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

© Copyright SPC

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

Several important meetings were held during this quarter. The Third Head of Fisheries Meeting took place in Noumea, New Caledonia, from 18 to 23 August 2003. This meeting is the sole occasion when the people in charge of the fisheries sector in the Pacific Islands can get together to examine the overall situation and problems with regards to fisheries, share their experiences with their colleagues, and provide invaluable advice to the heads of SPC's Marine Resources Division. Among the topics covered during this meeting particularly noteworthy was the presentation of a paper proposing technical solutions to reduce or even end sea bird bycatch during longlining operations.

Of the various resolutions adopted by the meeting, the one concerning the strategic plan for sustainable management of coastal fisheries was the subject of intense interest by participants. As part of this strategy, fisheries services will have to place greater emphasis on management than on development while at the same time assisting local communities with management of their fisheries stocks.

The Sixteenth Standing Committee on Tuna and Billfish took place in Australia in July and, as usual, allowed scientists and other tuna fishing sector stakeholders to discuss issues related to fisheries statistics, research in general, and stock management for tuna and related species.

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