The Committee on Fisheries (COFI), a subsidiary body of the FAO Council, was established by the FAO Conference at its Thirteenth Session in 1965.

The Committee presently constitutes the only global inter-governmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined and recommendations addressed to governments, regional fishery bodies, NGOs, fishworkers, FAO and international community, periodically on a world-wide basis.

In the framework of the 33rd session of the COFI, a side envent tittled “Delivering sustainable and responsible management solutions for ghost gear and bycatch” will be hosted. It will consist of a lunch-time discussion hosted by FAO Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji, Palau, Kingdom of Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand and Panama in collaboration with World Animal Protection, the International Whaling Commission, WWF, and the Convention on Migratory Species and FAO.

The event will highlight sustainable fisheries management solutions for ghost gear and bycatch, focusing on the need and methods for data collection, available solutions and the role of FAO, Member States and other international bodies in coordinating global action. This side event aims to demonstrate the partnership approaches and policy framework needed to effectively tackle the economic, social and environmental impacts of ghost fishing gear and bycatch. The side event will highlight progress being made in the development of best practice including international guidelines within FAO and next steps to support implementation.

More information in the COFI website and in the side event programme.