The 1st D-8 Agricultural Ministerial Meeting on Food Security held on 25-27 February 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, identified Marine Affairs and Fisheries as one of areas under agricultural cooperation. The Meeting also agreed to establish Working Group on Marine Affairs and Fisheries with the aim of increasing the level of contribution from marine and fisheries product to D-8 national food commodity.
The meeting underlined that optimizing marine and aquaculture sectors, including fisheries products, coastal and marine environment, eco-marine tourism and aquaculture would significantly contribute to improve food security among D-8 Member States. As follow up of the 1st D-8 Agricultural Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, the D-8 Consultative Meeting of Working Group on Marine and Fisheries was held in May 2009 in Manado, Indonesia. The meeting adopted key strategic initiatives of the Group as follows:
- Technology Transfer in the field of marine and fresh water aquaculture, fish feed manufacturing, coral conservation and management
- Training Program in the field of marine, fresh and brackish water farming, hatchery technology and integrated aquaculture, marine fisheries and inland waters management, fish and fisheries processing quality control
- Marine and Fisheries Promotion through joint investment in small island development, marine eco-tourism, exchange investment rules/requirements on fisheries & aquaculture
- Establishment of Information Centre in order to facilitate exchange of data/information amongst Member Countries
- D-8 International Events Participation in order to promote the potency of marine affairs and fisheries
- Developing cooperation on marine protection and conservation
Subsequent to the KL Initiative, in the Marine Affairs & Fisheries sub-sector, several meetings have been held by D-8 Organization as follows:
1) The D-8 Consultative Meeting Of Working Group On Marine Affairs And Fisheries (Manado, Indonesia, 13 May 2009).
Indonesia produced the draft of the Terms of Reference of the WGMAF to the D-8 countries and the D-8 Secretariat. Member countries will submit their comments to Indonesia after they have received the draft ToR.
2) 1st Ministerial Meeting on Marine and Fisheries & Fertilizers and 1st Senior Officials Meeting of the D-8 Working Group on Marine and Fisheries & Fertilizers (6-8 April 2010, Cairo – Egypt)
On D-8 Working Group on Marine & Fisheries, the following topics were adopted:
- Technology Transfer
- Marine and fresh water aquaculture
- Fish feed manufacturing
- Coral conservation and management
- Exchange of researchers, technical staff and cooperation among research institutes
- Training Programs
- Joint training courses in the field of marine, fresh and brackish water farming, hatchery technology and integrated aquaculture
- Marine fisheries and inland waters management
- Fish and fisheries processing quality control
- Effectively make use of the available training programs organized by the D-8 Member Countries, such as the program of Malaysia and Egypt. The meeting agreed to provide the D-8 secretariat a list of the regular training courses in Member Countries and collect the training courses needed in as well. A list of training programs will be developed through the D-8 secretariat.
- Fish Trade
- Enhance private sector role for joint investment and increase trade flows
- Development of quality standard specifications
- Identify tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in fisheries
- Exchange investment rules and requirements in the field of fisheries, aquaculture and related activities
- Develop a Mutual Recognition Arrangements on fish quality and safety assurance
- Database Establishment
- Establish database at the Food Security Information Center in Cairo, Egypt
- D-8 International events Participation
- Member Countries are encouraged to coordinate their views during international meetings and gatherings. Any collective view on behalf of the D-8 Organization has to be confirmed by D-8 Secretariat. The Chair of the working group requested Member Countries to convey their views to the D8 Secretariat prior to announcing them in International conferences.
3) 2nd Working Group Meeting on Marine and Fisheries (16 May 2011, Tehran, Iran).
The meeting took a decision that with regard to the draft TOR prepared by Indonesia, member countries should send their timely comments to the Secretariat. Thus far Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan has submitted it.
4) 5th Agriculture Ministerial Meeting on Food Security held on 01-03 December 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey.
5th Working Group Meeting on Marine and Fisheries: The followings are discussed:
- Turkey proposed to organize training program for trainers on Marine Aquaculture.
- Malaysia proposed “Technical Cooperation for the Development and Management of Genetically improved and diseased free Tilapia stock”.
- The meeting agreed upon creation of “Project Basket” with project proposals coming from the Member States. Member States or Financial Institutions might establish fund for the project.
- To improve the efficiency of working group on Marine and Fishers three proposals have been suggested by the group.
- Private sector participation need to be increased
- Common cooperation need to be improved
- Enhancing D-8 Secretariat activity
Egypt
Nigeria