An Overview of the International and National Fishery Policy Related Issues- a Desk Research. Contents. Sl. No Details Page No.

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1 V.Sampath, Desk Study n fisheries plicy 23 Oct 05 An Overview f the Internatinal and Natinal Fishery Plicy Related Issues- a Desk Research Cntents Sl. N Details Page N. 1 Backgrund Objectives f the study 2 3 Data and Inputs used fr the Study 3 4 Trends in Glbal Fisheries Plicy Fishery Plicy in ther cuntries Details f the plicy initiatives Review f the plicy initiatives f ther cuntries with respect t the gaps in these plicies Fishery plicy f India Cmprehensive Marine Fishing Plicy State Gvernments Fisheries Plicies Review f the Central/State level Fisheries Plicies with respect t the Gaps in these Plicies Discussin Cnclusin Literature cited

2 2 An Overview f the Internatinal and Natinal Fishery Plicy Related Issues- a Desk Research 1. Backgrund The Industrial Plicy Reslutin 2001 f Gvernment f Orissa has identified the fisheries sectr as ne f the three sectrs wherein enterprise develpment wuld result in pr-pr ecnmic grwth. In this cntext it stresses the need t assess the current and future self-emplyment and entrepreneurial ptential in fisheries sectr especially fr the prer sectins invlved in the sectr. Orissa is ne f the majr maritime States, ffering vast scpe fr develpment f inland, brackishwater and marine fisheries. The State s lng castline measuring 480 km cvering an area f 24,000 sq. km with in the 2.02 millin sq.km Exclusive Ecnmic Zne (EEZ) f India has huge ptential fr marine fisheries develpment. The freshwater resurces f the State include 1.16 lakh ha area under tanks and pnds, 2.56 lakh ha reservir area, 1.80 lakh ha area under swamps & jheels and 1.55 lakh ha water area f rivers and canals. The brackish water resurces include 2.98 lakh hectares f estuaries, 32,587 hectares f cultivable brackishwater area, 8100 hectare f backwater area and 9,000 ha f Chilka lake (Orissa Fisheries Statistics Hand Bk 2001). A cnservative estimate f fish requirement in the State is abut 3.23 lakh tnnes (as per WHO, cnsumptin requirement is 11kg/ capita/ annum). Hwever, the present level f fish prductin in the State is nly abut lakh tnnes, leaving a net deficit f lakh tnnes. Thus the ptential fr enhancing the availability f fish in the dmestic market fr lcal cnsumptin is sizable cupled with increased livelihd security f the prducers. A white paper n public refrms in Orissa places the average per capita annual incme f thse invlved in the fisheries sectr at Rs.6,787/- cmpared t the all India average f Rs.10,204/-. Enhancement f the livelihd and enterprise pprtunities in this sectr therefre, need t fcus n the pr wrkers invlved in fisheries and the small / medium entrepreneurs. Inadequate infrastructure facilities, infrmatin and cmmunicatin channels, expertise, etc., in the State, are identified as the limiting factrs in prmting cst-effective and envirnmentally sustainable methds f harvesting and prductin; spread f knw-hw fr maintaining high standards f strage and prcessing f prduce fr value additin; and effective linkages and netwrks fr prfitable marketing f prducts. As a cnsequence, Orissa is left with a huge

3 3 untapped area fr fish prductin cvering varied ecsystems and pen water resurces like lakes, pnds, reservirs, etc., which have nt been harnessed t ptimal levels. The existing plicy f the State appears t be lacking in a number f aspects, which nrmally are required fr a well crdinated and sustainable fisheries develpment and management nt nly fr meeting the nutritinal requirement f the peple f Orissa, but als fr ensuring livelihd security and entrepreneurial develpment. Cnsidering these aspects, a detailed exercise has begun t put in place a cmprehensive fisheries plicy and derivative strategies that will take int accunt the present status f the legal and regulatry framewrk, administrative structure and prcesses, financing mechanisms including subsidies, technlgy supprt as well as scial and envirnmental implicatins, t prmte and facilitate ecnmic activities in a sectr cntaining several sub-sectrs that are at varius stages f develpment. As a part f this exercise, a number f desk research/studies have been prpsed t be undertaken. One such desk research/study is n the fishery plicy related issues, undertaken by the UNDP Prject Team during July-September This reprt prvides the requisite inputs n the fishery plicy in vgue bth at the internatinal and natinal level, the dcuments n which were btained/cllected frm varius surces such as the Central and State Gvernments, frm the websites and thrugh persnal cmmunicatin. The inputs thus received were reviewed, analysed, cmpiled, edited and presented in this dcument. The gaps in these plicies and the mechanisms fr their implementatin, the remedial measures taken r prpsed t be taken by the varius natinal and freign agencies/gvernments are als reviewed and incrprated in this reprt. 2. Objectives f the study The main bjectives f this desk research/study are t: review and analyse the fishery plicies f different cuntries and the Natinal Gvernments, assess the prs and cns f these plicy initiatives n the fisheries sectr, with particular reference t develpment, management and cnservatin/preservatin f fishery resurces in the inland and marine regimes, analyse the impacts f these plicies n the eclgy f the aquatic realm, and n the scial and ecnmic status f the fishers and the cuntries as a whle.

