Contact:
Fisheries Information Section
Section Information halieutique
SPC/CPS
BP D5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex
95 Promenade Roger Laroque,
Anse Vata
New-Caledonia / Nouvelle-Calédonie
Tel.: +687 26.20.00
Fax: +687 26.38.18

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Produced by the Information Section, Marine Resources Division, SPC, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. Fax: (687) 263818; E-mail: cfpinfo@spc.int with financial assistance from France.

Editorial

Welcome to the latest issue of the Fisheries Newsletter. In March, SPC, with its co-sponsors the FAO, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, held a regional coastal fishery management meeting in Nadi, Fiji Islands. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare a regional strategy to address common problems associated with coastal fishery resource management in Pacific Island countries, and advise on implementation strategies.

Bob Gillett reported on the results of a study commissioned by FAO on page 14. Some important considerations arise from this study: safety at sea should be an integral part of all fishery management plans; more attention needs to be given to the safety of small fishing boats; marine accident data collection systems need improvement to permit data analysis; and awareness workshops as well as a regional meeting are needed.

Please enjoy the contents!

Jean-Paul Gaudechoux,
Fisheries Information Adviser
(jeanpaulg@spc.int)