2007/02/28

The Plan includes some priority actions on Education and awareness, Capacity Building, Research and Management and advocates an ecosystem-based management approach to preserve the integrity and diversity of marine ecosystems.

In order to elaborate this Plan, a mission to Libya (11-16 December 2004) was organised and funded by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) and the Environment General Authority (EGA) to collect information on the subject.

A number of researchers and experts from MBRC, EGA and the Al-Fateh University participated in the meetings and provided valuable information. The mission included visits to local fish markets to survey the variety of fish fauna, average fish size, and market value of fish. Interviews with fishermen at fish markets complemented the information gathered through interviews. The body of information gathered in four days of meetings was considerable, and represented an ideal background for the preparation of the Plan.

A draft Action Plan for the conservation of cetaceans in Libya was submitted in March 2005. A revision of the draft was completed in November 2006, based on which this final document was produced.

ACCOBAMS welcomes the Plan that is in accord with the implementation of the Agreement and congratulates the Libya's Environment General Authority (EGA), the Marine Biology Research Centre (MBRC), the regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) and the author Giovanni Bearzi for their commitment and their precious work.