Catch Documentation Schemes (CDS) are an important instrument to better track catches and prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The Subcommittee expressed its aim to finalise voluntary CDS guidelines for discussion at a technical group in April 2016. The EU had contributed significantly to a first draft, but an alternative, less ambitious draft version by countries without a CDS system in place gained broad support from many FAO members. The FAO Secretariat proposed moving forward with this draft document as a basis. The EU provided additional comments for consideration.

With regards to trade in fisheries services FAO emphasised the economic interest as well as the technical difficulties in ensuring adequate data gathering and statistical support. There was general support to further develop this subject.

Seafood traceability ensures that seafood can be tracked throughout the supply chain. It is a concept of significant importance for policies implementing sanitary, environmental, marketing and fishing control measures. At the meeting, FAO provided a paper illustrating that this concept is still often misunderstood The Subcommittee concluded by noting the usefulness of traceability in developing catch documentation and food safety schemes.

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FAO puts sustainability on the menu in the world’s fastest-growing food sector: fish (FAO website)