Photo: Europäische Kommis...
The Regional Fishing Organisations (RFO)
In the name of the Community, the European Commission works out fishing treaties with non-EU countries and participates actively in numerous Regional Fishing Organisations (RFOs)
Regional Fishing Organisations (RFOs) are created through international agreements. They form a framework for meetings by government representatives on the subject of stock management. They help to reinforce regional cooperation with the objective of conservation and sustainable management of the stocks of fish in international waters. The RFOs issue recommendations on management measures based on the best available research data. Such recommendations can be implemented into national law by all the contracting members of the RFO.The EU actively advocates sustainable fishing. It has applied for membership in several regional fishing organisations. It is already a full member of several regional fishing organisations. In others, it has the status of an observer.
To date, the Community has joined the following organisations, among others:
North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)
International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC)
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM, the membership process is underway)
The Community is also a member of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which deals with fishing on the global scale.
The RFOs are very important for international cooperation on responsible fishing. In the last decade, significant progress has been made and common goals have been agreed upon for responsible fishing and responsible trade in fishery products. The RFOs will make a decisive contribution towards ensuring compliance with the measures taken to achieve the designated objectives.
14.10.2009, Lebensministerium III/2