4 4 3. Data and Inputs used fr the Study 3.1 The Websites f different cuntries prvide valuable infrmatin/input n the fishery plicy being pursued in thse cuntries; the impact f these plicies n the fisheries sectr as a whle, the envirnment and the fishers; the reactin/views f a crss sectin f the sciety/peple/rganisatins in sme f thse cuntries n the psitive and negative impact f such plicies; the measures taken by thse cuntries fr amending r altering sme f the prvisins under these plicies, etc. These inputs were dwnladed, reviewed, cmpiled, edited and incrprated in this reprt. 3.2 The Fishery Plicy ntes/dcuments cllected frm varius surces such as the Central and State Gvernments including the 1996 plicy f Orissa and thse dwn laded frm the respective websites, were studied/reviewed, analysed, cmpiled, edited and presented in this reprt. Basis fr analysis, interpretatin and cmparisn f the plicy initiatives, include the identificatin f the essential elements f the plicy initiatives with respect t fisheries develpment and management, their applicatin fr achieving sustainability in fisheries and imprving the sci-ecnmic status f the fishers and natinal incme. 3.3 The cllected and cmpiled data/infrmatin is presented in this reprt, under the fllwing heads: Trends in glbal fishery plicy Fisheries Plicy in ther cuntries Review f the plicy initiatives f ther cuntries with respect t the gaps in these plicies Fishery plicy f India Review f the Central/State level Fisheries Plicies with respect t the Gaps in these plicies. Discussin Cnclusin References 4. Trends in Glbal Fisheries Plicy Internatinal Fisheries Plicy As stcks decline and fishing pressure increases, fishery management schemes have changed, thrughut the wrld. Fishing fleets have becme extremely efficient and mbile, resulting in severe ver-harvesting f what was nce

5 5 thught t be an inexhaustible resurce. Inshre waters (adjacent t the castline) tend t be the mst prductive fishing grunds, as there is upwelling f nutrient rich waters in this zne. Fllwing the Secnd Wrld War, advanced technlgy allwed freign fishing vessels t mve frm their hme prts t the mst prductive fishing areas f ther cuntries, causing increased fishing pressure and cnflicts ver natural resurces. As resurce rich cuntries began t see fish stcks decline frm this increase in freign fishing pressure, they explred varius management schemes t prtect their castal waters. As early as 1950 Peru, Chile and Ecuadr claimed natinal svereignty ver a 200 nautical mile zne ff f their castlines which was incrprated in the Santiag Declaratin f 1952 and backed by ther Latin American cuntries in the Mntevide and Lima Declaratins f 1970 (FAO,1997). Iceland faced similar pressures frm freign vessels and witnessed ne-third f ttal catch being taken by freign fishing vessels in T prevent verexplitatin f Nrth-Atlantic Cd and t preserve the natinal ecnmy, which was primarily dependent n fish resurces, Iceland extended its EEZ frm 50 miles in 1972, t 200 miles in This cntrversial plicy resulted in the United Kingdm sending Navy ships t prtect British fishing vessels in a scalled "cd-war". A reprt released by the Marine Resurces Cuncil in Octber f 1975 cnfirmed that the cnditin f cd stck was "pr" and was in danger f a dramatic cllapse. As castal States thrughut the wrld implemented natinal legislatin prtecting their inshre waters frm freign fishing vessels, the United Natins respnded with the adptin f the Cnventin n the Law f the Sea in This internatinal agreement gave exclusive management rights t castal States f waters, and assciated resurces, within 200 nautical miles frm their castline. This ultimately led t jurisdictin f 38 millin square nautical miles f cean, cmprising 90 percent f the wrld's marine fisheries (FAO, 1997). Because fish are ultimately a cmmn resurce, prvisins were included in the agreement that require respnsible utilisatin f fish stcks by ptimising use withut risking ver-fishing. Optimal use f fish stcks is t be determined by each castal State in the frm f a Ttal Allwable Catch (TAC) as determined by stck assessments. Since the adptin f the agreement, many fish stcks have declined wrldwide, but the Cnventin n the Law f the Seas is still cnsidered t be a highly successful internatinal agreement, because it cmprehensively regulates all aspects f cean resurces and uses. Because fish are migratry and tend nt t stay within any ne cuntry's jurisdictinal brders, cmplimentary prvisins have been develped t cntrl transbundary marine species. The United Natins extended the Law f the Sea t cntrl straddling fish stcks and highly migratry fish species in 1996, and

6 6 this agreement entered int frce in December The agreement, establishes detailed minimum internatinal standards fr the cnservatin and management f straddling fish stcks and highly migratry species utside f the EEZ, an area referred t as the high seas. These internatinal standards are then used as recmmendatins fr natinal cnservatin and management schemes. T further reinfrce these cncepts, the FAO develped a Cde f Cnduct fr Respnsible Fisheries, adpted in 1995, which prvides the necessary framewrk fr internatinal fisheries management, supprting cnservatin and addressing scial and ecnmic cncerns. This vluntary Cde cnfrms t regulatins in the internatinal agreements and prvides guidelines fr fisheries managers, interest grups, fisheries rganisatins, and nn-gvernmental rganisatins n hw t effectively manage marine resurces. It describes the majr cnstraints assciated with fisheries management, emphasises the range f data required t make infrmed decisins, and suggests mechanisms fr cllecting and interpreting this data. Fisheries management is separated int three distinct stages; fisheries plicy and develpment planning, frmulatin f management plans and implementatin f management actin. The Cde suggests tls fr implementing each f these stages including hw t make cperative decisins and agree n management plans (FAO, 1997). In part because f the failure f the Cnventin n the Law f the Sea t prtect declining fish stcks, the language f bth FAO's Cde f Cnduct and the United Natins Straddling Stcks Agreement incrprates Precautinary Apprach principles. The Precautinary Apprach in fisheries is abut using a practive rather than a reactive apprach t fisheries management and ensuring that cnservatin cnstraints are met befre ther bjectives. Key elements include specifying fishing targets well belw safe bilgical limits s that targets will be reached and limits will be avided, reversing the burden f prf s that scientific uncertainty cannt be used as an excuse fr pstpning cnservatin measures, and using risk-aversin principles in managing fisheries s that when there is a high level f uncertainty abut stck size r prductive capacity, greater cautin is used in setting target catch levels. While these cncepts may seem trivial, this apprach is unique in the fisheries sectr where shrt-term gains have ften taken pririty ver lng-term benefits. The ecsystems mdel, which sets aside prtins f marine ecsystems, and restricts fishing in these areas, is an effective way t cnfrm t the Precautinary Apprach in fisheries management. This methd prtects critical habitat, preserves key predatr-prey relatinships, and deals effectively with uncertainties in cean dynamics. Ecsystem appraches can be useful but are

