Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems

 

 

Mike Batty, Director of the SPC Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem Division made an initial assessment of the different issues in the sector, visiting fishing villages, a new fish market in Dili, the fisheries laboratory and a fishing port at Com. This port is designed to be the main centre for offshore fishing. The programme for the visit was organized by EU staff, who were very helpful. The Director and staff of the Fisheries Directorate participated actively in the various meetings and arranged field trips.

 

Meetings were of course to introduce the EU regional fisheries projects to the staff of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Directorate, and discuss with technical staff of another project in Fisheries - the Regional Fisheries Livelihood Programme - implemented by FAO and funded by Spain. This program is carrying out an institutional assessment of the Fisheries Department, which should be completed by late November and will identify training needs. The results of this study will help plan SciCOFish support in the area of capacity building, noted as a need and an important theme of the EU regional programmes.

 

As a result of this visit, looking at immediate requirements, the following priorities were identified for assistance under the SciCOFish project which is already operational:

  • An assessment of Timor Leste’s tuna resources based on available data with recommendations on how such assessments can be improved in future;
  • Observer training and strengthening of the observer programme.

There was also keen interest in building capacity to combat IUU fishing under the FFA/SPC DevFish 2 project which is expected to start soon.

 

A visit of two senior staff from the Fisheries Directorate to Noumea in late November will provide an opportunity to explore these options further and a mission to Dili is planned for early in 2011 to finalize the workplan.

 

 

timor_visit_2

 

 

For more information, please contact Mike Batty, Director of the SPC Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem Division

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 May 2011 16:13
 

 


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