Transcript Relevant Indicators and Basic Practices: National and

Session II: Relevant Indicators
and Basic Practices: National
and Regional Experiences
Sebastian Mathew
International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)
UNEP-WWF Symposium
Disciplining Fisheries Subsidies: Incorporating Sustainability at the WTO
& Beyond
1-2 March 2007, Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland
Some basic facts
• Developing Countries account for nearly 70 per cent of
global marine capture fisheries production
• Six of the top ten marine fish producing countries are
from the developing world: China, Peru, Chile,
Indonesia, India and Thailand (2004)
• Developing countries contribute nearly 50% of the total
world fishery commodity export trade
• Four of the top ten fish exporting countries are from the
developing world: China, Thailand, Chile and Viet Nam,
and seven of the top ten net fish exporting countries are
also from the developing world (2004)
Fishing population
• 28 million people, of which 11 million are full-time fishers,
are dependent on marine capture fisheries for
employment and income; China alone accounts for 30%,
followed by India and Indonesia;
• 6 million fisher people earn an income less than
US$1/day
• Except for 200,000 on board larger vessels, all fulltime
fishers work on board vessels below 24 m LOA, and
particularly on board vessels below 12 m LOA
• While the total number of fishers has been declining in
developed countries, it is increasing in developing
countries
Fisheries Management
• All of the rules, regulations, conditions, methods,
and other measures, which are required to
rebuild, restore, or maintain any fishery resource
and the marine environment, as qualified by
relevant environmental, economic and social
factors, including the livelihood and food security
needs of fishing communities, and taking into
account fishing patterns and the
interdependence of stocks and any generally
recommended international minimum standards
Indicators of Stock Abundance
• Percentage of commercial species groups
that are below the estimated potential yield
(For most of the species groups in
countries like India and China marine fish
landings have reached, or crossed, the
estimated potential yield threshold) has
not been showing a declining trend
Indicators of fishing fleet and
fishing effort
• Fishing fleet is in conformity with potential fisheries resources and
there are mechanisms to regulate fleet size
• Mechanisms to ensure safety of fishing vessels and safety of fishers
on board
• Registration of all fishing vessels
• Implementation of mesh size regulations, especially in the cod-end
of trawl gear
• Promotion of energy-efficient propulsion units
• Observance of closed fishing areas and season
• Prohibition, or phasing out, of destructive fishing gear and practices
• Promotion of selective, labour-intensive, artisanal, fishing gear and
practices
Indicators of Infrastructure for
Effective Fisheries Management
• Adoption of a comprehensive and coherent fisheries
legislation at the federal and state level
• Developing a national fisheries management plan
• Effective implementation of various management
measures
• Participation of fishing communities in fisheries
management programmes
• Developing capacity of fishers’ organizations to
undertake fisheries management functions
• Functioning of an effective and time-bound monitoring
and enforcement mechanism for fisheries
Prerequisites to the Use of
Capacity-enhancing Fisheries
Subsidies
• Most of the indicators listed above should
demonstrate a move towards responsible
fisheries
• Notification of subsidies to the WTO
• Transparency and verifiability of fisheries
management measures
Other Considerations
• Considering that developing countries, in
general, are cash-strapped, extending
capacity and effort enhancing subsidies
should, in general, be considered after
setting up financial mechanisms to support
alternative employment, social safety nets
and welfare programmes for fishing
communities, unless there are compelling
reasons to be otherwise
Thank you