At the 24th meeting of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of FAO, during the debate on the Progress Report on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the delegation of Japan reported about its studies concerning the impact of marine mammals, in particular whales and seals, on commercially important marine resources. This of course generated some lively and controversial discussions. (The controversy was reopened when the final report was considered at the end of the meeting. Some (sic) delegations contested the use of words such as "many Members" and the "Committee agreed", preferring the use instead of the words "some Members" or possibly "several Members" and "the Committee suggested", respectively.)

The FAO was requested by many Members to conduct studies on the relationship between marine mammals and fisheries. Others, however, commenting on the issues and complexity of ecosystem-based fisheries management, urged that caution be exercised in drawing definitive conclusions with respect to the impact of predatory/prey relationships on fisheries. COFI finally agreed that studies and reviews by FAO should be conducted to encompass these characteristics, in particular interaction between marine mammals and fisheries.

This was a significant agreement that acknowledged and underlined the value and the appropriateness of the efforts already made by Japan in this field. Now, it remains to see how FAO will be able to ensure the follow up of the COFI agreement.�

On 13 February 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) adopted an International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. Sharks are an important marine resources for many cultures and communities throughout the world and they must be managed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the shark resources.

Shark finning is not a conservation issue per se, but rather an issue of utilization of harvested fishery resources. Retaining only the fins of sharks of those species whose meat is unpalatable results in small percentage of the body weight of the shark being retained and does not make the practice "wasteful". However, shark finning should be conducted on dead fish only.

The International Coalition of Fisheries Association (ICFA) has passed a Resolution concerning the Management of Sharks which states that:

• ICFA believes an international ban on the practice of shark finning is unwarranted.

• ICFA supports the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA) as the only international agreement on the conservation and management of sharks necessary to promote the long-term sustainable use of sharks.