AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CENTRE HOOKS INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXPERTS

1 July 2003

Fisheries and ocean managers, and policy makers from throughout Australia and Indonesia are attending a four-day course at the International Marine Project Activities Centre (IMPAC) to explore regulations that govern fishing in Australian and international waters. The course is the first of its kind in Australia.

“Fisheries are the last wild resources in the world,” said Professor Robin South, Director of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) Australia, who is hosting the course at IMPAC. “Many fisheries around the world are in crisis, with 75 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited. Australian fisheries are not immune.”

“Regulations such as the Law of the Sea Convention, and the Fish Stocks agreement have been developed to ensure that fish stocks are conserved and protected. The course will explore maritime boundaries, fishing regulations in territorial waters and in the high seas, and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,” he said.

Four members of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries: Dr Safri Burhanuddin, Commodore Nicolas P. Ello, Mr Tukul Rameyo Adi and Mr Yidi Priatno Kaelan, are attending the course. Indonesia is developing its oceans policy and the four-member delegation is in Australia to discuss Australia’s Ocean Policy.

Representatives of the National Oceans Office, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), CRC Reef Research Centre and International Ocean Institute are also attending the course.

Course co-ordinator, Dr Nathan Evans, from the University of the South Pacific, works in the area of legislative policy. The course is also being taught by Dr Erik Molenaar, from the Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea at the University of Utrecht, who has expertise in international fisheries law; and Dr Sali Bache, from the Centre for Maritime Policy in Wollongong University, who specialises in fisheries bycatch and trade policy.

‘Issues and Instruments for Responsible Fishery Management’ is being held at the International Marine Project Activities Centre (IMPAC) in Townsville from 30 June to 3 July. It is hosted by the International Ocean Institute (Australia) with funding from the National Oceans Office (NOO) and the International Marine Project Activities Centre (IMPAC).

IMPAC is a subsidiary company of CRC Reef Research Centre. It was established in Townsville with support from the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation, and Queensland and Commonwealth Governments.

For more information:
Professor Robin South, Director, International Ocean Institute (Australia) on 0405 836496 or by email on robin.south@impac.org.au
Dr Clive Wilkinson, Co-ordinator, IMPAC, on 07 4729 8452 or by email on clive.wilkinson@impac.org.au.
Louise Goggin, CRC Reef Research Centre, media liaison, on 0402 243116 or by email on louise.goggin@crcreef.com