7 7 just ne f the many tls that fishery managers must use t effectively sustain fish ppulatins fr future generatins. Fishing natins arund the wrld are searching fr better ways t manage their resurces. The reasn is simply that traditinal management systems have failed t maintain healthy fish stcks, r t sustain prsperus fishing industries. Recreatinal and subsistence fishing have suffered als. In bth eastern and western natins, in develped and develping ecnmies alike, fisheries have been characterised by depressed resurces, ver-expanded fishing fleets, lw incmes t fishermen, heavy dependence n gvernmental supprt and regulatin, and cnflict amng fishing grups. With ever-increasing pressures n fish stcks and grwing public demands fr sustainable develpment f natural resurces, traditinal management regimes are prving t be inadequate. A plicy is a way f achieving sme management bjective(s). On a glbal basis, it is nw ver a decade since Agenda 21, that the Ri Declaratin n Envirnment and Develpment, and the Statement f principles fr Sustainable Use, were adpted by the Earth Summit f the United Natins Cnference n Envirnment and Develpment (UNCED) in Ri-de-Janeir in June This was the majr glbal event t cnfrnt the issues f sustainable use f fisheries resurces in recent years and it was intended t be a cmprehensive Prgramme f actin extending int the 21st century and cvering issues such as pverty, cnsumptin, ppulatin trends, envirnmental degradatin and equity. Develping plicies Many bjectives viz. emplyment, fd, prfits fr investrs and ther ecnmic benefits f varius frms, sustainable harvests and thus resurces; scial stability are sught t be addressed in any plicy initiative. Clearly, all such bjectives cannt be maximised at the same time - use f fisheries as a scial welfare system, as n Canada's east cast, and ne btains neither prfits thrugh the creatin f wealth, nr sustainability f resurces. Single-bjective maximisatin with the sle bjective f the use f sunk capital assets can fail disastrusly, as evidenced by the recent events in the Argentine and Uruguay hake fishery, demersal fisheries frm New England t the Gulf f Thailand and past practice in many Nrth Atlantic herring stcks (FAO, 1997). Fisheries Plicies In the United States, the Magnusn Act, nw the Magnusn-Stevens Act, first set btaining maximum sustainable yield as the legal management target, a criterin that as early as 1977, was being disparaged as a management illusin,

8 8 and a dangerus ne at that. This subsequently gave way t Optimum Sustainable Yield (Leal, Dnald R et.al., 2005). New Zealand is anther cuntry in which the management bjective is defined in the law in terms f maximising the yield - there, a perspective greatly helped by the develpment f their ffshre fishery during the last 30 years. Further, theirs is primarily an exprt fishery - the dmestic market taking less than 15% f prductin. (Pearse H. Peter, 1991). Anther plicy, perhaps mre accurately labeled management attribute, is that f Respnsibility usually indicated thrugh sme expressin f a Cde f Cnduct fr Respnsible Fisheries (FAO, 1995). It is right t cnsider Respnsibility as a plicy that it is an peratinal chice relating t hw the fishery is explited. Strategically, at the glbal level, expressin f bjectives is well achieved in relatin t fisheries management, articulated thrugh internatinal and multilateral frums. But, implementatin at the natinal level is variable, and usually wanting. The range f cmmnly expressed bjectives is: emplyment scial stability and ther scial-welfare bjectives creatin f wealth/prfits sustainability f resurces (and catches) prvisin f natinal nutritin specific natinal ecnmic gals, usually, generate exprt revenues and r influence reginal develpment. Such bjectives have an intuitive appeal, but even amng cuntries with similar management attitudes there are cnsiderable differences in apprach. These are cmmn management bjectives. Depending n the cuntry, ne r sme f these bjectives are attempted. The best management plicies are thse that cntain incentives fr thse at whm they are directed t increase their effectiveness. The first beneficiaries f imprved management shuld be the fishermen themselves. Peple have the greatest incentive t cnserve and husband smething - well - when they wn it, and when they themselves are mst certain f being the beneficiary f investments they make in the prperty r resurce. Icelandic fisheries were amng the first t intrduce strng prperty rights, thugh here t this is a plicy that still is a matter fr ht debate. But the issue f prperty rights in fisheries (r access r user rights), the pre-eminent plicy issue in fisheries management tday, has prved remarkably cntentius, bth idelgically and peratinally.

9 9 Mre cmmnly, rights-based fisheries management ffers the advantages. The trends in adptin f rights-based management in sme f the cuntries are as under (FAO, 1997): 1976 Sctia-Fundy herring (weak rights re transferability) and the intrductin f c- management with the gvernment 1976 Iceland starts with Herring in a Individual Fixed Qutas (IFQ) Prgramme 1980s Hlland flatfish and Sctia-Fundy with Scallps thrugh Enterprise Allcatins Icelandic Cd 1983 New Zealand starts its Quta Management Systems (QMS) Prgramme 1990 mid-atlantic Surf Clam & Quahg 1990 Mst Icelandic stcks 1990s Australia (1st the Nrthern Prawn Fishery) nw all states, with, e.g. 6 species under transferable quta management in Western Australia alne 1992 Flrida Spiny Lbster Fishery (input rights) 1995 Alaska Halibut and Sable Fish British Clumbia - e.g. 6 species as well as the majr nes Namibia - limited durability and restraints n transferability Chile (thugh here the tw step/ne step prcess) UK - but n guarantees f durability f the 'rights' which is resulting in interesting frms f speculatin Argentina, Peru and Uruguay (?); UK. The ntable feature f this grwth in rights based management is that there has been almst n ging back! When prblems were encuntered, they have been slved by strengthening the prperty rights, nt returning t any earlier system. Almst all wh have intrduced this management system appear t have faced many implementatin deficiencies if nt failures. Given the benefits, flexibility and rbustness f such management systems, and that the prblems that have ften been encuntered, this frm f management has survived. Where effective administratin is pssible, despite the added management csts, which may be significant as they add t gvernment rather than diminish it, this type f management regime has been fund t be successful. The Markets Fisheries, f all natural resurce sectrs, are mst sensitive t damage by distrtins, and f curse by subsidies. Accrding t sme surces, EU subsidised

