SUBREGIONAL RESEARCH

Subregional research activities in which CopeMed II participates to widen the scientific knowledge.

• Subregional Working Groups on demersal and small pelagic species. The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) stressed the importance of making common assessments by countries with shared stocks of priority species. The analysis carried out by experts from some South countries shows the need to extend its results with fisheries data from neighbouring countries. All this in order to know the status of fisheries resources and to propose new management measures that would allow the sustainability of the resources and its exploitation. CopeMed II is organising two working groups, one on pelagic and another on demersal resources to prepare the data for shared stocks analysis and to answer the countries needs and the GFCM requirements.

• Link with the SRWG report (Tech. doc TD14).

• Effects of the implementation of the 40 mm square mesh size in trawling. Considering the need to improve the trawl selectivity for a sustainable exploitation of Mediterranean fisheries and the results of selectivity studies carried out by some Mediterranean research teams the Resolution GFCM/31/2007/3 inciting the Mediterranean countries to substitute, by 2010, the diamond meshes of the trawl codend by 40 mm square meshes. During the 33rd session, the GFCM adopted the Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/2 on a minimum 40-mm mesh size in the codend of demersal trawl nets by 31 January 2012. CopeMed II is supporting Morocco and Algeria to create the tools and standard protocols to implement this mesh size in as much countries as possible. Results of this activity are 3 Technical Documents.

• Tech docs TD8, TD9 and TD10.

• Socio economic indicators. During the first phase of CopeMed experts from the different countries prepared a document entitled “The estimation of economics indicators in the Mediterranean fisheries”. Socio economic activities in CopeMed II are related with ArtFiMed project Cooperation with the GFCM. The project is supporting many activities related with the GFCM Secretariat, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and its Subcommittees. Actions in supporting GFCM include the preparation of technical documents for the SAC, the participation of the project’ officers in the GFCM annual meeting and the participation as backstoper in the Subcommittees, the organisation of workshops and working groups in the subregion and the continuous support to experts from the CopeMed II countries to participate in all the activities and meeting organised under the GFCM framework.

• “Regional research CopeMed I”

• The GFCM website

NATIONAL RESEARCH

The Objective of this set of activities is to improve national performance in surveying and monitoring fisheries, including economic aspects.

• Algeria

  • 40 mm square mesh size. CopeMed compromised with the Project’ countries and the GFCM to standardise a protocol and prepare common methodologies to analyse the effects of the implementation of the GFCM Resolution. With the support of CopeMed II, Algerian experts participated in a subregional WS held in the project premises and will participate in other countries experiences to learn methodologies. The project support the preparation of the selectivity pilot experiments to evaluate the effects of the implementation of the 40 mm square mesh size in bottom trawl fisheries in Algeria and the surveys that should be carried out in 2010. Finally an expert’s meeting to analyze the biological and socio-economics effects will be organized with the participation of all countries.

  • Direct methods for stocks assessment. The Algerian administration is involved in the construction of a research vessel with fisheries research proposes. CopeMed II in collaboration with national institutions from the region (IEO and Roma University) is supporting and preparing the experts training on standardisation of methodologies to be used by the CNRDPA. During November-December 2009 two Algerian experts were trained (on the job training) on board the Spanish Coornide de Saavedra research vessel (IEO) on acoustic methods to assess the small pelagic stocks. CopeMed will support CNRDPA in data collection methodologies.

  • Artisanal fisheries. Artisanal fisheries in Algerian are a priority. CopeMed II is working to try to extend to Algeria the project ArtFiMed financed by AECID in Morocco and Tunisia.

  • Socio economic indicators. CNRDPA is preparing terms of reference to finish the survey on indicators and analyse the data to prepare a national report.

  • CNRDPA Website

• Italy 

  • Methods for stocks assessment. The project is supporting Algerian experts in training on board Italian vessel related with stocks assessment methodologies.

  • The University of Roma is collaborating with CopeMed II in training CNRDPA (Algeria) experts on stocks assessment using direct methods. During 2010 two Algerian experts were trained (on the job training) onboard the Italian research vessel on methods (MEDITS protocols) to assess the demersal stocks.

  • Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo

  • Italian Ministry of Agriculture Food and and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF)

• Malta

  • Methods for stocks assessment. The project is supporting the national experts in training courses related with stocks assessment methodologies.

