Season’s greetings from the International FiTI Secretariat
Dear colleagues, 2016 was an intensive and exciting year for the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). It started with the 1st International Conference, which adopted the Principles of the FiTI and witnessed the commitment of Indonesia, Mauritania, Senegal and the Seychelles – later joined by Guinea – to be the first countries to implement the initiative.
2016 was an intensive and exciting year for the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). It started with the 1st International Conference, which adopted the Principles of the FiTI and witnessed the commitment of Indonesia, Mauritania, Senegal and the Seychelles – later joined by Guinea – to be the first countries to implement the initiative.
We also conducted the last three Advisory Group meetings of our conceptual phase this year (in Nouakchott, Madrid and Göteborg). These meetings were decisive to further define a credible FiTI Standard, which is now in the process of being drafted so as to be finalized by the end of April 2017.
To name just a few more highlights of 2016: we held an official side-event at the 32nd session of the COFI in Rome, conducted various country visits (e.g. Argentina, Mauritania, Mozambique, Seychelles) and participated in the 1st Donors’ Roundtable of the FiTI, which was hosted by the World Bank during the Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.
We are truly energized by the increasing interest and support from governments, large-scale fisheries, small-scale fishing associations, civil society organizations and the international donor community for the FiTI.
Looking into the new year, it is expected that all stakeholders from pilot governments and other supporting governments, intergovernmental organizations, business and civil society will see the first results of the tremendous effort invested since mid-2015 to bring the FiTI to life. A landmark event will be the 2nd International Conference of the FiTI on 27 April 2017 in Bali, kindly hosted by the Government of Indonesia. This conference will mark the transition from our current conceptual phase into a standardized implementation phase, most notably through the adoption of the global FiTI Standard and the establishment of the first International Board of the FiTI.
We are very thankful for all your trust, support and encouragement to move this initiative forward.
Considering what has been achieved so far, but even more what lies ahead of us, we have high expectations for 2017. Our pilot countries will continue taking concrete steps towards increasing transparency regarding access to marine fisheries through a true participatory and credible multi-stakeholder approach. And we of course expect a number of new countries to join the initiative soon.
We look forward to continuing working with you on this exciting initiative and invite all of you to remain connected and supportive in order to continue expanding the FiTI network all around the globe.
Thank you. We wish you a happy festive season,
The International FiTI Secretariat
