FiTI promotes fisheries transparency alongside IATTC Meeting
PANAMA CITY, September 3 – 6, 2024. The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)’s International Secretariat recently observed the 102nd Meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in Panama. The meeting provided a valuable platform to support transparency and dialogue in the region’s fisheries management. Participation at this meeting enabled the FiTI to follow key developments and engage in discussions on promoting sound science-based management, transparency, and cross-sector cooperation with stakeholders in the region’s marine fisheries sectors.
FiTI Regional Coordinator for Latin America, Mr Nicolás Rovegno, represented the FiTI as an observer to the meeting. During the meeting, the IATTC created a new working group designed to foster dialogue between scientists, fisheries managers and other interested parties. By facilitating communication between scientific experts and decision-makers, the new working group will play a crucial role in ensuring that fisheries management decisions are based on sound scientific evidence and that they are made in a transparent, participatory manner. This collaborative approach is essential for achieving sustainable and accountable fisheries management, and directly aligns with the principles of the FiTI.
Throughout the week, Mr Rovegno was able to engage with stakeholder representatives from several country delegations – including Panama, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic – to discuss opportunities to collaborate. Panama’s fishing authority embraced the values of the FiTI Standard and committed to finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between FiTI and the Panama Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP). This MOU would serve as Panama’s public commitment to join the FiTI and implement the FiTI Standard.
Mr Rovegno also held discussions with industry representatives from the Panamanian, Ecuadorian and Peruvian fisheries sectors to keep them informed on developments within the FiTI and to continue building collaborative relationships. The IATTC Meeting also offered the opportunity to connect with other participating civil society stakeholders, including WWF, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), and the International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (IMCS) Network.
