International Board

The FiTI International Board is the global supervisory body of the initiative.

The FiTI International Board reflects a multi-stakeholder composition. In accordance with the constitution of the FiTI association, the FiTI International Board comprises of the FiTI Chair and 18 voting Board Members, equally distributed among full members from the three stakeholder groups:

  • Government sector: a total of six individuals nominated by public sector institutions;
  • Business sector: a total of six individuals nominated by private sector organisations, evenly distributed between industrial/large-scale and the small-scale/artisanal marine fisheries sector;
  • Social sector: a total of six individuals nominated by organisations that serve society at large.

The FiTI International Board is presided and represented by its Chair, which does not count towards the total number of seats.

Representatives from intergovernmental organisations, regional development banks, development agencies, other relevant organisations, as well as individual experts may be invited by the FiTI International Board to attend FiTI Board meetings as observers.

Meetings of the FiTI International Board are regarded as general meetings of the members of the association.


Responsibilities of the FiTI International Board

The FiTI International Board oversees the activities of the FiTI through regular Board meetings and Board Circulars, including:

  • Assessing candidate applications of countries;
  • Evaluating the performance of countries against the FiTI Standard based on validations;
  • Establishing mechanisms to collect and address complaints, resolve disagreements, and act if countries are deemed non-compliant;
  • Overseeing and guiding the work of the FiTI International Secretariat through annual workplans and bylaws;
  • Appointing the Executive Director of the FiTI International Secretariat;
  • Supporting the FiTI International Secretariat in outreach and fundraising activities;
  • Agreeing on the arrangements for FiTI global conferences;
  • Approving the annual budget, financial statement and audited reports of the FiTI;
  • Electing new members of the FiTI, which serve as International Board members;
  • Electing the FiTI Chair of the FiTI International Board;
  • Enhancing the FiTI Standard over time;
  • Promoting transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in marine fisheries governance; and
  • Adhering to the FiTI Global Code of Conduct.

The members of the FiTI International Board, except for the FiTI Chair, do not receive remuneration in return for performing their board member duties.

The language of the FiTI International Board is English.


Current members of the FiTI International Board

Chair
NameCurrent termNo. of term(s)
Valeria Merino01 January 2023 –
31 December 2025
2.

Representatives of the Government sector
NameRoleNominating organisationCurrent termNo. of term(s)
Andres ArensVice-Minister, FisheriesMinistry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fishing01 January 2023 –
31 December 2025
1.
Roy ClarissePrincipal Secretary, FisheriesMinistry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Seychelles01 January 2023 –
31 December 2025
1.
Joacim JohannesonProgramme Coordinator, Marine Spatial Planning UnitSwedish Agency for Marine and Water Management01 January 2023 –
31 December 2025
1.
Annika MackensenAdvisor Sustainable Fisheries and AquacultureFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany23 May 2022 –
22 May 2025
1.
[VACANT]
[VACANT]
Representatives of the Business sector
NameRoleNominating organisationCurrent termNo. of term(s)
Keith AndrePresidentFederation of the Fishers of the Indian Ocean (FPAOI)01 January 2022 –
31 December 2024
1.
Hugh GovanConsultantLocally Managed Marine Area Network International (LMMA)01 January 2022 –
31 December 2024
1.
Tony LazazzaraGroup Fisheries Sustainability DirectorThai Union Group01 January 2023 – 31 December 20251.
Dawda Foday SaineSecretary GeneralAfrican Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA)01 January 2023 – 31 December 20251.
Alfredo SfeirFounder and CEOShellcatch Inc.15 June 2022 –
14 June 2025
1.
[VACANT]
Representatives of the Social Sector
NameRoleNominating organisationCurrent termNo. of term(s)
Maisie PigeonDirector, Global Fisheries Transparency CoalitionOceana01 January 2023 – 31 December 20251.
Ahmed SenhouryExecutive DirectorRegional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM)01 January 2022 –
31 December 2024
2.
Annie TouretteHead of AdvocacyBlue Ventures01 January 2023 –
31 December 2025
1.
[VACANT]
[VACANT]
[VACANT]

Observers

African Development Bank, represented by Ms Salimata Soumare, Senior Natural Resources Governance Officer at African Natural Resources Centre

