This year Brazil had a strong presence at the eleventh ICCAT assembly, with a delegation made up of a total of 22 people from the private and public sectors. Gabriel Calzavara, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Vicente Perciavalle, President of the National Council of Fisheries Associations, CONEPE were present amongst others.

Based on the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Seas, Brazil strongly defended the rights of the coastal countries in assuring the exploitation of their own resources.

Leading other coastal countries from the South Atlantic, Brazil proposed to ICCAT the creation of a group to over see the criteria for Catch Quota (TAC).

Traditionally, the definition of quotas was based on the historical levels of catches of the countries belonging to the organisation. The organisation obviously gave priority to its own interests with the aim of keeping its "portions" of the market and its fleets under a regime of assured profitability, disregarding other criteria, as Brazil now holds.

Mr. Gabriel Calzavara, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, amplified this concept by saying, "Coastal countries should participate more in the distribution of quotas, preserving their natural and legitimate rights in the development of fisheries. It is not logical or fair that a country which has resources does not have the power to make any decisions��and even less fair that a country cannot define the administration of its own Exclusive Economic Zone. Brazil should have the right to develop its own fisheries sectors, including catches, industrialisation in all of its forms, distribution and commercialisation. This problem that we are putting to this organisation is an international reality and we must begin to put it right as from this meeting."

The President of Conepe Mr. Perciavalle said about Brazil's internal situation, "Brazil has a deficit in its balance of payments that should be reverted and maybe few know that from this deficit, more than US$400 million alone comes from importing marine products. The new administration has come up against this huge challenge and we must revert, not only this deficit, but we must convert ourselves into a country with its own fisheries industry, for extraction, cultivation and processing, within the next four years. Brazil has a large consumer market that we would like to attend to and develop further, but our objective is to set up short-term investments and the participation of more advanced countries could be a part of this task.

We have to respect the existing agreements, but we cannot maintain the position of the developed countries if it is damaging to our own development.

To develop our own industry would mean the creation of numerous jobs and the amplification of the fisheries activity, which until now has not been very strong in Brazil".

When asked about Brazil's fisheries development programme, Mr. Calzavara replied, "we have three main points on which we will base the development of our policy: 1. Aquaculture 2. Fishing and coastal processing 3. High seas fishery

To implement this strategy, we must have the support of the national fisheries sector and we must quickly build on existing information about our resources, with the aim of being able to establish sustainable levels of commercial exploitation of the same (TAC). In this way we will define policies that include different systems and technologies for fishing and processing.

Developing aquaculture implies the simultaneous development of the production of various foods, whose main component is fishmeal and whose production is closely related to the growth of the fishing industry.

To achieve this serious, up-to-date information is required. Having our own industry will assure low exploitation costs and a very important saving of funds".

When Mr. Calzavara was asked about the actions of the IBAMA to date, he replied, "We want preserve the achievements of the IBAMA, Brazilian Institute of the Environment, as far as protecting the resources because nothing will benefit from a rapid development, putting species in danger of over fishing. Our aim is to implement a long-term policy of commercial exploitation. It is the same strategy that many countries follow with success, in South America we have the example of Chile. At some stage quotas for the different species must be set up. This cannot be achieved overnight, but we will do it. We will amplify the activity very quickly, creating instruments of promotion for the national fisheries sector, thus allowing for the development of our own activity, making it competitive and making it reach out internationally".

When Mr. Perciavale was asked about the vision of the private sector regarding the policy that is being established by the Brazilian Government, he replied, "Brazil's fisheries policy is being built together with the country's private sector. The private sector is committed to this new orientation, and is consulted via the organisations and institutions that represent it".

Mr. Calzavara added, "We want to show a well defined policy, inside and outside Brazil, and we are currently establishing contacts all over the world to fix guidelines and to be able to share the experiences with other countries".