10 10 the fishing industry in 1997 t the tune f 1.4 billin Eurs, r 5400 Eurs per fisherman. Bth the WTO and GATT were able t address the issue in subsidies in the area f manufactured gds. But despite the similar ratinal, the 1994 WTO s Uruguay rund f negtiatins ended with fish prducts excluded frm their trade agreement; while vessel cnstructin subsidies remained impervius t ratinal debate n the need t ablish shipbuilding subsidies. In 1992, in an admittedly apprximate analyses f data frm the late 1980s FAO cncluded that annual fishing csts - $124 billin, exceeded revenues by a staggering $54 billin. The damage is nt nly limited t Eurpe as excess subsidised capacity in the frm f surplus fishing vessels is exprted arund the wrld. A massive inflw f fishing capacity frm Eurpe int Argentina has cllapsed the hake stcks stcks that als prvide the basis f the neighburing Uruguayan hake fishery. In New Zealand nt nly are there n gvernment subsidies fr fisheries, the fishing industry must pay 100% f management csts. New Zealand and Iceland nw use Individual Fixed Qutas (IFQs) t manage nearly all their cmmercial fisheries, Canada and Australia use IFQs in quite a few f their fisheries, and the United States, Greenland, and the Netherlands use IFQs fr sme fish species. Overall, IFQs have generated higher incmes fr fishermen, imprved prduct quality fr cnsumers, reduced fleet excesses, and nearly eliminated instances in which the actual harvest exceeded the ttal allwable catch. The gd news is that IFQs eliminate the race fr fish, nt nly by remving restrictins that reduce fishing time but by eliminating excessive fleet size thrugh their transferability. The clser IFQs are t being secure and durable, the strnger the incentive fr fishermen t cnserve the resurce. In New Zealand, where IFQs are cnsidered prperty rights and nt privileges, fishermen play an active rle in enhancing their fish stcks. Thrugh self-impsed levies, quta hlders channel their wn mney int cmpanies whse primary missin is t increase stck abundance ver time. IFQs have prven effective in addressing the prblems f the fishery where cmmand-and-cntrl regulatins have largely failed. In fisheries where IFQs have been tried, they have ended the race fr fish, reduced the excesses in fishing fleets, and helped managers achieve better results in cnservatin. These accmplishments have taken place withut individual prcessr qutas, withut severe restrictins n IFQ transfers, and withut sunset prvisins. Given that uncertainty is s pervasive in s many aspects f fisheries management - frm agreement n what plicy will best achieve sciety s bjectives thrugh t much mre technical issues such as hw much fish shuld be harvested frm a single management stck - it is little wnder that there have

11 11 been a number f management respnses, r perhaps mre accurately, experts prpsals n what shuld be dne t accmmdate such uncertainty. The mst cmmn is that f the Precautinary Apprach. Thugh this cncept has been expanded t cver mst aspects f Fisheries Management, its cre cncept remains vital that decisins shuld nt be deferred because f lack f scientific prf t supprt a cnservatin actin. In the management areas, as in Iceland, and many thers we are familiar with, the Precautinary Apprach remains an emergency measure and nt a tl f day-t-day r year-t-year management. In these situatins the prblem must be recast in the field f risk assessment and risk management. The methds fr risk assessment in fisheries exist, but this is a field still in its infancy. The challenge nw is t mve in t risk management, helping decisin-makers t understand the implicatins f different actins they can take in the decisin making cntext. Hwever, the methdlgies are well develped and have been available fr decades and are apprpriate t the prblems t be cnfrnted. 5. Fishery Plicy in ther cuntries 5.1 Details f the plicy initiatives Africa The fishery strategy/plicy f Africa cvers the entire gamut f inland fisheries, castal and marine fisheries, and aquaculture (Ann, 2005a): Inland Fisheries: Imprving fisheries gvernance and defining resurce access, in particular fr the pr. Enhancing prductivity thrugh pst harvest management. Sustaining prductin thrugh integrated water resurce management. Supprting transbundary management. Imprving market access, in particular fr small-scale prducers, prcessrs and traders. Prmting enterprise develpment thrugh enabling institutins and plicy framewrks. Strengthening cnsideratin f inland fisheries in natinal and reginal plicies and actins n fd security. Castal and Marine Fisheries: Preparatin and implementatin f lng-term fisheries management plans and supprtive plicies fr sustained prductin.

12 12 Building capacity f African cuntries t harness the full benefits f marine and castal fisheries. Imprving fisheries gvernance and participatry management. Imprving management f the castal and marine envirnment. Strengthening the access f African fisheries t reginal and internatinal trade in fish prducts. Supprting pst-harvest activities thrugh adequate investments and plicies. Prmting enterprise develpment thrugh enabling institutins and plicies. Strengthening cnsideratin given t castal and marine fisheries in natinal and reginal plicies and actins n fd security. Aquaculture: Develping sectr-wide strategies at natinal level fr expansin and intensificatin f aquaculture. Supprting pririty aquaculture znes. Encuraging private sectr investment acrss the sectr. Applying prven technlgies t increase prductin. Maintaining the cmpetitive advantage that Africa s envirnment prvides fr aquaculture prductin. Harnessing the pprtunities fr small and medium enterprise develpment prvided by expanding dmestic markets fr fish, including grwing urban demand. Supprting the emerging reginal trade in aquaculture prducts. Harnessing the pprtunity f expanding exprt markets fr high-value prducts t increase investment in African aquaculture prductin and prcessing. Expanding the adptin f integrated small-scale aquaculture as a means f increasing rural prductivity and fd security. Expliting the ptential f aquaculture prductin t cntribute t fd security Prgrammes. If investments are made acrss these areas it is prjected that the stagnating r declining fishery prductin in the regin can be stabilized and in a few cases expanded. By imprving prcessing and access t reginal and glbal markets thrugh imprved plicies and public-private partnership investments in quality cntrl capacity, market infrmatin systems, and sectr management, it is expected that their cntributins t sci-ecnmic develpment can be enhanced and diversified. In the case f aquaculture, substantial grwth in sustainable prductin is expected t be achieved.

