On the basis of the recognition by the Conference of the Parties of the primary role of FAO and regional fisheries management organizations in fisheries management and the role of CITES in regulating international trade, the Standing Committee shall work with FAO in the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding between CITES and FAO, to establish a framework for cooperation, to be presented in draft form for consideration at the 25th meeting (February 2003) of COFI and, if possible, the 49th meeting of the Standing Committee.

The following terms of reference should guide the Standing Committee in carrying out this work:

a) elaborate provisions regarding future FAO involvement in the scientific evaluation of proposals for including exploited aquatic species in the Appendices or for downlisting them (see Appendix F of the Report of COFI: FTVIII);

b) cooperate with respect to capacity building in developing countries, in particular efforts centred on fisheries law enforcement activities of mutual interest;

c) append to the MoU annexes consisting of workplans listing issues of common interest to both organizations, including those found in Appendix F of the Report of COFI: FTVIII; and

d) report on work completed under the MoU at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES and the FAO Committee on Fisheries.