Conference for Coordination Between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden on Fishery Investigation in the Baltic : Karlskrona, Sweden 10-12 February 1993. Arranged in cooperation with Östersjöinstitutet, The Baltic Institute

• Conference for coordination between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden on fishery investigations in the Baltic. Karlskrona, 10-12 February 1993. Convened by the Swedish National Board of Fisheries incooperation with The Baltic Institute.1. The Conference was held from 10-12 February 1993 on the premises of The Baltic Institute, Karlskrona. It was attended by Mr. Lauri Vaarja, Director-General of the National Estonian Board of Fisheries, by Mr. Andris Ukis, Vice-Minister, Latvian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Mr. Algirdas Rusakevicius, Deputy Minister, Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture and their advisors, in all ten participants from the Baltic countries. It was further attended by the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Ambassador Elena Askerstam, by Mr. Johân H. Williams, Nordic Council of Ministers, and by 12 participants from Sweden. Annex 1 contains the list of participants.2. The Conference was opened by Dr. Per Wramner, Director-General, Swedish National Board of Fisheries, Göteborg. In his opening statement Dr.Wramner welcomed the participants from Estonia, Latviaand Lithuania and explained the purpose of this meeting which had been made possible through the allocation of funds from the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture and the Swedish Agency for International Technical and Economic Cooperation (BITS). The need for cooperation in fishery investigations between the Baltic Statesand Sweden is obvious as the same marine living resources are used by all four countries. Sweden also realizes the need for updating the hardware and software for fishery investigations in the Baltic States and for training on different levels andreferredto letters received from responsible ministers in the Baltic countries. The full statement is in Annex 2.3. Mr. Svante Ingemarsson, Deputy Governor ofthe County of Blekinge, briefed the participants about the history of Karlskrona and pointed out its central position in the Baltic. Mr. Åke Landqvist, Executive Officer of the hosting institute, outlined the activities and facilities of The Baltic Institute.4. Since Dr. Wramner was unable to attend the whole meeting he asked for nominations of a Chairman and a Rapporteur. Dr. Armin Lindquist was elected Chairman and Dr. Jan Thulin Rapporteur.5. The Chairman introduced Mr. Johan Williams, from the Nordic Council of Ministers, and suggested that a presentation of the Council's activities in fisheries be included in the Agenda. He requested comments on the Preliminary Agenda and timetable. As there were no amendments proposed the Agenda was adopted.6. In accordance with the Agenda the Chairman then asked for information on present fishery investigations in the Baltic States and how they are funded.7. Mr. Vaarja from Estonia reviewed the organization of the National Estonian Board of Fisheries and its activities. Dr. Aps suggested a project idea on Fisheries information management system and Dr. Järvik outlined the research work at the Estonian Marine Institute. Details of the presentation are found in Annex 3. During the ensuing discussions the suggestion was made by Estonia that a common system for fishery statistics in the Baltic be established. The need for coastal investigations was also stressed.8. In his intervention Mr. Ukis from Latvia presented a brief review of Latvian fisheries and referred to the special difficulties arising from the high seas fleet which since independence is under Latvian flag, and those offinding necessary funds for research programmes. Dr. Vitinsh pointed out the heavy reduction of both personnel and facilities, which has limited research activities to the Baltic area under Latvian jurisdiction. Joint hydroacoustic investigations are considered to be of highest priority. There are great difficulties in finding funds for the running of the rather new Latvian research vessel. He pointed out that she had been used in international investigations but as present equipment no longer meets modern standards new acoustical instruments are urgently needed. Both he and Dr. Melnis stressed the importance of that the coastal fish monitoring supported by BITS should be further developed, Annex 4.9. Mr. Rusakevichius from Lithuania advised that a fishery administration structure has not yet been established. Lithuania has a rather big fleet of high seas fishing vessels which is largely out of order. Lithuanian fishery investigations in the Baltic are limited to coastal waters, including the Couronian lagoon. There is no vessel for fishery research. Increased cooperation with Latvia in fishery investigations is warranted. Presently inland fisheries have gained high importance, Annex 5. Dr. Toliushis described his work with electricfishing equipment, which is considered to be an effective method of selecting fish according to size. It works with impulse current and can be used in both fresh and salt waters; Dr. Toliushis offered his institute’s cooperation.10. Mr. Williams outlined the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers. He presented a proposal for organized cooperation between the fishery administrations of countries bordering the Baltic, The Baltic Fisheries Cooperation Committee, with the task of establishing a firm network (see page 31).11. Dr. Neuman, from the Institute of Coastal Research, outlined the established cooperation in coastal areas in the three Baltic countries, Finland and Sweden, in polluted and in reference areas,and made proposals for a continuation and modification of the present system, supported by BITS and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Dr. Thulin reviewed the activities in the Baltic of the Institute of Marine Research and earlier cooperation with institutes in the Baltic countries. Dr. Sellerberg presented the new Baltic Sea Research Station in Karlskrona, belonging to the Swedish National Board of Fisheries. Prof. Ackefors informed about aquaculture activities in the Baltic area, particularly of salmon, and stressed thei mportance of following international quarantine standards at transfers and introductions of new strings and species. Messrs. Grip and Sjöberg referred to the extensive monitoring programme for environmental control, both in coastal areas and in the open sea.12. In this context Mrs. Bergquist drew the attention of the participants to a paragraph concerned inter alia with coastal lagoons, wetlands, fishery biology and pollution in a document prepared for the forthcoming Diplomatic Conference on Resource Mobilization of the Baltic Sea Environmental Programme, to be held on 24-25 March 1993 in Gdansk, Poland.13. The Chairman then summarized the information provided by listing five possible main areas of common interest. These were: (a) fishery statistics, (b) acoustic investigations, (c) integrated coastal fishery management, (d) oceanographic surveys, (e) aquaculture. He then asked the participants to elaborate their views on the most urgent needs in the Baltic. The meeting was adjourned for further work within the delegations and within smaller groups.14. After resuming the session the following proposals were presented:• Establishing a network for extended fisheries cooperation between the states bordering the Baltic Sea• Acoustic assessments of fish stocks in the Eastern Baltic, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Sweden• Research on migratory fishes.• Artificial spawning grounds for Baltic herring.• Research on natural crayfish stocks.• Assessment and monitoring of coastal fish resources.15. After a discussion the Chairman summarized this by concluding that the proposals on fishery statistics, acoustics and coastal monitoring were the most urgent ones in all countries. The participants then continued elaborating details of these proposals, which are given in full in Annexes 6-8.16. After thorough discussions the Conference stressed the need for the Baltic countries to seek the highest national priority for the proposals endorsed.17. The Chairman thanked the participants for the cooperative spirit during the discussions and closed the Conference on 11 February 1993, 16.00 hrs.18. The Report was adopted on 12 February 1993, at 09.30 hrs.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Fisk- och akvakulturforskning (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Fish and Aquacultural Science (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

conference

fishery

investigation

The Baltic Institute

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

konferens

fiskeri

utredning

Östersjöinstitutet

Karlskrona

Estland

Lettland

Litauen

National

Nationellt finansierad miljöövervakning

Ett rikt växt- och djurliv

A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life

Hav i balans samt levande kust och skärgård

A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)