Commission For Inland Fisheries Of Latin America

Filename: 1976-CommissionInlandFisheriesLatinAmerica.EN.txt
Source:

Commission For Inland Fisheries Of Latin America And The Caribbean

Source: Unofficial

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INLAND FISHERIES OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

THE COUNCIL,

RECOGNIZING the demonstrated importance of inland fisheries to Latin America and the urgent need for consolidation of efforts in the further development of these fisheries,

RECALLING that the need for the establishment of an inland fishery body for Latin America was stressed by the Ninth Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries and that the Council at its Sixty-fourth Session authorized the Director-General to consult with governments of all FAO Member Nations in the region and, in the light of this consultation, to provide for the establishment of a regional body to deal with inland fisheries,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the majority of the Member Nations consulted supported the establishment of such a body and that no negative replies were received.

HEREBY ESTABLISHES under Article VI, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, a commission to be known as the "Commission for Inland Fisheries of Latin America" the statutes of which shall be as set forth in the Annex to the present Resolution.

ANNEX TO RESOLUTION 4/70

1. Membership

The Commission shall be open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization which are serviced by the Regional office for Latin America.It shall be composed of those eligible Member Nations and Associate Members which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

2. Terms of reference

The terms of reference of the Commission shall be:

(a) to promote, coordinate and assist national and regional fishery and limnological surveys and programmes of research and development leading to the rational utilization of inland fishery resources;

(b) to assist Member Governments in establishing the scientific basis for regulatory and other measures for the conservation and improvement of inland fishery resources; to formulate such measures through subsidiary bodies as required, and to make appropriate recommendations for the adoption and implementation of these measures;

(c) to encourage efforts on a national basis and, when appropriate, to coordinate such efforts on a regional basis with a view to preserve the quality of the water;

(d) to assist in the development of aquaculture and stock improvement, including the control of fish diseases, the importation and introduction of exotic, species;

(e) to assist in appraising -the economic and recreational values of inland fisheries and their development;

(f) to promote and assist in the utilization of the most effective fishing craft, gear and techniques;

(g) to promote and assist with activities for the processing, preservation and marketing of fish and fish products;

(h) to encourage education and training through the establishment or improvement of national and regional institutions and by the promotion and the organization of symposia, seminars, study tours and training centres,

(i) to assist in the collection, interchange, dissemination and analysis of data related to inland fisheries;

(j) to assist Member Governments in formulating national and regional programmes to be implemented through sources of international aid to help achieve the objectives referred to in the preceding paragraphs;

(k) to perform such other functions as are related to the rational management and development of inland fisheries in the Region.

3. Subsidiary bodies

(a) The Commission may establish an Executive Committee and such other subsidiary bodies as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions.

(b) The establishment of any subsidiary body shall be subject to the determination by the Director-General that the necessary funds are available in the relevant chapter of the budget of the Organization. Before taking any decision involving expenditure in connexion with the establishment of subsidiary bodies, the Commission must have before it a report from the Director-General on the administrative and financial implications thereof.

4. Reporting

The Commission shall submit to the Director-General reports on its activities and recommendations at appropriate intervals so as to enable the Director-General to take them into consideration when preparing the draft Programme of Work and Budget of the Organization or other submissions to the Organization's Governing Bodies.The Director-General shall bring to the attention of the Conference through the Council any recommendations adopted by the Commission which have policy implications or which affect the programme or finances of the Organization. Copies all each report of the Commission will be circulated to Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization and international organizations for their information as soon as they become available.

5. Secretariat and Expenses

(a) The Secretary of the Commission shall be appointed by the Director-General and shall be administratively responsible to him. The expenses of the Secretariat of the Commission shall be determined and paid by the Organization within the limits of the relevant appropriations in the approved budget of the Organization.

(b) With a view to promoting the development of inland fisheries, the Organization may also establish trust funds comprising voluntary contributions from the Members of the Commission or from private or public sources, and the Commission may advise on the use of such funds which shall be administered by the Director-General in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Organization.

(c) Expenses incurred by representatives of Members of the Commission, their alternates or advisers, when attending sessions of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies, as well as the expenses of observers at sessions, shall be borne by the respective governments or organizations.

6. Observers

(a) Any Member Nation or Associate Member of the Organization that is not a Member of the Commission but has an interest in the development of the inland fishery resources of the Latin America Region may, upon its request, be invited by the Director-General to attend-meetings of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies in an observer capacity.

(b) States which, while not Member Nations or Associate Members of the Organization, are Members of the 'United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may, upon their request, and with the approval of the Council of the Organization, be invited to attend meetings of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies in an observer capacity in accordance with the provisions relating to the granting of observer status to nations adopted by the Conference of the Organization.

7. Participation of International Organizations

Participation of international organizations in the work of the Commission and relations between the Commission and such organizations shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the General Rules of the Organization, as well as the rules on relations with international organizations adopted by the Conference or Council of the Organization.

8. Rules of Procedure

The Commission may adopt and amend its own rules of procedure which shall be in conformity with the Constitution and the General Rules of the Organization and with the Statement of Principles Governing Commissions and Committees adopted by the Conference.The rules of procedure and amendments thereto shall come into force upon approval by the Director-General.