The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

(CCRF)

Fisheries Department FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Scope of presentation - for Session V. - GEF IW Conference:

Overview of CCRF & implementation efforts

– World fisheries: context (facts/issues)

– The Code of Conduct (CCRF)

– CCRF - Implementation

– Outlook - suggestion

– Barg, FAO

World FisheriesFor human consumption: fish = 18% of all

animal protein consumed

World trade of fish: more than US $ 50 billion/year; half by developing countries; more important than tea, coffee

Total production: = 117 million tonnes (mt)

capture fisheries = 86 mt = 74%(marine = 67 %;

inland = 7%)aquaculture = 31 mt = 26%for human consumption = 79% (rest = reduced)

World Fisheries: Major Issues

Contribution to food security– food supply and human nutrition

Poverty alleviation and rural development– livelihoods of small scale fishing & farming

communities

Sustainable development – conservation and management of

resources

World Fisheries: Major Issues

Over-fishing & excess capacity of fishing effort

Environmental effects of fishing: habitat degradation

By-catch, discards

Environmental impacts (pollution, habitat

degradation) ON fishery resources: inland waters, also coastal waters

The Code of Conduct for Responsible

Fisheries(FAO, 1995)

The CCRF: Its Origins

FAO Committee of Fisheries meeting 1991: call for more responsible practice, better management

1992 Cancún Conference on Responsible Fishing called on FAO to prepare a Code of Conduct

Technical Consultations 1992-1995 lead to adoption of CCRF by FAO Conference Member Governments

The CCRF: Its Goals

sustainable benefits from fisheries in terms of food, employment, trade and economic well-being for people throughout the world

provides principles and standards applicable to the conservation, management and development of all fisheries

The CCRF: Its Structure

Articles of the Code

– Art. 1: Nature and scope

– Art. 2: Objectives of the Code

– Art. 3: Relationship with other International

Instruments

– Art. 4: Implementation, Monitoring and Updating

– Art. 5: Special Requirements of Developing

Countries

– Art. 6: General Principles

The CCRF: Its Structure

Articles of the Code

– Art. 7: Fisheries management

– Art. 8: Fishing Operations

– Art. 9: Aquaculture Development

– Art. 10: Integration of Fisheries into Coastal Area

Management

– Art. 11: Post-Harvest Practices and Trade

– Art. 12: Fisheries Research

CCRF : ActorsAll members and non-members of FAO,

Fishing entities, sub-regional, regional and global organisations, governmental or non-governmental,

and

All other interested stakeholders concerned with fisheries resources and fish trade

CCRF: ImplementationFAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries

CCRF: Implementation

• Numerous initiatives at national levels– awareness raising, better practice,

planning, legislation,

• Monitoring, reporting and discussions – FAO Committee of Fisheries (COFI)– Regional Fishery Organisations / Fishery

Commissions

CCRF: Implementation issues

• Building institutional capacity

• Coping with social stress and costs

• Finding optimal transition pathways

• Selecting optimal mix of measures

• Mobilising participation

• Protecting small-scale fisheries

• Capacity building ; training; human resource development

• Insufficient technical assistance and financial resources

CCRF: ImplementationFAO support to Technical & Policy

consultations on:– Eco-labelling – Sustainability Indicators – Fisheries Monitoring– Property Rights in Fisheries Management– Seabirds; Sharks; Management of Fishing

Capacity.– Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated

Fishing

CCRF: ImplementationMajor Projects

– Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme

Western Africa (UK)

– Research & Fisheries Management in Lake Tanganyika

(Finland)

– Reduction of environmental impact from Tropical

Shrimp Trawling (- GEF support)

– Sustainable Management of Bay of Bengal Large

Marine Ecosystem (- GEF support)

CCRF: ImplementationMajor ProjectsInter-regional Programme for the Assistance to

Developing Countries for the Implementation of the CCRF, components :– Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), and

Scientific Advice for Fisheries Management (Norway)

Components awaiting support:– Compliance Agreement; Statistics; Fishing Operations;

Resource Surveys; Policy, Planning and Management; Fleet Restructuring Policies; Post-Harvest Practices & Trade; Support to NGOs

CCRF: Implementation

International Consensus-building: next major

FAO Expert Meetings:

– Economic Incentives and Responsible Fisheries (incl. subsidies)

– Strategies & Investment Needs for the Transition to Responsible Fisheries in Asia

– Management of Shared Stocks

– Reduction of Fishing Capacity

– Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem

CCRF: ImplementationEnhancing Major Information Resources -

Facts, Strategic Advice and Networking for Sustainable World Fisheries:

– FAO FISHSTAT PLUS Data Base– UN Atlas of the Oceans– FAO Fisheries Atlas– FAO Fisheries Global Information System

(FIGIS)– GLOBEFISH markets and trade– ONEFISH - Internet Portal for Fisheries

Research

Outlook: CCRF - Call for support

The FAO Conference called on States, International Organisations, whether Governmental or Non-Governmental, and all those involved in fisheries to collaborate in the fulfilment and implementation of the CCRF.

The FAO Fisheries Department welcomes continued co-operation in support of implementation of the CCRF.

Outlook: CCRF - Call for support

In Your GEF International Waters Projects, please,

THINK OF

FISH and FISHERIES

INVOLVE

“FISH PEOPLE”