EAFE is entering its tenth year of existence, although
the moment of conception and birth are difficult to distinguish. The IXth
Annual Conference in Quimper demonstrated that EAFE is a small but active
association. The field of fisheries economics is apparently interesting
enough to attract young researchers whose presence alone is the best guarantee
for the future. This is very encouraging. In my new role as EAFE's president,
I would like to start with a personal message as to where I feel EAFE should
be going. This is not meant to impose my views, which I cannot do anyway,
but rather to stimulate discussion on this topic.
The
first articles of the rules of EAFE specify four objectives:
- To promote cooperation;
- To disseminate information;
- To further understanding of
fisheries economics; and
- To serve as a channel of communication.
These
objectives are evidently as valid today as they were ten years ago. It is
particularly the fourth objective which I would like to give some attention
this time, but all four are evidently closely related.
The
question may be raised with whom should we be communicating and how? EAFE
has indeed served very well as a channel of communication among ourselves.
The number of international research projects carried out over the last
decade is impressive. Ten years ago we knew barely each other's names, but
today we cooperate and exchange ideas and information on almost continuous
basis. I hope to be able to prepare a review of the progress of EU wide
research into fisheries economics. If so it will be presented to the next
AGM. In order to promote further our mutual contacts, I have promised at
the Quimper Conference to set up an EAFE Home Page on Internet. You will
find the details about progress elsewhere
in the Bulletin.
During
the meeting of the new Bureau in Quimper it was decided that various EAFE
issues should not only be dealt with by the Bureau, but that a broader scope
of views would be desirable. Therefore in the course of the year I shall
be in touch with various individual members. At the same time I would like
to call upon all of you to contact me whenever you feel you have come across
something from which EAFE would profit - be it an idea, an initiative you
would like take or whatever else. The future of EAFE lies in the hands of
its active members, not in the hands of the Bureau alone.
Now
that we have organized ourselves, it is time to look outward and start communicating
with others. This does not mean that we should start giving advice and education
to those who are less fortunate because they are not economists. Communication
is a two way process. You can only communicate with someone if he is willing
to communicate with us. You cannot help the impression that some of us think
that the (fisheries) world turns around economics. I do not share this view.
I find it important to look critically at ourselves in order to understand
better our relation with fishermen, marine biologists, other scientists,
administrators or industry representatives. Over the years we have noticed
that many non economists in the fisheries world do not appreciate our potential
contribution. In my opinion it is not their problem, but ours. We have failed
in communication. Our message was apparently in a language which they did
not understand. It is our task to do something about it. Therefore I shall
attempt to develop a short discussion paper on what economics may contribute
to various aspects of fisheries analysis. I hope that in the end we shall
be able to produce a document which will support our communication with
non economists.
Dialogue
with others will also receive special attention during the our next conference
in Holland. Special sessions will be organized for this purpose.
Before
closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing members
of the Bureau - Philip, Ola, Zika - for keeping the association well on
course. I would also like to thank Patrice for taking such a good care of
the Bulletin during his years as editor. Finally, my thanks to Jean, Olivier,
Jean Pierre and Denis for the excellent job they have done in organizing
the Quimper Conference and to our hosts in Quimper and Concarneau for receiving
us so cordially.
Pavel Salz