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.
  1^ère Rencontre Euro-Méditerranéenne des Coopératives de Pêche. Les Coopératives de Pêche en tant que Levier de Développement Economique et Social de la Région. Tangier, 12-13 November 2009.

• 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.

• 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.

• Cooperation with the RAC MED.
  The Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean (RAC MED) became operational in April 2009. Since then, CopeMed and other FAO Mediterranean projects have participated as observers in the RAC MED’s meetings. CopeMed is part of the stakeholders’ network of the Council. The CopeMed II Project staff participated as representative of the FAO Mediterranean Projects in the RAC MED meeting on: Technical measures for the conservation of the Mediterranean fisheries (Marbella, Spain. 7 June 2010), and on the revision of Mediterranean EU Fisheries Policy including discussion on small scale fisheries and collaboration between fishermen and scientists (Bussels, Belgium. 21 June 2010). More information on www.racmed.eu.

• Coordination with the DG MARE of the European Commission.
  CopeMed is co-financed by the DG MARE of the European Commission. The coordination with this Direction is fluid and constant. Different informal CopeMed- DG MARE representatives’ meetings were held during the SAC, SCs and GFCM’s meetings.
  Coordination meeting between DG Mare and the FAO Mediterranean projects. A team made of the project coordinators and FIRF HQ (FAO) staff travelled to Brussels to discuss with the DG MARE staff the way of improving the cooperation between the two organizations for the benefit of fisheries management in the Mediterranean (4 July 2011). The meeting included discussions on the (i) Current status of the projects, (ii) Identification of strengths and weaknesses of the current framework, (iii) Capitalization at national level of the achievements of individual projects and (iv) Administrative and financial issues. Improvement of coordination between the FAO projects and the DG MARE was also discussed.

• Small pelagic in the Aborean Sea.
  The WG on small pelagic shared stocks met twice in 2011 to identify priority species of small pelagic shared stocks in GSAs 01, 03 and 04 (northern and southern Alboran Sea GFCM regions) for carrying out joint stock assessments and promoting new management measures. Experts from Algeria (Centre National de Recherche et Développement de la Pêche et de l'Aquaculture-CNRDPA), Morocco (General Directorate for Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Institut National de Recherche Halieutique-INRH), Tunisia (National Institute for the Sciences and Technologies of the Sea) and Spain (Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Junta de Andalucía, and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography -IEO) progressed in analysing the available data on the stocks, building a common data base and carrying out joint stock assessments (Sardina pilchardus). TD N18 and TD N20.
  Experts from the CopeMed II countries were supported by the project to present the joint results at the GFCM-SAC-SCSA Working Group on Stock Assessment of Small Pelagic Species (Chania, 24-29 October 2011) to contribute in reinforcing sub-regional collaboration and to progress in the enhancement of joint practical stock assessments.
  Future activities are headed toward the preparation of a pilot plan for the co-management of small pelagic fisheries in the Alboran Sea, taking medium-term measures to promote stock recovery and improving coordination among the countries of the region and the adoption of a common approach to the development of management tools and procedures that lead to the sustainability of small pelagic resources in the Alboran Sea.
  CopeMed entrusted several documents to three fisheries experts to display the current status of small pelagic fishery in GSAs 01, 03 and 04 and the review and updating of the Pilot plan for shared management of small pelagic fisheries in the Alboran Sea between Spain and Morocco (see Appendices XVI, XVII and XVIII of TD N18).

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.
  TD18, TD19 and TD20
  Training course on “Theory and practice of the acoustic methodologies applied to the assessment by direct methods of small pelagic species”. It was organized in Palma de Majorca (17 January-18 February 2011) in collaboration with the IEO (Spain). Ten experts from Algeria (CNRDPA), Morocco (INRH) and Tunisia (INSTM) participated in the course.
  Report of the CopeMed II meeting on the definition of priority topics related to shared resources (demersal and pelagic) in the subregion.

• 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

• CopeMed II Activities

NATIONAL RESEARCH

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

• Algeria

  • Multilateral cooperation Algeria-Spain-AECID-CopeMed II: a delegation of the Ministry of Fisheries in Algeria met with the Director and persons in charge of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), a representative of the Technical Cooperation Office of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in Algiers and the FAO-COPEMED II Project. The meeting took place at the Subdelegación del Gobierno headquarters (Málaga, Spain, April 2009) for the establishment of cooperation basis between the Spanish State Agencies and the North African country in fisheries issues.

  • 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

  • Prepared a project proposal for the Algerian artisanal fisheries that was submitted by the FAO to Spain for funding.

  • Supported participation of Algerian experts at meetings of the SAC and GFCM and the Project Coordination Committee.

  • Prepared a course in acoustics for the assessment of small pelagic fish resources with the IEO (Spain).

• 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).

• 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)

• 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.

  • Supported the participation of Libyan experts in the CopeMed II Coordination Committee and CCA-GFCM meetings. In collaboration with MedSudMed, CopeMed II supported the participation and organization of the meeting of Parapenaeus longirostris.

