Developing countries: fisheries and poverty reduction

The Resolution adopted by the Council welcomes the communication submitted by the Commission and recognises the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for sustainable development in developing countries, their harmonious and gradual integration into the world economy and the fight against poverty. The council confirms that support for sustainable development in the fisheries sector in the developing countries and the taking into account of the situation of the poorest communities which are dependent on fishing are important topics, which form part of development policy. Consequently, the Council recommends a two-phase approach: 1) Short-term: the Council stresses that the political dialogue concerning development cooperation between the European Community and countries where the fisheries sector is important should place greater emphasis on this sector. The Council calls on the the Commission to assist, at their request, developing countries to implement the following policies and measures: - improving governance in the sustainable management of resources focused towards poverty reduction and the strengthening the participation of civil society; - supporting the implementation of national sector programmes (scientific knowledge, management of fishing activities, protection and valorisation of aquatic ecosystems, improvement of production, marketing and contribution to food security); - support for subregional and regional cooperation for promoting the conservation and the management of resources; - support national and regional efforts to combat non-controlled and non-recorded illegal fishing and particularly to abolish the flags of convenience. In those countries where communities which depend on bio-aquatic resources are amongst the most vulnerable, the Council recommends that the EC pay more attention to improving the living conditions of these communities in the framework of various "priority intervention fields". At regional level, the Council invites the Commission to intensify its efforts to strengthen systems and capacities for the collection, processing and treatment and circulation of data relating to fish stocks, ecosystems, the economic and social role of the sector and the fishing effort. 2) Longer-term: political dialogue between the European Union and the developing countries (given tangible form by the establishment of Country Cooperation Strategy Papers) should form a joint framework based on the overarching objective of poverty reduction and taking into account the mutual interests of both sides.