Not all represented exactly :-(
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belize, Belgium, Brazil, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands/Malvinas, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Guatemala, Guinea Bisseau, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshal islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moçambique, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates.
Selected to speak at the following international congresses and expert consultations.
Facilitating a PEW organised workshop in Thailand
5th, 6th and 7th Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop, NZ 2016, Thailand 2018 and Canada 2023.
Member of the Advisory Council and former Board Member for The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions
FAO Technical Consultation on Transshipment Guidelines - Rome, 2022
Presenter at NETHOPE 2021.
SeaWeb Seafood Summit, Panel verification and the Data driven future for Seafood and winner of the 2019 Seafood Champion Awards. Thailand, 2019.
INFOFISH World Tuna Forum, Thailand 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
PEW Expert Consultation on Flag State Performance, US, 2018
INFOFISH Pacific Islands Tuna Forum: PNG 2010, Palau 2012 and Solomon Islands 2013, Fiji 2015 and PNG 2017.
WWF MCS Emerging Technologies Workshop, NZ 2016, Thailand 2018.
FAO Worldwide Expert Consultation on Technical Guidelines for Catch Certification Schemes - Rome, 2015
Awards
Winner 2019 Seafood Champion Awards
The Seafood Champion Awards seek to inspire and catalyze change by providing a platform to recognize those who are committed to overcoming obstacles, seeking novel solutions and fostering strategic partnerships to advance seafood sustainability. Here are my comments about the award
Publications
Skirtun, M and Blaha, F 2024. Value Chain and Market Analyses of Fiji's Tuna Longline Industry. Conservation International. 54p.
Blaha, F. 2023. Tuna container loader feasibility study in the Marshall Islands. FAO/FISH4ACP. Rome.
Blaha, F., Vincent, A. & Piedrahita, Y. 2023. Guidance document: Advancing end-to-end traceability – Critical tracking events and key data elements along capture fisheries and aquaculture value chains. Rome, FAO.
D. Souter, J. Lowe, N. Miller, F. Blaha et all, 2023. Port State Measures Before and After Study. MRAG Pacific
Blaha. F. 2023. Decent Labour Standards on Tuna Fishing Vessels: Too much to ask? Infofish Magazine 02/2023. Malaysia
K. Azmia, Q. Hanich, G. Hurry, D. Kroodsma, F. Blaha et all. 2022 Towards responsible transparency: understanding why fishers are cautious about sharing data. Paper for the WCPFC 18.
T. Frawley, B. Muhling, H.Welch, F. Blaha, et all. 2022. Clustering of disaggregated fisheries data reveals functional longline fleets across the Pacific, One Earth, Volume 5, Issue 9.
Blaha, F. & Katafono, S. Consideration of a High Seas Transshipment Regional Observer Program in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area. PEW. 2022
MRAG. D. Souter, J. Lowe, C. Dixon, J. Potts, R. Banks and F. Blaha. 2021. The Quantification of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Pacific Islands Region – a 2020 Update. FFA. 125 p.
Blaha, F., Copeland, D. and Fjellberg, S. 2021. MCS Practitioners Introductory Guides: Carriers, Longliners, Pole and Liners, Purse Seiners and Fishing Vessels Inspections. Trygg Matt Tracking and iMCSn.
Nakamura, K., Ota, Y., Blaha, F. 2022. A practical take on the duty to uphold human rights in seafood workplaces. Marine Policy Volume 135
Blaha, F. 2021. World Tuna Day from a professional and personal perspective. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #165. Noumea, New Caledonia.
Blaha, F., Gonelevu, S. & Katafono, K., 2021. Being Non-Anglo Fisheries Consultants in the Pacific. POPLAR & IVY. Shackleton Trust. Canada
Blaha, F., Leney A. and Lee R. 2021. An assessment of fishing vessel plastic waste generation in the WCPO region – And potential measures to improve waste management in the fleet. Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Blaha. F, Hosken. M & Lasi, F. 2020. Estimation of variability in Purse Seine transhipment weights. Paper at the WCPFC 16th Regular Session of the Scientific Committee. FSM.
Blaha, F. & Katafono, K. 2020. Blockchain application in seafood value chains. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1207. Rome.
Blaha, F. 2020. A short list of possible COVID-19 impacts on tuna fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #161. Noumea, New Caledonia.
Blaha, F. & Whitaker, K. FFA, 2020. Development of Draft Competency Standards to Cover Observer Monitoring of Unloading/Transhipment in Port and at Sea. Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Blaha, F. & Sloan, J. 2019. Human rights abuses and poor working conditions in the offshore fishing industry call for fundamental changes in international, regional and national governance. SAS Ocean Law Bulletin
Blaha, F & Johnson, D. 2019. Port State Measures and Market Access Requirements. FFA Consultancy Report. Honiara
Blaha, F. 2018. Not all tuna are equals in terms of mercury: location matters. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #155. Noumea, New Caledonia.
Hosch, G. & Blaha, F. 2017. Seafood traceability for fisheries compliance – Country level support for catch documentation schemes. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 619. Rome.
Blaha, F. 2016. Illustrated Manual on Good Practices to Improve the Marine Products from the Subsistence Fishery Sector in the Asia Pacific Region. APEC Publication Number: APEC#216-OF-03.1. Singapore.
Blaha, F. 2016. Illegal fishing in the Central and South Pacific. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #151 Noumea, New Caledonia.
Blaha, F. 2016. EU Market Access a Fishery and Aquaculture Products. Independent Publication, Waiheke Island, New Zealand.
Blaha, F. 2015. Impacts of the European Commission yellow cards in the Pacific. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #148. Noumea, New Caledonia.