  • Participated in the Eight Meting of the MedSudMed Coordination Committee Tajura (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), 18-19 May 2010.

• 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.

  • Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

• Morocco

  • Improving statistics system. See Tech. doc TD3. 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.

  • Supported the participation of experts in the “International Master on the Economics of Fisheries Management” (Univ. De Barcelona / CIHEAM) and directs the Master's thesis of an expert from the INRH.

  • Supported the participation of an expert from the INRH (Nador) in the course on “Fishing gear selectivity” (CIHEAM-IAMZ, Zaragoza, Spain).

• 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.

  • IEO website.

  • Link with National research CopeMed I.

• 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.

  • Prepared a technical support project for the collection of statistics on artisanal fisheries. Organized with the support of INSTM and DG Fisheries the Third meeting of the CopeMed II Coordination Committee.

  • Continued the activities related with the artisanal fisheries Project ArtFiMed in Tunisia.

  • INSTM website

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).

• Training course on “Theory and practice of the acoustic methodologies applied to the assessment by direct methods of small pelagic species”. The main objective of the course was to train fishery experts from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in the assessment of small pelagic stocks, using the acoustic echo-integration method, to conduct acoustic surveys and to determine the spatial distribution of the target species. It was organized in Palma de Majorca (17 January-18 February 2011) in collaboration with the IEO (Spain). Ten experts from Algeria (CNRDPA), Morocco (INRH) and Tunisia (INSTM) participated in the course.

SUBREGIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED WITH SHARED STOCKS

• Meeting for the CopeMed-MedSudMed Subregional Groups constitution for shared stocks.
  CopeMed II organised with MedSudMed the first meeting of experts to constitute two Subregional Groups on shared stocks: one for demersal species and another one for pelagic. Terms of references have been prepared for each Group and conveners have been nominated. The First Meeting of the demersal species Group took place in Mazara del Vallo (16-17 September, Italy), and the meeting of pelagic species will be held in Malaga.

• Ad hoc Working Group on Pagellus bogaraveo fisheries between Morocco and Spain in the Strait of Gibraltar region.
  Following the GFCM mandate, CopeMed II organised a bilateral Meeting of experts from Morocco and Spain. The aim was to pool together information about this specie and to evaluate the state of the resources. Experts from INRH (Morocco), IEO (Spanish Institute of Oceanography) and Junta de Andalusia (Spain), met on 22nd July. The first assessment on this shared resource was completed at the IEO Centre in Malaga on 22-23 September 2010. The results of the first evaluation of the stock will be presented soon to the GFCM demersal Working Group.

• Pilot plan for the fishery management of small pelagic resources from the Alboran Sea.
  Following the recommendations of the Direction Committee of CopeMed II a consultant coordinated the work carried out by two Moroccan and Spanish experts,. The experts updated the information about fisheries in their countries. The consultant’s report includes some conclusions and recommendations, and will be discussed during the next meeting of the Subregional pelagic Working Group of shared stocks, that will take place in Malaga soon.

• Evaluation of the state of the resource Parapenaeus longirostris in the MedSudMed-CopeMed II area.
  Subregional experts on demersals from Italy, Tunisia, Morocco, Malta and Algeria met in the CNR centre in Mazara del Vallo (13-15 September, Italy), and carried out a new stocks assessment of this shared resource. The analysis was complemented by some information about the Algerian fishery. The results of the evaluation will be presented to the GFCM demersal working Group (Istambul, Turkey, 18-23 October 2010).

• Fisheries and appraisal of Coryphaena hippurus.
  CopeMed II and MedSudMed organized this meeting to put all data on C. hippurus current research activities and the state of fisheries (overall trends in capture production) in common and thus to fill the existing gaps in the projects area. A work plan to progress in the joint study on C. hippurus was defined.

• Second meeting of the Sub-regional CopeMed and MedSudMed joint Working Group on Demersal Fisheries Resources (Salammbô, Tunisia. 12-16 September 2011).
  Data sets according to formats agreed in the framework of the SAC-SCSA, to identify if there is a single Parapenaeus longirostris stock for GSAs 01, 02, 03 and 04 and to the election of the most appropriate approach and methodology to conduct a preliminary joint assessment of P. longirostris stock among Algeria, Morocco and Spain was conducted. See Tech. doc TD19.

• Sub-regional Working Groups on demersal and small pelagic species:
  - Working Group on Small Pelagic Fisheries Management in the Alboran Sea under the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. Experts from national fishery administrations and research centres in Algeria, Morocco and Spain reviewed the state of small pelagic fisheries in the Alboran Sea to carry out joint stock assessments and promoting new management measures, thus covering all aspects of cooperation to improve small pelagic fishery management under the ecosystem approach to fisheries and of the relationship among the three countries. See Tech. doc TD18 and TD20.
  - Working Group meeting on Parapenaeus longirostris stock for Algeria, Morocco and Spain (GSAs 01, 02, 03 and 04 of the GFCM). The meeting aimed at contributing to reinforce the sub-regional collaboration for the identification of the most relevant characteristics of P. longirostris stock and the national fleets involved in its fishery in Algeria, Morocco and Spain. A preliminary joint assessment of Parapenaeus longirostris stock among Algeria, Morocco and Spain was conducted. See Tech. doc TD19.

