FIRMS - About FIRMS

About FIRMS

Mission
The Partners
Governance
Partnership Arrangement
Geographic coverage
Thematic coverage
Languages
Funding

MissionObjectivesThe primary aim of the Fishery Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) is to provide access to a wide range of high-quality information on the global monitoring and management of fishery marine resources. Main Function

Scientific information.

The Partners

Member:

(no link available)

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)

The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries works to develop the potential of the European maritime economy and to secure a safe and stable supply of seafood, sustainable fisheries, healthy seas and prosperous coastal communities - for today's Europeans and for future generations.

(no link available)

Observer:
The following organizations are observers in the context of the FIRMS partnership:

Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS)
International Whaling Commission (IWC)
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC)

Pre-agreements have also been discussed or formulated at national level with:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - United States
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) - Namibia
Fisheries Informatics Centre (FICEN) - Viet Nam
Bureau of Rural Science (BRS) - Australia
Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO) - Canada
Institut francais de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER) - France

This map represents the current geographic coverage of the different Tuna regional fishery bodies which are FIRMS partners: CCSBT, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC.

Tuna Partners Geographic Coverage

This map represents the current geographic coverage of the different non-Tuna regional fishery bodies which are FIRMS partners: CCAMLR, CECAF, EUROSTAT, GFCM, ICES, NAFO, NEAFC, RECOFI, SEAFDEC, SEAFO, SWIOFC, WECAFC.

Non-Tuna Partners Geographic Coverage

GovernanceFIRMS Steering Committee (FSC)is constituted by representatives of the Partners: one member nominated by each partner, including FAO in its capacity of partner. The FSC technical and Administrative responsibilities are described in the Article 5 of the FIRMS Partnership Arrangement. The FSC's Rules of procedures were adopted at the launching meeting of FIRMS (Rome, February 2004) as Attachment 5.FIRMS Secretariatis provided by FAO. The responsibilities of the Secretariat are described in the Article 3 of the FIRMS Partnership Arrangement.FIRMS Technical working groupThe general mandate of the FIRMS technical working group is to consider technical issues and make recommendations on matters of a purely technical nature. This working group convened by the Secretariat will work through correspondence and hold a meeting, if necessary.

Partnership ArrangementFIRMS is operated under a Partnership Arrangement which was launched in February 2004 upon signature of the Arrangement by the first five FIRMS Partners. The Partnership was launched with FAO and regional fishery body institutions. It will be opened at a later stage to national institutions. The FIRMS Partnership Arrangement specifies the rights and obligations of the Partners and the rules driving the partnership.

The FIRMS Information Management Policy defines the principles and conditions governing the sharing of information contributed by the various Partners within FIRMS.

Geographic coverageGlobal.

Thematic coverageCapture fisheries, with priority to Marine fisheries.

LanguagesEnglish. The website is also available in French and could be extended to other FAO official languages according to FIRMS partners decisions.

FundingIn accordance with the FIRMS Partnership Arrangement:

will cover the costs of FIRMS development, FIRMS Steering Committee administration and the provision of the Partner entitlements under the Arrangement through regular and trust fund arrangements, to the extent that these funds allow and in accordance with its financial rules and regulations.

FIRMS Partners

will cover the costs of information contributions to FIRMS, attendance at FSC meetings and additional FIRMS services, which might include information system functionality or customisation for the specific use of the Partner, to the extent that funds have been allocated thereto.

In addition, extra budgetary funding is expected and sought to support further developments.

Current extra budgetary funding

Sponsor		Project title
	The Government of Japan	Japanese trust fund GCP/INT/069/JPN “Promotion of sustainable fisheries: support for strengthening functions of and coordination among RFBs/RFMOs”

Past extra budgetary funding

Sponsor		Project title
	Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres	Associate Professional Officers Programme
	The Government of Japan	Strategy for Improving Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries (Fishcode-STF)
	The Government of Norway	Strategy for Improving Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries (Fishcode-STF)

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