13 13 T guide these investments and enhance sustainability f impact, several crss -cutting areas such as the develpment f sectr-wide strategies fr fisheries and aquaculture using ecnmic planning appraches and a cmprehensive valuechain perspective, are prpsed t be supprted. Strengthening f the reginal capacity fr research and develpment and supprting the technical expertise in the regin thrugh netwrking and imprved cmmunicatins, are t be addressed. Implementatin f this Actin Plan shall fllw a pilting apprach with Fasttrack Prgrammes t be identified fr immediate actin. These shall fcus n areas f strategic reginal imprtance and current grwth and will prvide a learning prcess fr subsequent expansin f activities. In additin, the pertinent lessns and experiences frm ther regins and sectrs are effectively applied t accelerate the develpment f African fisheries and aquaculture. This Actin Plan serves as an Africa-wide framewrk fr develping specific interventins by stakehlders at Reginal Ecnmic Cmmunity and natinal levels, taking int accunt their n-ging initiatives and develpment pririties. This will enable these stakehlders t expand the scpe f their successful initiatives, addressing critical capacity and strategy needs, and linking with relevant knwledge and technlgies in ther regins f Africa Australia In late June 2000 a majr plicy review was cmmissined by the Australian Gvernment fr fisheries and fisheries management t ensure that the fisheries can meet new challenges and changing envirnmental expectatins. The Natinal Fisheries Plicy f Australia is t achieve ptimal levels f cmpliance with fisheries laws by maximising vluntary cmpliance and creating an effective deterrent against illegal activity (Ann, 2004b). Strategic bjectives critical t achieving this missin, include: Maintaining prductive wrking relatinships with stakehlders and develping a partnership apprach t fisheries management where pssible; Pursuing cperatin with fisheries stakehlders t develp and implement fisheries plicies and laws that identify ptential risks and strategies t lessen them; Pursuing cperatin acrss jurisdictins t frm effective alliances between related agencies; Integrating cmpliance strategies int fishery management arrangements at the initial planning stage;

14 14 Mnitring and acting quickly t cmbat pprtunistic as well as rganised criminal invlvement in fisheries; Ensuring that fisheries laws are administered and enfrced fairly, reasnably and cst effectively fr bth fishers and cmpliance agencies, and Maintaining the effectiveness and integrity f cmpliance staff thrugh advanced training, prcesses and accuntable decisin making. NFA (Victria) Freshwater Fisheries Management Plicy This Plicy seeks t prvide a plan fr the management f all Victrian freshwater fisheries. It seeks t prvide a balance between cnservatin issues and the legitimate interests f recreatinal anglers and ther users f Victrian waterways. Whilst this Plicy has been prepared by Native Fish Australia an NGO, it is nt intended t be cncerned slely with the interests f native fish, rather it seeks t prvide a management structure fr bth native fish and extic fish in a way that recgnises the value f each t the cmmunity and the largely cmmn interest f thse cncerned with each sectin f the fishery (Ann, 1999c) Bangladesh The natinal plicy bjective in the Natinal Fishery Plicy f 1998 states: "pverty alleviatin thrugh creating self-emplyment and imprvement f sci-ecnmic cnditins f the fishers" (Ahsan Dewan Ali, 2005). Specific bjectives frmulated in the Fifth five-year Plan ( ) are: increased fish prductin fr imprved nutritinal standards; increased emplyment; imprved envirnmental management; increased exprt revenues; and imprved scial and ecnmic cnditins fr fishers and fish farmers; imprve the bilgical and institutinal management mechanisms; strengthen research, extensin and management c-rdinatin British Virgin Islands Brad plicy guidelines, bth medium and lng-term fr the fisheries sectr in the British Virgin Islands (Ann, 2005i) are as under: Plicy Gal

15 15 T prmte sustainable management and grwth f the sectr within a diversified ecnmy. Objectives T increase the prductin f fish fr lcal use and fr exprt. T fully explit the available and under-utilised fish resurce. T imprve the living standards f the fishermen. T ensure envirnmental sustainability within the aquatic areas related t the fisheries sectr. Artisanal/Castal Pelagic/Pelagic Fishery Plicy Gal T strengthen the capacity f artisanal fishermen by encuraging / prmting fishing further ff-shre. T imprve the extensin services available t fishermen. T revive dmestic prductin/reduce high imprts f shellfish. T prmte fishing as a lucrative ccupatin. T develp the ptential fr explitatin f pelagic fish stcks. Strategies Facilitate mre efficient fishing by training f fishermen in imprved fishing techniques. Establish fingerling supply centres fr aquaculture. Encurage ventures int fish farming and demarcate sme Bays fr this type f fishery. Prmte lng-line fishery. Establish a Gvernment supprted venture int purchase f an equipped trawler fr lng-line fishing. Cnduct scientific studies t verify BVI s fish resurce stcks, spawning seasns and fish migratry patterns fr develping effective management measures. Establish fishermen cperatives. Increase the vessels invlved in lng-line fishery t ten. Explre pprtunities fr exprt and enhance lcal cnsumptin. Purchase f a well-equipped multipurpse/training vessel fr the Cnservatin and Fisheries Department. Increase surveillance effrts/prtect the fishing banks frm illegal fishermen.