STRENGTHENING OF THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE GFCM AND SUPPORT OF COPEMED II TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION

The project continues to collaborate with GFCM in several areas:

• Support to the participation of experts in the activities of the Commission. Experts from different countries participated in the Subcommittees, Scientific Committes and Commission with the CopeMed II support.

The CopeMed II Coordination Committee agreed that the expenses should be shared with the recipient countries in order to be authorized to take responsibility for these activities in the future.

• Support to the Subcommittees and SAC GFCM sessions.
  Experts of CopeMed II attended to the meetings of the Subcommittees, the Scientific Committee (SAC) and the GFCM in 2009 and 2010. A document about the advancement of the FAO Mediterranean Projects (Major activities of the FAO Regional Projects) was prepared and presented in both meetings. CopeMed II and ArtFiMed contributions to the participating countries and to the GFCM were included.

• Updating the GFCM Glossary.
  The project helped financially in the revised Glossary and committed to the Commission in 2009, presenting the results to the SAC (Montenegro, January 2010) and the Commission (Athens, April 2010).

• CopeMed II activities in Morocco and Algeria related to the 40 mm mesh.
  Requested by several countries the GFCM asked the support of CopeMed II to analyze what will be the biological and socio-economics effects if the introduction of 40 mm square mesh in fishing fleets trawling be adopted by the countries. With the financial support of Spain (AECI and SG Mar), CopeMed II organized in September 2009 a meeting of experts (Tech. doc. Nº8), and launched the Plan of scientif Campaign on selectivity in Morocco and Algeria. CopeMed II has also prepared and published two Technical Document: Protocols on board (Tech. doc. Nº 9) and theSelectivity system (Tech. doc. Nº10). There have been two meetings in Rabat between CopeMed II, the General Direction for Fisheries and Aquaculture, the General Direction of INRH and FAOR to agree on the means to provide by each party. A concept note was prepared on the implementation of the 40 mm mesh in Morocco and Algeria and a protocol containing the requirements for the campaign of selectivity was prepared by CopeMed II for discussion. Recently it has been agreed with the fisheries Administration and the INRH to use the Moroccan research vessel for the survey of selectivity study. A technical visit to Algeria will be carried out soon to launch the campaign of selectivity In this country in collaboration with the CNRPDPA and the Fisheries Ministry.

• CopeMed II contribution to GFCM-SAC-SCSA Working Group on Demersal and Small Pelagic Species:
  - Preliminary analysis for identification of priority species of small pelagic shared stocks in GSA01 and GSA03 (Alboran Sea).
  - Advances in the joint assessment of Parapenaeus longirostris stock for Algeria, Morocco and Spain (GSAS 01, 02, 03 and 04 of the GFCM).

STRENGTHENING REGIONAL COOPERATION AND THE FAO PROJECTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA

To strengthen international and regional cooperation, the Project:

• Interacts closely with other FAO Regional Projects, specially with MedSudMed, AdriaMed, MedFisis, GEF and EastMed, sharing cross-cutting activities and co-financing different products (Wesites update, publications) and technical meetings:
  - Summary of the FAO Mediterranean Projects activities.

• Responsibles for the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the FAO (FI) and the Subregional Projects AdriaMed, EastMed, MedFisis, GEF and MedSudMed, participated in the CopeMed II Coordination Meeting. All the Projects have participated in the Annual Coordination Meeting of FAO Projects in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO, Rome, 13-14 January, 2010).

• Organizes training activities and encourages the participation of experts from non participating countries in the project to participate in these activities, even if the regional projects are not able to support financing such participation.

• Develops and implements common methodologies through organizing joint on-field training activities, marine surveys as well as strengthening the expertise at national level and encourages the FAO Regional Projects to pursue efforts in establishing more networks on emerging issues addressed by GFCM-SAC, to develop synergies among projects and to further strengthen coordination with the GFCM Secretariat.

• Ensures compatibility between the sub-regional databases developed by the projects and the GFCM databases, allowing in future the transfer of relevant information to GFCM database, as appropriate.

Other subregional cooperation activities include:

1. Master in Mediterranean Fisheries Management, organized by CIHEAM and the University of Barcelona, in which experts from CopeMed II countries have participated;

2. Participation in the "Alboran Sea Initiative" led by the IUCN (Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation) in close collaboration with the INRH, CNRDPA, IEO and other Institutions and Universities of the three countries bordering the Alboran Sea.

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 Technical Documents.
CopeMed II and ArtFiMed complete list of Technical Documents can be found in Occasional Papers.
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:

• The inventory of Artisanal Fishery Communities in the Western and Central Mediterranean (ArtFiMed Data Base).