This publication contains the report of an expert meeting, held in Fiji in February 2004, organised to consider regional and national sea safety programmes, following on from a survey undertaken in 2003 in the Pacific Islands region. The survey highlighted the significant number of deaths in the region associated with small fishing boats which have received the least attention in terms of legislation, construction standards, enforcement strategies, regional discussions, training or proper use.
In 2003, FAO undertook a survey on fisheries-related sea safety in the Pacific Islands. A major conclusion was that the majority of loss of life in the region is associated with small fishing boats which have received the least attention in terms of legislation, construction standards, enforcement strategies, regional discussions, training or proper use. The report indicated that many of these issues have facets that involve law, naval architecture, search, rescue, community awareness, maritime administration, fisheries and other fields. FAO and SPC organized this Consultation with experts in these disciplines.
In 2003, FAO undertook a survey on fisheries-related sea safety in the Pacific Islands. A major conclusion was that the majority of loss of life in the region is associated with small fishing boats which have received the least attention in terms of legislation, construction standards, enforcement strategies, regional discussions, training or proper use. The report indicated that many of these issues have facets that involve law, naval architecture, search, rescue, community awareness, maritime administration, fisheries and other fields. FAO and SPC organized this Consultation with experts in these disciplines.
The purpose of the Consultation was to provide guidance to FAO regarding the development of guidelines for best practices to improve safety at sea in the fisheries sector. The Consultation also made recommendations regarding the scope of the guidelines, the special needs of developing countries, and other specific consideration and goals.
The Regional Workshop on Safety at Sea in Artisanal and Small-scale Fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean was held in Moroni, Union of the Comoros, from 12 to 14 December 2006. Forty-one experts from the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region including an expert from Sweden and representatives of FAO participated. The workshop was organized and implemented by the Fishing Technology Service of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, in close collaboration with the FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa. During the workshop, the results of the Study on safety at sea in artisanal and smallscale fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean, conducted in May 2006, were presented. In addition, seven experts from SWIOFC member States made presentations and took up matters affecting safety at sea in their countries. Experts from Grenada, Sweden and FAO made presentations on global and regional aspects of safety at sea that enriched the information provided to the delegates. The information presented was debated in four working groups on different themes covering fishing operations, data collection, legal framework and technology.
Drawing on previous surveys and country statistics, this report gives a regional overview of safety at sea, particularly for the small-scale fisheries sector. It notably focuses on vessel design, data recording, legislation and fisheries management.
