Background
The Fisheries Experts Group of the IUCN Commission of Ecosystem Management (IUCN/CEM/FEG, in brief FEG) was established during the IUCN World Congress in Barcelona in 2008 at the initiative of the European Bureau of Conservation and Development (EBCD) and with the support of the IUCN Global Marine Program. The scientific Expert Group has global expertise on the Ecosystem Approach to fisheries and conservation and addresses the need for an ecosystem-focused competence on marine fishery and conservation issues within the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM).
EBCD provides the Secretariat of FEG and its Director ensures the coordination.
Mission
The mission of FEG is to foster the sustainable use of fisheries and promote the conservation of related marine ecosystems. To fulfil this mission, FEG seeks to inform fisheries and marine conservation policies and related strategies and approaches and to provide a bridge between the two governance streams, facilitating their convergence.
FEG intends also to provide a link between the fishery and biodiversity expert communities of IUCN.
In pursuing its objectives, FEG links as appropriate with other IUCN Commissions such as the Species Survival Commission (SSC) (particularly with its Marine Conservation sub-Committee and the Fisheries Experts Group of the ESUSG), with the Commission on Ecological, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) and the World Commission for Protected Areas (WCPA).
Activities
FEG organises scientific debates and meetings on key issues at the interface between fisheries and conservation. It produces and contributes to publications, books, articles, policy briefs, supported by desk studies and syntheses of available knowledge.
Pool of experts
FEG draws part of the expertise it needs to answer the broad range of questions from its Pool of Experts. The pool is a database of experts selected by the FEG Bureau for their expertise that have been either proposed formally to IUCN/CEM or have applied directly.
To become a FEG member
The minimum requirement to apply for the pool is to have at least 10 years of experience in issues related to fisheries management and /or biodiversity conservation and a good degree of familiarity with the functioning of the related international organisations (e.g. FAO, IUCN, CBD, CIES, UN, etc.)
Applications can be sent to despina.symons@ebcd.org with a detailed CV and list of publications.