  • Improving statistics system. CopeMed II is analysing some technical assistance to Malta to update their statistics fishery system implemented during CopeMed phase I.

• Morocco

  • Improving statistics system. The review of the status of implementation of MedStat in the Mediterranean was undertaken during a GFCM meeting. This review included an overview of the national framework for fisheries statistics and information in Morocco whereby the roles of the Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), the Département des Pêches Maritimes et Aquaculture (DPMA) and the Office National des Pêches (ONP) were outlined. CopeMed II in collaboration with GFCM supported a technical mission to Morocco in 2009 to review the status and to draw up a programme of work according to the exigencies of the country. New actions are in preparation in coordination with Morocco.

  • 40 mm square mesh size. CopeMed II compromised with the GFCM to study the biological and socio-economic effects of such measure in the sub region and organised a meeting of experts in Malaga to analyse the implementation of such measure in Morocco in order to elaborate common methodologies that could be useful for the other countries. A visit to the Moroccan authorities to discuss on this and other issues, in coordination with the FAO Office in Rabat, was a fruitful opportunity to update the collaboration between CopeMed II and the Fisheries Institutions in Morocco. The project support the preparation of the selectivity pilot experiments to evaluate the effects of the implementation of the 40 mm square mesh size in bottom trawl fisheries in Morocco and the surveys that should be carried out in 2010. Finally an expert’s meeting to analyze the biological and socio-economics effects will be organized with the participation of all countries.

  • Artisanal fisheries. The Spanish International Cooperation Agency for the Development, AECID is funding the pilot project ArtFiMed in Morocco and Tunisia to improve the livelihood of the artisanal fishers in respecting the environment and promoting complementary activities. Dikky in the region of Tangier was the selected site in Morocco. Information on these activities are in the ArtFiMed Web page. (ArtFiMed/Dikky diagnosis report).

  • INRH website.

  • DPMA website.

• Libya

  • The Marine Biology Research Center (MBRC, Tajura, Tripoli) represents Libya in the project. Main request from this country are related with training on stocks assessment methodologies, strengthening the institutional capacities and supporting participation of national experts in international meeting, mainly the SAC and Sub Committees of the GFCM.

  • As Libya is member of FAO project CopeMed II and MedSudMed many activities in this country are carried out in coordination and collaboration with MedSudMed.

  • MBRC website.

  • Marine Wealth and Fisheries Authority.

• Tunisia

  • Improving statistics. Support the national statistics system is a priority for CopeMed II. In this regard, CopeMed II in collaboration with the Fisheries administration will review the current status and to draw up a programme of work according to the exigencies of the country. CopeMed II will carry out an evaluation of the national system for collection and processing of statistical data on artisanal and small-scale fisheries.

  • Artisanal fisheries. As mentioned for Morocco, ArtFiMed is a pilot project coordinated by CopeMed II. Two sites, Ghannouch and Akarit in the Gulf of Gabès were selected to implement this project. Akarit is a particular site where women fish for bivalves at foot during low tides. Ghannouch is a broad beach where trammel nets and beach seines are used with motorboats or by oars to capture valuable species and where the illegal trawlers interact with the artisanal gears.

  • ArtFiMed/Ghannouch report and Akkarit diagnosis report.

• France

  • Selectivity implementation. Expert from France and Spain are collaborating with CopeMed II in implementing the 40 mm square mesh size in the south countries with their expertise and methodologies on selectivity. These experts have prepared different technical documents and animating this subregional activity. Action related with the preparation of selectivity material and theoretical aspects of the 40 mm implementation are also included in this collaboration.

  • The delegate from France and SAC Chairman is collaborating with CopeMed II in the action of defining shared demersal and pelagic stocks in the subregion and in many other activities and WS.

  • Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER).

• Spain

  • Selectivity implementation. Expert from Spain and France are collaborating with CopeMed II in implementing the 40 mm square mesh size in the south countries with their expertise and methodologies on selectivity. These experts have prepared different technical documents. Action related with the preparation of selectivity material and theoretical aspects of the 40 mm implementation are also included in this collaboration.

  • Methods for stocks assessment. The project is supporting Algerian experts in training on board Spanish research vessel related with stocks assessment methodologies based on acoustic.

  • The IEO is collaborating on the job training of experts from the CNRDPA on assessment methodologies using acoustic.

  • CopeMed II is collaborating with the IEO in activities related with the joint CNRDPA-IEO agreement on marine research.

