Fishery Officer (Compliance Monitoring and Assessment)

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) works with Members and partners to transform aquatic systems and promote the responsible and sustainable management of aquatic food systems.

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) established under the provisions of Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. Its main objective is to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best use of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

To this end, the GFCM formulates and recommends appropriate measures and ensures these recommendations are implemented; coordinates efforts by countries to effectively manage fisheries and aquaculture; monitors the status of fishery resources and carries out scientific work to support advice and decision-making; coordinates and benefits from the support of projects and programmes at the regional and subregional levels to enhance scientific cooperation and capacity-building among its contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties.

In recent years the GFCM pays particular attention to ensure the monitoring and compliance by contracting and cooperating non-contracting parties (CPCs) with adopted regulations, in particular in relation to fisheries management and the sustainable development of aquaculture. This includes monitoring and assessment of submission of required data and information as well as fulfilling the various obligations emanating from decisions taken.

The post is located in the GFCM headquarters at Palazzo Blumensthil (Via Vittoria Colonna 1, Rome, Italy).

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer (Compliance Monitoring and Assessment) reports and operates under the supervision of the Compliance Team Leader and collaborates with relevant staff in the GFCM Secretariat, both at GFCM office in Rome, Italy and in the subregional technical units, transversally. S/he supervises a team of specialists dedicated to the implementation of the workplan related to the monitoring and assessment of compliance with GFCM regulations.

Technical Focus

Support the full implementation of GFCM policies by CPCs related to decisions adopted, in particular by ensuring the monitoring and assessment of compliance with fisheries management and aquaculture development related measures, in accordance with i) the mandate of the GFCM and its Compliance Committee; ii) Targets 2 and 5 of its GFCM 2030 Strategy for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; iii) select objectives in Ministerial Declarations in place and; iv) relevant policy instruments, thereby contributing to curb illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing, including via enhanced fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), and working relationships with relevant organizations and stakeholders.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Researches, analyses and provides access to fisheries and aquaculture technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related data, and information and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of fisheries and aquaculture programmes, projects, products, publications and services.
• Produces a variety of technical data, statistics, information and reports, as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
• Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and initiatives, and/or assessments; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/economic/environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members, such as organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Provides expert support to the GFCM Secretariat on the assessment and monitoring of compliance of CPCs of the GFCM, including by performing the analysis of official data received and prepare relevant compliance assessment products (including both the Compliance Assessment Schemes - CAS and the new pilot compliance inventory tables) for each CPC of the GFCM, in line with the criteria established by GFCM decisions.
• Provides expert support on the update of fishing fleet data as submitted by concerned CPCs of the GFCM in line with relevant GFCM recommendations, including the application of data quality control using relevant indicators, with particular focus on the management of GFCM authorized vessel lists in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as the implementation of a regional fishing capacity plan in line with recent GFCM decisions.
• Regularly liaises with CPCs as well as with other organizations and parties, as needed, and within the context of existing GFCM dedicated compliance monitoring tools, as appropriate, to compile, cross-check and validate information relevant for all actions under its Terms of Reference.
• Contributes to the technical work underpinning the work of the Compliance Committee, including towards the identification of needs for technical assistance, on the status of data collection and submission, and the management of compliance-related information, including on small-scale fisheries, and preparation of related reports to CPCs as well as to relevant Compliance Committee (CoC) or Commission meetings or expert groups.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in fishery science, marine affairs, international law related to fishery, development economics, sustainable agriculture (including fisheries) or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in fisheries, with a strong focus on actions supporting compliance assessment, the fight against IUU fishing, including through the implementation, monitoring and assessment of management measures adopted by national, regional or international organizations, the provision of technical support, including on regulatory, data submission and institutional issues
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of the regulatory framework - at country, subregional and regional level - and measures to assess and ensure compliance with fisheries related measures in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the assessment/monitoring of compliance with fisheries/aquaculture regulations, at national, regional or international level.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the provision of advice in relation to the implementation of measures adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and familiarity with the operations of compliance committees established by RFMOs.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and organization of technical meetings, in particular on issues relating to assessment of compliance and/or the fight against IUU fishing.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the provision of technical support and advice to governments and/or regional organizations on fishing fleet data, data quality and monitoring, control and surveillance and related institutional issues.
• Demonstrated ability to liaise with governments and organizations and to participate in international/regional meetings and fora.
• Familiarity with the formulation and the implementation of projects relating to fisheries, with particular regard to issues such as IUU fishing and monitoring, control and surveillance.
• Proficiency in the preparation and revision of technical documents and reports.
• Knowledge of GFCM policies will be an asset.
• Working knowledge (proficiency- level C) of Arabic, French or Spanish will be a strong asset.