16 16 Prvide security f fishing bats within BVI s fishing banks/territrial waters. Gvernment t ensure a guaranteed market and apprpriate price fr landed catches. Enfrcement f regulatins n marine turtles. Recreatinal Fisheries Plicy Gals T harness the revenue earning ptential f the fishery. Strategies Increase fishing licence fees acrss the bard, particularly fr freignbased vessels while giving a waiver fr lcally based sprt-fishing vessels. Encurage lcal investment in the fishery, particularly Big Game Sprt Fishing. Streamline registratin f vessels and licensing f freign vessels invlved in sprt fishing. Define terms/cnditins fr perating issued licences and permits. Regulate the fishery by putting in place cnservatin measures t prtect targeted species frm ver explitatin e.g. pen/clsed seasns, size, catch landing, etc. Prmtin f the BVI as a sprt fishing venue. Ecnmic Perfrmance Plicy Gal Enhance the diversificatin f the ecnmic base thrugh strategic fisheries management and investment initiatives. Strategies Increase GDP cntributins frm fisheries by 10%. Increase/Categries cmmercial fishing license fees. Increase gvernment investment fr prvisin/maintenance f facilities such as landing sites. Prvide access t lans fr purchase f vessels and equipment. Prvide custms duty except fr fishing vessels and equipment. Establish lcal bait industry.

17 17 Invest in aquaculture/mariculture and demarcate certain areas fr the type f fisheries. Fish Marketing and Distributin Plicy Gal T enhance cnsumer cnfidence in purchase f lcally caught fish prducts. T develp an effective marketing strategy. Strategies Revitalizatin f the BVI Fishing Cmpany. Streamline present marketing system. Prvide incentives fr fishermen t use facilities prvided at the BVI Fishing Cmplex. Explre ptential fr exprtatin f unexplited fish species. Cnduct a research t determine extent f ciguatera in BVI fish stcks. Obligatry testing f all species fr ciguatera pisning. Rehabilitate prcessing and preservatin facilities at the BVI Fishing C. Surveillance and Enfrcement Plicy Gal T reduce lss f revenue frm illegal fishing activities and licensing f fishermen. Strategies Establishment f a Fisheries Surveillance and Enfrcement Unit manned by trained fficers. Prvisin f a patrl bat with imprved sea-ging ability. Training and use f lcal fishermen in surveillance. Prmte the use f Plice Air Patrl Unit fr surveillance duties. Legislatin Plicy Gal T imprve the enfrcement f the existing fisheries legislatins.

18 18 Strategies Establishment f a fisheries surveillance and enfrcement unit. Training f persnnel in enfrcement duties. Prcurement f a well equipped surveillance vessel. Infrastructure Plicy Gal T imprve the maintenance f facilities fr the prcurement f fish landed by fishermen. Strategies Imprvement f dck site at BVI Fishing Cmpany. Establishment f mre landing sites with basic amenities f water, electricity, strage shed and security. Resurce Management and Cnservatin Plicy Gal T rejuvenate verexplited stcks f fish. Strategies Demarcatin f mre fisheries prtected areas/demarcatin f dive areas fr fisheries prtectin. Set regulatins fr cnservatin f verexplited reef fish stcks as well as extic fish species. Cnduct an assessment f BVI s fish stcks. Data Management Plicy Gal T strengthen the capacity fr data cllectin within the fisheries unit. Strategies Establishment f infrmatin management unit within the Cnservatin & Fisheries Department.

19 19 Emplyment and training f mre data cllectrs. Prcurement f equipment. Plicy fr the enhancement and prtectin f fisheries and the related marine ecsystem. This addresses issues n cnservatin f fish resurces (stcks) and prtectin f assciated marine ecsystem, invlving the fllwing: establishment f marine prtected areas. prtectin f fisheries breeding habitats e.g. mangrves/sea grass beds. definitin f apprpriate fishing techniques/practices. definitin f clsed and pen seasns fr fish species. cnservatin f endangered species. explitatin f abundant species e.g. pelagics. reslutin f cnflicts with turism activities. Plicy fr the apprpriate management and cntrl f ptentially envirnmentally damaging activities such as land reclamatin and dredging. This addresses issues n: impacts f develpmental activities n the envirnment. land based surces f pllutin. pllutin frm turism activities. Plicy t prmte the ecnmic develpment f fisheries. This invlves illegal exprtatin f fish. landing f catch in the territry. dmestic fish marketing. duties/taxes n fishing equipment. access t lans by fishermen. prvisin f infrastructures. revisin f licence fees and registratin f bats Bulgaria The fisheries sectr is imprtant fr the ecnmy f the Republic f Bulgaria, especially in sme less develped areas and alng the Black Sea and the Danube River casts.

20 20 With the bjective t implement structural measures in the area f agriculture and fisheries an Agency (t the State Fund Agriculture ) knwn as SAPARD was established with a Cuncil f Ministers Decree frm the 6 th July The Agency will c-finance targeted prjects, in cnfrmity with the pririties identified in the Natinal Agriculture and Rural Develpment Plan ( ), amng which are imprvement f prductin, prcessing and marketing f fish and fish prducts (including aquaculture), s that they cmply with the EU standards (Ann, 2000b). The plan includes the fllwing measures eligible fr supprt related t fisheries: Measure 1. Imprvement f prcessing and marketing f agricultural and fish prducts. Accrding t this measure, prcessing establishments will be financed in rder t imprve the hygiene and quality f the fish prducts t meet the requirements f the EU. Measure 2. Develpment and diversificatin f the ecnmic activities. This measure aims at creating pssibilities fr diversified activities generating alternative incme (fr example frm agri-turism, sprts fishing, etc). Based n the experience gained frm using the pre-accessin funds under the SAPARD Prgramme, the Republic f Bulgaria will achieve capacity t apply the Financial Instrument fr Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) t prvide structural aid fr the recnstructin and mdernisatin f the fishing fleet (withut increasing its fishing capacity after the accessin f Bulgaria t the Eurpean Unin), fr the mdernisatin f prt facilities, develpment f aquaculture, prcessing and marketing f fish and fish prducts and sci-ecnmic measures Cambdia The strategic gals that are being adpted t guide fisheries sectr develpment (Ann, 2004d; Wrld Bank, 2004a) include: All living aquatic resurces shuld be harvested within their sustainable limits by 2010; Gvernance systems and prcedures that allcate resurces use rights and bligatins thrugh demcratic means and cmmunity participatin are in place and fully peratinal by 2010; The supply f fish and fishery prducts will keep pace with increasing demands t safeguard the nutritinal standards, and the scial and ecnmic well-being f cmmunities depending n fisheries fr their livelihd;

