention.
Starting with the meetings this week, we believe that ICCAT should further strengthen its Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) efforts to combat IUU fishing by implementing the Electronic Bluefin Catch Document and to continue the work to develop Unique Vessel Identifiers for all authorised vessels. Proposals for high seas boarding and inspections at sea and increased frequency of Vessel Management System (VMS) reporting are also commendable for improving MCS standards.
We also note that over the past few years the Scientific Committee for Research and Statistics has recommended the establishment of a large-scale tagging programme in order to improve their advice to the Commission. We acknowledge that this is a costly exercise, but if we are to remain true to the goals and objectives of this organisation, then we would need to prioritise this work so as to ensure that management recommendations are made on the best available science. A programme of this nature has already provided invaluable information to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
This year we find ourselves again in a challenging situation with regard to adopting Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and sharing arrangements for a number of stocks, including swordfish and albacore. The world is once again watching to see whether we are responsible in adhering to scientific recommendations in setting the TACs for these stocks. We also hope that the spirit of co-operation and mutual respect between parties, that has been built up over recent years, would prevail when addressing the sensitive issues of sharing arrangements.
We also need to maintain our efforts in addressing the Ecosystems Approach to Fishing issues. Given all the other challenges of the organisation it could be easy to lose sight of the importance of ecosystem considerations. We believe the best approach in dealing with the very broad nature of EAF while considering limited resources is through the process of prioritisation of issues. Some of the urgent EAF issues that require strengthening at ICCAT is for parties to improve their submission of shark statistics, the management of mako and porbeagle sharks and the management of Fish Aggregating Devices. particularly with respect to their high bycatch of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna, and to improve observer coverage on their vessels.
Miyahara-san, Committee and Panel Chairs, these requests may appear to be a tall order, but we have complete confidence in your abilities to chair these meetings and thereby ensure that the time spent in deliberations would result in fruitful outcomes for this organisation.
Lastly, distinguished delegates, chairperson, executive secretary, delegates and secretariat, I welcome you to our beautiful country with open arms. May you have productive meetings with excellent outcomes, and may you find the time to explore and enjoy the natural beauty, diverse cultures and hospitality of Cape Town, the Western Cape and South Africa.
May your visit to our shores be a memorable one.
I hereby officially declare the 23rd Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas open.
I thank you.
