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Experts Call For More Cooperation To Protect Hamour In Arabian Gulf & Gulf Of Oman


Participants In The Symposium Acknowledged That Based Upon The Best Available Scientific Evidence, Many Grouper Populations Are Depleted And Their Habitats Threatened Throughout The Region










Following the conclusion of a Regional Symposium on the Biology, Assessment & Management of Groupers that was held in the capital from 25th - 27th November 2008, experts issued a Declaration of Intent calling on Grouper range countries of the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to cooperate to improve the conservation status of groupers and their habitats. Organized by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the three-day symposium was the first of its kind in the region where the status of Groupers was discussed. Participants in the symposium acknowledged that based upon the best available scientific evidence, many grouper populations are depleted and their habitats threatened throughout the region. They also stressed on the role of littoral states, who probably share the exploitation of the same grouper stocks and that regional coordination and cooperation are required in research, conservation and management initiatives. It was also agreed that there is a general lack of scientific information required for the conservation and management of groupers in the region, where they agreed to endorse the existing initiatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions and international organizations in the assessment, management and conservation of groupers and their habitats at local, national and regional levels. Participants agreed to make every effort to formulate, review, revise and harmonize local/national legislation and regulations pertaining to groupers and their habitats, develop mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise, information, research findings and outcomes of conservation initiatives among the countries of the region. They also agreed to undertake joint research programs and collaborative studies on population abundance, stock distribution, biology, ecology and conservation of groupers and their habitats, including the study of social and economic aspects and develop research and management capacity within the region. Participants also agreed on some technical issues to improve best management strategies for groupers. They agreed to prioritize the protection of spawning areas, to remove subsidies and to implement an appropriate combination of gear selectivity regulations, seasonal and\or area closures. They agreed to monitor specific species, improve statistical reporting of landings and innovate in the development of modeling approaches for grouper species. It also includes increasing research support on spawning aggregations and the inclusion of aggregations in management plans and the dramatic increase in the implementation of public awareness initiatives within the region. The participants strongly recommended the marine protected areas continue to serve as a management tool. They also called for the establishment of networks of smaller reserves. Participants stressed on the need to recognize stock enhancement programs as experiments and implement monitoring programs to establish their effectiveness and the benefits relative to their costs. To improve regional cooperation, participants stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in fisheries resource assessment and management within the region, despite the presence of a variety of regional organizations. They also stressed on the need for more dynamic mechanisms such as the development of bilateral and multilateral MOUs, undertaking studies to determine the extent of stock sharing within the region and exchanging more information within the region. Participants also agreed on the need for better participation and representation by the region in global organizations, such as the IUCN Grouper and Wrasses Species Specialist Group.

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