• To achieve coherent international management of resources is one of the main aims
• The meeting is due to take place in Bilbao on 12 and 13, and brings the TXOTX project, led by the Basque R+D Centre, to a conclusion

(Sukarrieta. 12 May 2011) AZTI-Tecnalia, an R+D Centre specialising in marine and food research, will be bringing together well-known scientists from all over the world involved in fishery management in the international waters of all the Oceans. This meeting is going to be the culmination of the international project known as TXOTX (Technical eXperts Overseeing Third country eXpertise). Its main aim is to gather as much information as possible on the fishery research developed in various regions of the Oceans in order to achieve effective coordination and cooperation among countries, regional fishery organisations and other bodies involved in fishery management. All this is designed to contribute towards the sustainability of the marine environment and of its fishery resources. The conference will take place on 12 and 13 May at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao and will be inaugurated by Jon Azkue, the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Foodstuff Industries of the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community (region).

To contribute towards better management of the fishery resources being exploited by the Basque fleets is one of the aims of the AZTI-Tecnalia R+D Centre. With this aim in mind, it leads many initiatives, including the TXOTX project that is part of the European Union's 7th Framework Programme. This project, funded by the European Commission and the Department for the Environment, Spatial Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community, was started in April 2008, and will now be culminating in Bilbao with a meeting that will be attended by over 30 representatives of the main Regional Fishery Organisations worldwide, as well as by representatives of various countries with fishery interests.

Scientists from Regional Fishery Organisations, as well as various agents from the international fishery sector, have over a period of three years been gathering information which they will be sharing during the working meetings at the Euskalduna Conference Centre. All this is designed to contribute towards a coherent approach of the research, evaluation and management of fishery resources, in particular, in those areas in which the European fleet is involved, in international waters as well as in those of third countries. Furthermore, the project will be analysing opportunities for greater coordination of the research that may be promoted by the EU in support of the scientific reports on fishery management. This way, the conclusions and recommendations of the scientists will be submitted not only to the EU but also to other International Bodies, so that they can constitute basic information for future scientific fishery policies.

The TXOTX project seeks to contribute towards a coherent approach of the research, evaluation and management of fishery resources, in particular in those areas in which the European fleet is involved, in international waters as well as in those of third countries. So the TXOTX project is crucial in achieving the rational international management of resources, since international scientific co-operation in support of fishery management is necessary to ensure the correct evaluation and sustainable management of resources.

Sustainability of resources

States have an obligation to watch over the sustainability of the fishery resources they exploit, they must be actively involved in promoting responsible fishing, and appropriate and coordinated scientific research. As far as the EU is concerned, the moves must be consistent with the main international agreements in this matter (UNCLOS, CCRF, UNIA, CMDS) which are designed to contribute towards the sustainability of the marine resources and must ensure that the different European policies are in line with each other.

The TXOTX initiative, led by AZTI-Tecnalia, has the participation of another 10 institutions in Europe, South America and Africa: the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and Imperial College London, both of which are British; the Institute for Fishery Development of Chile (IFOP); the University of Stockholm; the University of Cape Town; the International Fisheries and Maritime Development Consultancy (NFDS-África) of Botswana; the Fishery Authority of the Seychelles; the National Institute of Fisheries Research (INRH) of Morocco; as well as the Institute for Marine Research (IMS) and the Fishery Institute, both of Tanzania.

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