Blaha et all. 2015. Study on Traceability of Fisheries Products. A comparative study of 10 country cases under the framework of the programme GCP/INT/25/JPN. FAO, Rome. Italy.
Blaha, F. 2015. EU Market Access for Fishery and Aquaculture Products. Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). Zurich
Blaha, F. 2015. Acceso al Mercado de la UE para Productos Pesqueros y Aquicolas. Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). Zurich.
Blaha, F. 2015. Seafood Market Access to China. A Brief for FFA Members. FFA. Honiara. Solomon Islands
Blaha et all. 2015. Recommendations for a Global Framework to Ensure the Legality and Traceability of Wild-Caught Fish Products. Expert Panel on Legal and Traceable Wild Fish Products. Washington DC. USA.
Blaha, F. 2014. European Union New Labelling & Traceability Requirements - A Guideline for the Pacific Islands Seafood Industry. A Brief for FFA Members. FFA. Honiara. Solomon Islands
Blaha, F. 2014. Assisting Papua New Guinea with the European Union “yellow card” for IUU fishing. SPC Fisheries Newsletter #144. Noumea, New Caledonia.
Blaha, F. 2014. Operational Control Plan for a Regional Competent Authority Support Unit. A proposal for FFA/DevFishII. Honiara. Solomon Islands,
Blaha, F. 2012. EU market access for small islands. FAO-INFOFISH International.
Blaha, F. 2011. EU Market Access (Health and IUU) & Eco-labelling for Fishery and Aquaculture Products. Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). Zurich.
Blaha, F. 2011. Acceso al Mercadode la UE y Ecoetiquetado para productos pesqueros y acuicolas. Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). Zurich .
Blaha, F. 2010. Development of a bait for the longlining fishery of snapper in New Zealand. Lambert Academic Publishing. Germany, ISBN -978-3-8383-6081-2.
Blaha, F. 2009. The 2 certifications to export seafood to the EU – A side to side analysis of the Heath and non IUU requirements and practical ways to facilitate its implementation. FAO -Infopesca Journal. Vol. 40. Uruguay.
Blaha, F. 2009. How to export seafood to the EU - 2nd Edition. By ITC (WTO/UNCTAD). Geneva. Switzerland.
Contributor to:
CAPFISH PROJECT Volume 1. 2022. A capacity-building project to progress the implementation of international instruments to combat IUU fishing. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, World Maritime University, and Korea Maritime Institute.
Siar, S.V et all. 2011. Experiences and lessons from the cleaner fishing harbours initiative in India. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular. No. 1068. Rome, FAO.
Sciortino, J.A. 2010. Fishing harbour planning, construction and management. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 539. Rome.
Gonçalves, A and Blaha, F. 2010. A. Cold chain in seafood industry. In: Larsen, M.E. (ed.), Refrigeration: Theory, Technology and Applications. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.,. (ISBN: 978-1-61668-930-8).
Blaha, F; Nassereddine, S.; Gonçalves, A. 2010. Legislação do pescado (Seção VI). In: Gonçalves, A.A. (Ed.). Tecnologia do pescado: ciência, tecnologia, inovação e legislação. Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Brazil
Blaha, F. 2003. Bait for the Longlining Fishery of Snapper (Pagrus auratus). Advances in Seafood Byproducts. Peter J. Bechtel, Editor. Alaska Sea Grant College Program (Publisher). University of Alaska Fairbanks. AK-SG-03-0
Peer Reviewer to:
Hosch, G. 2018. Catch documentation schemes for deep-sea fisheries in the ABNJ - Their value, and options for implementation. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 629. Rome.
Hosch, G. 2016. Design Options for the Development of Tuna Catch Documentation Schemes. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 596. Rome.
European Union Parliament Study, 2013. “Compliance of Imports of Fishery and Aquaculture Products with EU Legislation"
Public Appearances & Media
TEDx Talk
Fisheries Compliance, Fairness and Us. Hosted in the TED channel of YouTube
FAO TV
On the 20th anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, FAO interviews me on the importance of the Code and the challenges ahead.
Radio NZ International
Profile on my family and being an immigrant
Interviews and Profiles
Pacific-European Union (EU) Marine Partnership (PEUMP). Advocate for Fishers’ Rights and Welfare. April 2024
The Rhodes Trust Podcast, University of Oxford. Road Less Travelled with Francisco Blaha. December 2022.
New Zealand Geographic Magazine. A fisherman’s Journey. June 2021
INFOFISH International. INFOFISH Speaks to Francisco Blaha. Volume #1/2021
Global Fishing Watch. Series on Life Below Water: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production of seafood
TunaPacific.org Advocate for fair fishing wins the 2019 seafood champion of the world
Radio NZ and web articles
Fisheries surveillance ramps up in Marshall Islands
What is IUU fishing and why is the Pacific measuring it? Illegal fishing in Pacific much lower than 2016 level
Tuna quota management reality check Uncertain future for Pacific Tuna Fisheries
Tuvalu's fisheries 'Yellow Card' over the top Sinking illegal 'blue boats' not enough of a deterrent
Solution sought by Pacific for illegal Vietnamese vessels Marshall Islands push for better tuna data
Fisheries management 101 works in Marshall Islands Give a thought for the workers who put tuna on your plate
As well, I was the subject of 2 podcasts: “Conversations with my immigrant parents” which explore the dynamics in our bicultural house (Austrian-Argentinean & Dutch) inserted in a bicultural country (British & Maori). And one called “Voices” more specifically on the initial surprises that settling in a new country brings when you compare it with the ones you come from.