21 21 Effective and adequate supprt is prvided t help private sectr develpment and expansin in fisheries, in particular aquaculture where Cambdia has significant cmparative advantages; and Critical habitats used fr fisheries and aquaculture are safeguarded. Specific Objectives The specific bjectives, related t each gal are utlined belw. Ensuring all living aquatic resurces shuld be harvested within their sustainable limits by The extractin f living aquatic resurces fllws what is safe and prudent under precautinary principles fr the management and administratin f living aquatic resurces; A scientific base t supprt the management and administratin f Cambdia s living aquatic resurces is established and peratinal; and The authrities in clse cllabratin with lcal cmmunities carry ut mnitring and enfrcement. Establishing gvernance systems and prcedures that allcate resurces use rights and bligatins thrugh demcratic means and cmmunity participatin are in place and fully peratinal by Lcal cmmunities carry ut the allcatin f resurces use-rights and use bligatins at lcal levels; Reginal fisheries cuncils (cmmunity based) adpt revlving management plans fr all fisheries and aquatic resurce usages; Lng term (five year) revlving fisheries management plans are prepared and adpted t guide the use f living aquatic resurces and their habitats; Scientific infrmatin, statistics, stck assessments, scial and ecnmic infrmatin frms the basis fr the preparatin and implementatin f management plans; and The fisheries service plays a supprtive rle t lcal cmmunities and the lcal administratins in establishing and implementing cmmunity based fisheries management systems and prcedures. Ensuring the supply f fish and fishery prducts will keep pace with increasing demands t safeguard the nutritinal standards, and the scial and ecnmic well-being f cmmunities depending n fisheries fr their livelihd.

22 22 Fish prductin frm capture fisheries, bth inland and marine fisheries, is reduced t cnfrm t the sustainable capacity f the aquatic resurces and habitats; The prductin f fish and ther aquatic resurces frm aquaculture and farming fisheries is increased t cmpensate fr the anticipated reductin frm capture fisheries and increasing demands; and Market frces drive fisheries sectr develpment and private sectr investments in fisheries and aquaculture, including prductin, trade, prcessing and marketing. Prviding effective and adequate supprt t help private sectr develpment and expansin in fisheries, in particular aquaculture where Cambdia has significant cmparative advantages. All necessary technical supprt t supprt private sectr fisheries and aquaculture develpment is available frm DOF and its supprtive agencies; Institutinal financing is available t supprt private sectr develpment with wrking capital and investment credits; A favurable business envirnment that is cnducive t private sectr investment and develpment prevails; and Special measures and prjects initiated t supprt pverty alleviatin and alternative (t capture fisheries) emplyment pprtunities in aquaculture and farming fisheries sub-sectrs. Ensuring critical habitats used fr fisheries and aquaculture is safeguarded. All fishing and aquaculture activities are carried ut in a manner that cnfrms with sund envirnmental and eclgical principles; Lcal parameters fr envirnmental management is established and adhered t; and Lcal cmmunities under the guidance and supprt f the fishery service, carry ut lcal mnitring and evaluatin f cmpliance with sund envirnmental principles. The main elements related t the management f marine fisheries mentined in the plicy are: T create jb pprtunities and upgrade the livelihds f peple in lcal cmmunities; T ensure equitable access t and distributin f fisheries benefits including exprt earnings;

23 23 T extend the institutinal respnsibilities f fisheries management t fishing cmmunities; T enhance the prtectin and sustainable use f fishery resurces; T prmte aquaculture and mariculture t fulfill the nutritinal requirements f the peple and t reduce the catch f wild resurces; and T encurage the integratin f fisheries management with verall rural develpment in fishing cmmunities. T designate znes that shuld be reserved fr cnservatin as well as thse that wuld be kept pen fr sustainable use Canada Shifts in wrld markets, declines in harvests f traditinal species, maturing f existing markets and changing harvesting and prcessing technlgies etc., have led t the frmulatin f the Emerging Fisheries Plicy in 1996 t clearly lay ut the requirements that must be met and the prcedures t fllw befre a new fishery can be initiated. A crnerstne f the new Canadian fishery plicy is prvisin fr the establishment f a scientific base with which stck respnses t new fishing pressures can be assessed. This new plicy replaced the "Plicy n Underutilised Species" which was n lnger adequate in the current envirnment. Nt nly des the Emerging Fisheries Plicy prvide applicants with a transparent prcess t fllw, it als gives the fishery managers a prcedure that can be applied fairly and cnsistently (Ann, 2001a). This plicy is als precautinary in its apprach t the develpment f new fisheries. The bjective is t diversify fisheries and increase ecnmic returns while ensuring cnservatin f the stcks and realising the sustainable use f fisheries resurces. This plicy applies t all new fisheries undertaken in marine r freshwater areas where the Department f Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) manages the fishery. Abriginal peple have the cnstitutinal right t fish fr fd, scial and ceremnial purpses. This right is secnd nly t cnservatin. DFO has a plicy f prmting increased abriginal participatin in the management f fisheries, especially thrugh c-management agreements, as well as prviding ecnmic develpment pprtunities in existing and new fisheries. Management f new fisheries fllws an integrated apprach that blends science and business principles and effective invlvement f gvernment, industry and ther parties t ensure fisheries are eclgically and ecnmically sustainable. It requires decisins n rles and respnsibilities with regard t management, enfrcement and scientific cmpnents within each explratry harvest plan. DFO cntinues t fster and develp emerging fisheries in c-peratin with

