Ecuador’s recognition as a non-contracting party to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources is the result of two years of discussion and consideration by the Commission, after Ecuador successfully demonstrated its commitment and capability to meet the objectives of and implement Conservation Measure 10-05.
In February this year, the CCAMLR Secretariat and Ecuadorian government collaborated on a four-day workshop which provided interactive user training in the e-CDS platform and further understanding of the rights, roles and responsibilities of an NCP cooperating with CCAMLR through participation in the catch documentation scheme (CDS).
The workshop was timed to coincide with the active part of the Ecuadorian Patagonian toothfish research fishery. Secretariat representatives visited a vessel conducting research, Belle, at port in Manta during a stopover on one of its fishing voyages.
The workshop was attended by a wide range of Ecuadorian representatives from government, the scientific and Antarctic community, national military and industry. Bonney Webb, the CCAMLR Secretariat’s Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance Manager, highlighted the success of the workshop in improving the ability of Ecuador to cooperate with CCAMLR through participating in the CDS.
‘The level of enthusiasm for cooperation with CCAMLR, demonstrated through the breadth and standard of engagement from all Ecuadorian stakeholders, has been impressive,’ she said
The Secretariat received strategic logistical and operational support from Jorge Costain, Undersecretary of Fisheries Resources, and Rebeca Espinoza-Bernal, a specialist from the Ministry of Production, International Commerce, Investments and Fisheries, Ecuador’s CDS Contact Officer, who feels the success of the workshop has already bolstered the capacity of Ecuador to participate in the CDS and co-operate with the CCAMLR community more broadly.
‘We thank CCAMLR and its Members for accepting Ecuador as a NCP cooperating with the CDS, and for the cooperation shown to strengthen our capacities on the traceability of deep-sea cod in the research fishery, opening the possibility to work together on other fields such as krill fisheries, an important product for the aquaculture industry,’ said Vice Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries Guido Ferretti.
‘The co-operation with CCAMLR opens an important door to the world for Ecuador, in its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the traceability of products.’
