Closing the Gap: The Role of 'Soft' International Instruments to Control Fishing

Edeson, William R.

doi:10.22145/aybil.20.4

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The most significant of the non-binding agreements is the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (FAO, 1995a). The Code establishes 19 general principles (an abbreviated version from Edeson, 1999, is given in Box 21.5) which include prevention of overfishing and excess fishing capacity, conservation of ecosystems, application of the precautionary approach, transparency in decision making, and decisions based on the best scientific evidence available. Several non-binding International Plans of Action (IPOAs) have also been adopted by the FAO to promote implementation of the Code, including an IPOA for the Management of Fishing Capacity, and one to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.…”

Section: Institutional Arrangements For An Ecosystem Approach To Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several non-binding International Plans of Action (IPOAs) have also been adopted by the FAO to promote implementation of the Code, including an IPOA for the Management of Fishing Capacity, and one to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These non-binding agreements are referred to as 'soft governance', and Edeson (1999) concludes they are a useful instrument for achieving responsible governance of fisheries. An important aspect of the Code and the IPOAs is that they apply to fisheries within national jurisdictions, in addition to fisheries on the high seas.…”

Section: Institutional Arrangements For An Ecosystem Approach To Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Governance for responsible fisheries: an ecosystem approach.

Sissenwine

Mace²

2003

Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The term, 'responsible' can be interpreted in many ways. For fisheries, we believe responsible means sustainable production of human benefits, which are distributed 'fairly', without causing unacceptable changes in marine ecosystems. Governance is broader than fisheries management. It consists of formal and informal rules, and understandings or norms that influence behaviour. Responsible fisheries requires self-governance by the scientific community, the fishing industry and the public (including politicians), as well as responsible fisheries management. An ecosystem approach to fisheries management, also known as ecosystem-based fisheries management, is geographically specified fisheries management that takes account of knowledge and uncertainties about, and among, biotic, abiotic and human components of ecosystems, and strives to balance diverse societal objectives.Much has been written about the principles that should underlie an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. The key elements of the approach should be: (i) goals and constraints that characterize the desired state of fisheries and undesirable ecosystem changes; (ii) conservation measures that are precautionary, take account of species interactions and are adaptive; (iii) allocation of rights to provide incentives for conservation; (iv) decision making that is participatory and transparent; (v) ecosystem protection for habitat and species of special concern; and (vi) management support, including scientific information, enforcement and performance evaluation. Fisheries ecosystem plans are a useful vehicle for designing and implementing fisheries management systems that capture these six elements. Such plans should highlight a hierarchy of management entities, from an ecosystem scale to the local scale of communities; ocean zoning, including marine protected areas (MPAs) and other geographically defined management measures; and specification of authorized fishing activities, with protocols required for future authorizations.The scientific community needs to govern itself so that it produces scientific information that is relevant, responsive, respected and right. A multi-faceted approach is needed, including monitoring of fisheries and ecosystems, assessments and scientific advice tailored to management needs, and strategic research investments to improve monitoring and assessments in the future. One serious problem facing scientists is the controversial nature of assessments and scientific advice. This problem needs to be addressed with a three-pronged strategy that calls for: separation of scientific institutions from management; collaborative research with the fishing industry; and transparent quality assurance of scientific advice. The last-named requires peer review, which either can be integrated into the process of preparing the advice (referred to as integrated peer review) or can be conducted following the preparation of the advice (referred to as sequential peer review). The appearance of potential conflict of interest by peer rev...

show abstract

Section: Institutional Arrangements For An Ecosystem Approach To Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Institutional Arrangements For An Ecosystem Approach To Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Governance for responsible fisheries: an ecosystem approach.

Sissenwine

Mace²

2003

Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The IPOAs on seabirds and sharks, like a potential IPOA on sea turtles, are subject-specific in their focus and deal with the LUGTEN general minimization of wasteful fishing practices and, in the case of the IPOA-Sharks, the issues of conservation and management. 41 In February 2003, the 25th COFI meeting convened in Rome and considered, inter alia, a Report on Progress of the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Related International Plans of Action. 42 The Report reveals an appalling level of state interest in, and compliance with, the FAO IPOAs.…”

Section: The Fao Ipoasmentioning

confidence: 99%