New fisheries commission for Central Asia and the Caucasus FAO's governing Council has unanimously approved the creation of a new regional fisheries management body for the Central Asia and Caucasus region. Its mission will be to work regionally to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living aquatic resources and the sustainable development of aquaculture in its member countries. The FAO-affiliated commission will become active as soon as three countries formally accept it at the national level. Potential members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, People's Republic China, Georgia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The first three national-level ratifications are expected to come quickly, and the first preparatory meeting of the Commission is already scheduled to take place in September 2010, in Kyrgyzstan. FAO's Sub-regional Office for Central Asia in Ankara, Turkey, will act as secretariat until the Commission becomes fully operational