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, represented by Mr Marcio Castro de Souza, Senior Fishery Officer – International Trade

Open Government Partnership, represented by Mr Theophilous Chiviru, Regional Lead for Africa and the Middle East

The World Bank, represented by Mr Julien Million, Senior Fisheries Specialist – Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy


FiTI International Board meetings

Meeting Minutes [English]

2018 Workplan of the FiTI International Secretariat as approved by the FiTI International Board [English] [Francais]
Meeting Minutes [English]

Mauritania's original FiTI Candidate Application [Francais]

Correspondence of the FiTI Chair to the Minister of Economy and Finances of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania [English]

FiTI International Board Circulars

According to the parameters of the 2021 membership election, as approved by the FiTI International Board [Decision ID: BM-13_2021_D-01], the names of the nominees, short-listed candidates, and assessment results will not be published or shared. Therefore, this Board Circular will not be made publicly available.
According to the parameters of the 2022 membership election, as approved by the FiTI International Board [Decision ID: BC-10_2022_D-03], the names of the nominees, short-listed candidates, and assessment results will not be published or shared. Therefore, this Board Circular will not be made publicly available.

Relevant posts

  • FiTI International Board elects seven new members for 2023-2025 term
    9 January 2023. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is extremely pleased to welcome seven new members to the FiTI association: Mr Andres ARENS, Mr Roy CLARISSE, Mr Joacim JOHANNESON, Mr Tony LAZAZZARA, Ms Maisie PIGEON, Mr Dawda Foday SAINE, and Ms Annie TOURETTE.
  • FiTI International Board urges national authorities in Senegal to complete FiTI sign-up steps
    During its 18th meeting, the FiTI International Board – the global oversight body of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) – voiced its concerns about the lack of progress of Senegal to become a FiTI Candidate country and urged national authorities to complete the remaining sign-up steps, after a considerable period of inaction.
  • Call for 2022 membership election to the FiTI association
    The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is expanding its membership and is looking for 12 new members who are passionate about shaping the global agenda for transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in fisheries management.
  • FiTI International Board elects two new members and re-elects FiTI Chair for second term
    23 May 2022. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is extremely pleased to welcome two new members to the FiTI association: Dr. Annika MACKENSEN and Alfredo SFEIR. Furthermore, Dr Valeria MERINO was re-elected as the Chair of the FiTI International Board for a second term (January 2023 until December 2025).
  • FiTI International Board elects four new members
    14 January 2022. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is extremely pleased to welcome four new members to the FiTI association: Mr. Keith ANDRE, Ms. Mialy ANDRIAMAHEFAZAFY, Ph.D., Mr. Hugh GOVAN, Ph.D., and Dr. Ahmed SENHOURY.
  • Open Government Partnership joins International Board of FiTI
    In order to promote access to information and public participation in marine fisheries, as well as wider open government reforms, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) agreed on intensifying their existing collaboration. This includes, inter alia, that the Open Government Partnership, represented by Mr Theo Chiviru, OGP Regional Lead for Africa and the Middle East, will become a permanent observer to the FiTI International Board with immediate effect.
  • Call for 2021 membership election to the FiTI association
    The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is expanding its membership and is looking for 7 new International Board members who are passionate about shaping the global agenda for transparency and multi-stakeholder participation in fisheries management.
  • FiTI Board approves indefinite suspension of annual country contributions
    Victoria, 29 April 2021. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) approved today an indefinite suspension of annual financial contributions from participating countries, starting 1 May 2021.
  • FiTI Board approves COVID-19 induced 3-year moratorium on annual contributions
    Victoria, 7 September 2020. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has announced today its approval of granting countries a three-year moratorium (2020 – 2022) regarding annual financial contributions, due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Valeria Merino appointed as new Chair of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)
    Berlin/Victoria – 28 October 2019. The International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) appointed today Dr. Valeria Merino as the 2nd Chair of the FiTI.
  • FiTI Board takes key decisions for the way forward
    BERLIN – 12-13 December 2018. During its 5th meeting, the International Board of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) discussed the current status of the initiative and made a number of important decisions:
  • 2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: Launching the first FiTI International Board
    INDONESIA, 27 April 2017; The 1st FiTI International Board was launched at the 2nd International Conference of the FiTI on April 27, 2017.