Fisheries
The fisheries sector is of significant social and economic importance to the small coastal island states of the African, Caribbean and Pacific region; it is a vital source of food, employment and revenue.
With the objective of building awareness and promoting intergovernmental co-ordination, and with a view to promoting effective participation in the WTO and ACP-EU negotiations on fisheries, the Secretariat has undertaken several regional meetings on fisheries and trade issues. In 21 - 22 March, 2005 the Secretariat, in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, conducted a WTO/EPA Fisheries Workshop in Barbados.
In collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, a similar meeting was held in Suva, Fiji on 4 and 5 May, 2005 and also in Cape Verde, West Africa (in collaboration with INFOPECHE and FAO) from 18 - 20 July, 2005.
A COMESA/PIFS/IOC Fisheries Meeting is scheduled to be held in Brussels in early 2006, the objective of which is to work on a common position on fisheries issues within the context of EPA and the WTO negotiations.
The meetings have provided a useful forum for the examination of fisheries and trade-related issues within the context of the WTO and EPA negotiations, both of national and regional interest, and in identifying areas where member countries require technical support during the negotiations.
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in co-operation with FAO, UNCTAD, WTO and the ACP, organised a workshop, held at UNCTAD, Geneva on 21 and 22 March, 2006 to facilitate dialogue on the Impact of WTO Agreements and the current WTO negotiations on the fisheries sector.
As part of the ongoing Fisheries Project, several technical studies have been undertaken on Fisheries Issues in WTO and ACP-EU Trade Negotiations. Forthcoming studies include a detailed study on the EU's commercial fisheries policies and its impact on international trade in fisheries.