Fisheries
7. How are fisheries regulated?
- 7.1 How is the role of regional fishery bodies changing?
- 7.2 How is aquaculture development regulated?
7.1 How is the role of regional fishery bodies changing?
7.1.1 International interaction and collaboration on fisheries matters relies on a large number of regional fishery bodies (RFBs). Their role has changed towards a more active role in decision-making over the past half century. Previously, regional bodies had mainly been a forum for international cooperation, vehicles for data collection and research, as well as advisors on fisheries management.
The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea called for additional activities for regional fishery bodies in protecting stocks, resolving disputes, and implementing standards and regulations. More...
7.1.2 The changes to the mandate of regional bodies suggested in the Law of the Sea only came into effect in the early 1990s as a result of the growing awareness of the scarcity of fishery resources. After the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), a number of fisheries instruments were adopted by the international community, such as the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. These strengthened the conservation and management roles of regional fishery bodies and required effective decision-making processes and authorities.
Generally, RFBs are taking many innovative and cooperative actions in an effort to rebuild the depleted stocks, prevent further decline, and to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Regrettably, assessments show that these actions have not always translated into more effective fisheries management. One constraint is that some member countries are reluctant to delegate sufficient decision-making power to regional fishery bodies and in some cases unable or reluctant to implement decisions taken by them. More...
An example of a regional fishery body:
Box 5: Antigua Convention & strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
7.2 How is aquaculture development regulated?
7.2.1 A series of measures have been taken in response to the growing concerns about food quality and food safety as well as about the sustainability of aquaculture production. Major importing regions and countries have begun to set stringent standards and regulations on issues such as trade in endangered species, labelling for origin, traceability, the chain of custody, and veterinary drug residues. In 2002, fish and fishery products represented a quarter of all food safety and food quality alerts in the EU. Market strategies such as product certification, ecolabelling, ethical or fair trade, and organic production are increasingly being adopted.
Ongoing technological progress has helped addressing the sustainability problems of aquaculture. Improved management practices can, for example, limit the spread of disease from cultured stocks to wild stocks and reduce the use of veterinary drugs. Research is undergoing to seek to improve feed and feeding efficiency and to reduce the nutrient output of farms.
In many developing countries, progress towards responsible management is slowed by the lack of adequate resources, and priority is given to other (and sometimes conflicting) policy areas. More...
7.2.2 The aquaculture sector is growing more quickly than any other animal-producing sector. National development policies are increasingly considering aquaculture to be an engine for economic growth and for the achievement of diverse societal and environmental goals. Generally, aquaculture regulations require the acquisition of a permit in order to establish a farm. Many governments also provide incentives such as access to credit (see Box 6
International agreements in the frame of the FAO, the WTO, and specific conventions also have an impact on aquaculture at a national level, for instance through trade restrictions and quality and safety standards. More...