24 24 Prvinces and Territries. Prvinces and Territries have an ecnmic develpment mandate and, as such, have interest in the develpment f new fisheries that ffer alternatives fr the preservatin and develpment f castal regins and cmmunities. In this rle, Prvinces and Territries, if required, prvide assistance - financial and therwise - t crprate and individual prpnents thrughut the develpment prcess. In additin, the licensing and inspectin (ther than fr exprt) f fish prcessing facilities, including thse invlved with emerging fisheries initiatives, are Prvincial/Territrial respnsibilities. The Canadian Visin fr the Management f New Fisheries is "Healthy and abundant fishery resurces supprting sustainable uses." Fisheries invlving new species and/r stcks that are nt utilised r nt fully utilised, and nt currently cvered by a management plan. In achieving this, the new fisheries plicy is guided by the fllwing: New fisheries must prvide fr a reasnable scientific basis fr their management. The prcess by which new fisheries will be managed must include the requirement fr stck assessment infrmatin in the early stages. Prpnents will bear respnsibility t maximise cllectin f scientific infrmatin frm catches and fr c-perative wrk with DFO scientists wh will be respnsible fr analyzing the data/infrmatin btained. New fisheries shuld cntribute psitively t the ecnmical viability f a fishery enterprise n an nging basis. All requests frm applicants must include prpsals that utline research, management and cnservatin appraches as well as cst f these appraches. Guiding Principles Cnservatin will nt be cmprmised - a precautinary apprach will guide decisin making. Infrmatin n the abundance, distributin, and prductivity f the target species is identified as the key scientific requirement fr develpment f precautinary management strategies. The ptential impact r interactin f any new fishery r gear n assciated r dependent species, fishing r gear type and n habitat will be assessed. Based n bilgical and envirnmental infrmatin, including input frm industry, prvinces/territries and the public cnservatin standards will be established, cnditins fr harvesting will be set and their applicatin mnitred.

25 25 Users are accuntable fr cmpliance with cnservatin standards fr meeting harvesting cnditins. In allcating persnnel and financial resurces, pririty will be given t the research, management and enfrcement f established fisheries. Users, thrugh partnership arrangements, will participate mre in the management f the fishery. Abriginal peples will be prvided access t the resurce cnsistent with the law and gvernment's respnsibilities. Canada's Oceans Strategy As a plicy framewrk, Canada's Oceans Strategy has the verarching gal t ensure healthy, safe and prsperus ceans fr the benefit f current and future generatins f Canadians. The plicy framewrk is intended t guide the crdinatin and management f cean activities including fisheries (Ann, 2002b). As set ut in the Oceans Act, the Strategy is based n the three principles f sustainable develpment, integrated management and the precautinary apprach. These three principles guide all cean management decisin making. Applicatin f these principles is premised n a sund base f scientific and traditinal knwledge. The scientific knwledge required t make ceans management decisins encmpass bth natural and scial dimensins. It is derived frm surces inside and utside Canada and its gvernments. Under the Strategy, the Gvernment f Canada cmmits t ensuring that these three principles serve as guides and tests fr assessing future ceans management decisins. Three plicy bjectives r utcmes have been identified fr the advancement f ceans management activities: Understanding and Prtecting the Marine Envirnment; Supprting Sustainable Ecnmic Opprtunities; and Internatinal Leadership. The sustainable develpment principle rests at the cre f Canada's Oceans Strategy. It recgnizes the need fr integratin f scial, ecnmic and envirnmental aspects f decisin making, and that any current and future cean resurce develpment must be carefully undertaken withut cmprmising the ability f future generatins f Canadians t meet their needs. While this principle applies t all cean management cnsideratins, frm an peratinal perspective, this Strategy cmmits the Gvernment f Canada t ensure its implementatin thrugh the prcess f integrated management planning.

26 26 The cnservatin and sustainable use f fisheries resurces is ne f the key gals within the bjective f Supprting Sustainable Ecnmic Opprtunities under the Canadian Ocean Plicy. S t is the develpment f aquaculture in a manner that supprts public cnfidence and industry cmpetitiveness. Fisheries managers and scientists are develping a renewed apprach tward management that is based n cnservatin, bjectives-based fisheries management techniques within an ecsystem s cntext. This requires wrking mre clsely with cmmercial, recreatinal and Abriginal licence hlders and fleet sectrs t prmte greater invlvement in, and respnsibility fr, peratinal management activities. The Plicy framewrk fr management f fisheries n Canada s Atlantic Cast (Denis DeSantels, 1999) addresses a brad range f fisheries management challenges including: Cntinuing threats t cnservatin and stck rebuilding; High management csts and cmplex regulatry system fr many fisheries; Excess participatin and ther impediments t ecnmic viability leading t cntinuing demands fr increased fisheries access by prvinces, cmmunities and resurce users; Uncertainty f the access and allcatin prcess cntinues t undermine the department s effrts t prmte stability and prvide incentives t reward psitive cnservatin practices; and A high dependence n the Minister and the department fr decisin making; and Resurces users share little respnsibility fr the management f fisheries and the decisins taken. These challenges are addressed thrugh plicy strategies designed t achieve the fur bjectives laid ut in the plicy framewrk. The plicy framewrk has tw cre bjectives Cnservatin and Sustainable Use and Self-reliance and tw supprting bjectives A Stable and Transparent Access and Allcatin Apprach and Shared Stewardship. Nine principles serve t guide fisheries decisin-making and act as a guide t evaluate the cnsistency f future fisheries management decisins against the framewrk s bjectives China China's fisheries have entered a rapid grwth perid since The average annual grwth rate was 13.6%, much higher than the wrld average, which was 1.5%. The ttal fisheries prductin in China was abut 25 millin tns in 1995 and 44.3 millin tns in 2002 and ranked first in the wrld and accunted fr