  • The IEO is collaborating with CopeMed II in defining shared stocks (small pelagic and demersal) in the Alboran sea and the Gibraltar Strait regions in collaboration with Morocco.

  • Malaga CentreWeb/IEO.

  • Link with National research CopeMed I.

COOPERATION AMONG FISHERIES ACTORS

• Actions to strength the fisheries stakeholders. CopeMed II is participating in regional activities and will continue supporting fishers’ organization, including the organisation of the second Euro-Mediterranean workshop on fishing cooperatives (France, early 2011), the participation in stakeholders’ organizations meeting, mainly RAC Med and the organization of a Forum for fisheries stakeholders.

• FAO document on Mediterranean fisheries markets. Trade plays, a key role in the economy of a country. With reference to the fisheries sector FAO prepared a document on intra-regional and import-export with the European Union that was distributed to the national focal points. A consultation for the revision of the information in the document referred to each CopeMed country was initiated after the Project inception meeting.

• Harmonisation of fisheries legislation. A revision on the national fisheries legislation was prepared during the phase I of the Project and a working group on fisheries regulations met several times. The GFCM will launch a project regarding an overview of fisheries regulations in the Mediterranean that could contribute to the analysis of the situation in the CopeMed area. It would be advantageous to collaborate with GFCM to elaborate a report summarizing the different practices found in the CopeMed sub region for fisheries management.

• CopeMed II participation in the Mediterranean RAC. The EU Mediterranean RAC celebrated their constitutive meeting in April 2009. CopeMed was invited to participate as observer. In 2010 the project is invited to participate in a meeting on Technical measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean fisheries (Marbella, Spain, 7th June) and in a meeting of the RAC with scientist to discuss on artisanal fisheries and in particular Improving the collaboration between fishermen and scientists in the Mediterranean sea to support the implementation of the fisheries management decision in the Mediterranean fisheries” (Brussels, 21 June).

• Rac-Med Website.

• Small pelagic in Alboran Sea: One of the objective of the 1st Forum of CopeMed on fisheries in the Mediterranean was the preparation of a pilot plan for the small pelagic fisheries in the Alboran Sea, with the participation of Morocco, Algeria and Spain. During this Forum a first outline was presented of the possible pilot scheme for the common management of small pelagic in the Alboran Sea to consider the sub-region as one of the most appropriate to launch a common action that engages the involved parties (Administration, Industry and Research) in the three countries. To update the situation the CopeMed II has elaborated updated document on the Morocco and Spain fisheries in the Alboran sea and prepare a synthesis with recommendations for the fisheries administrations.

• Cooperation among fisheries actor CopeMed.

TRAINING

One of the key objectives of CopeMed II is to create the optimal conditions for the co-operation between the different participating countries. With this aim, the scientific institutions have to be capable to work following patterns and principles as similar as possible. Depending on each specific case, the training activities eligible for CopeMed funding can take several forms: Courses or seminars: CopeMed II finances the attendance of scientists to training courses and co-ordinates the organisation of specific courses in the sub-region. Traineeships in research institutes: the CopeMed network allows the identification of the most adequate hosting laboratories. Participation of scientists in fieldwork within the framework of research projects: this form of training is very important, because it concerns the collection of data.

• Training CopeMed II is supporting and animating the participation of national experts from the countries in different training activities: national training, international training and on the job training. Although all countries are included in this support the main beneficiaries are the experts from Algeria. Specific on board training for demersal and small pelagic resources assessment are been organised with the support of the University of Roma (La Sapienza) and the IEO (Oceanographic Centre of Málaga).

INFORMATION DIFFUSION

CopeMed II publications are issued as a series of Technical Documents related to meetings and research, carried out by the Project. Information about the Projects and Partners’ achievements and about past and next events is disseminated through the CopeMed II iBulletin.

CopeMed II and ArtFiMed complete list of Technical Documents can be found in Publications.
CopeMed and ArtFiMed iBulletin can be download from "iBulletin".

REGIONAL NETWORKS AND DATABASES

CopeMed II is maintaining a database about the Research Means of the region in the domain of Fisheries Science: institutions and their priorities, research projects, experts, documents and results produced, scientific networks.

Others regional databases are developed by CopeMed II Research Activities:

• Artisanal Fisheries (ArtFiMed Data Base).