2018 External meetings

This page contains the external meetings attended by SPRFMO staff and officials on behalf of the organisation in 2018.

7-9 August 2018, Copenhagen, Denmark. SPRFMO's Coordination and Communications Officer, Ms Susana Delgado, visited ICES and Eurofish to learn from their experience in the development and implementation of a Communication Strategy. A summary report is available.
24-26 July 2018, Bangkok. The Chairperson of the SPRFMO Commission participated in a UNEP meeting on advancing environmental law. leading a round table discussion on the impacts of fishing activities and how to minimise them. A brief report is available.
10-13 July 2018, Christchurch, New Zealand. Technical visit by the Korean Secondment Officer, Mr. Jongkwan Ahn, to Recreational Fishing and Salmon Aquaculture centres in the South Island of New Zealand. A report of Mr. Ahn's mission is available.
7-13 July 2018, Rome, Italy. 7th Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network (RSN) Meeting. The Executive Secretary, Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez, participated in this biennial meeting, held in the margins of the 2018 FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Rome. A report of the meeting and relevance to SPRFMO has been produced by Dr. Rodriguez following the agenda of the meeting.
13-14 June 2018, Cali, Colombia. Workshop on "Opportunities for Strengthening Ocean Governance in the Southeast Pacific" (report to be provided later). The Executive Secretary, Dr. Johanne Fischer, was invited to attend. The workshop was organised by the CPPS and the STRONG High Seas ( Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas ) project. Its objective was to bring together stakeholders within the region to discuss the current status and challenges for global and regional ocean governance, foster exchange and build new networks, as well as identify the key interests and challenges in ocean governance faced by the region, particularly:
- Present and characterise the current status and challenges for ocean governance in the Southeast Pacific, especially with regard to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, with a focus on areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Identify and define key interests and challenges for ocean governance in the Southeast Pacific, especially with regard to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Topics to be covered include: a) environmental pressures; b) biodiversity and marine ecosystems; c) socioeconomic costs and benefits; and d) management and governance.
- Prioritise current and future needs for strengthening ocean governance and identify pathways for successfully linking regional needs and opportunities with a global vision of ocean governance.
- Take initial steps towards fostering exchange between relevant actors and stakeholders in the Southeast Pacific. This workshop will provide an opportunity to identify existing networks and discuss options as well as lay the groundwork for establishing regional platforms for exchange.
- Identify and assess opportunities, challenges, overlaps and gaps in the current legal and institutional framework in the Southeast Pacific. Research undertaken by the STRONG High Seas project will be shared with participants and will provide a basis for discussion.

22 to 23 May 2018, New York, USA. Thirteenth round of informal consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (ICSP-13) organised by the Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), United Nations Office of Legal Affairs. The Executive Secretary, Dr. Johanne Fischer, participated via teleconference with a presentation on the topic SPRFMO: Science-policy interface .
10-13 April 2018, Seoul, Korea. The 2nd meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organisations and Regional Fisheries Bodies on Accelerating Progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals .The Data Manager (Craig Loveridge) attended this meeting which recognized the role of cross-sectoral collaboration in enhancing ecosystem-based approaches and area management tools, and in preventing pollution. The outcomes of the meeting are summarised here. The meeting also provided opportunities to network with representatives from IATTC, CPPS, SPC, SREP, IMO, ISA, FAO and UN DOALOS as well as the Executive Secretaries from NAFO and NEAFC.
12-15 March 2018,Yokohama, Japan. NPFC/FAO workshop "Protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the North Pacific Fisheries Commission Area: applying global experiences to regional assessments".SPRFMO was represented by Dr Martin Cryer (New Zealand). The meeting report is currently still being finalized but the NPFC has published an overview of the workshop.

For information about the external meetings attended by staff and officials in previous years, please check the list below: