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|  However, problems of accidental capture of low-resilience and ecologically-sensitive species could emerge as in the large-scale driftnet fisheries. The relative failure of international management to establish sustainable fisheries in many areas, despite the high quality of the research sometimes provided, is clearly demonstrated by the dwindling resource base, excessive catching capacity, uncontrolled transfers of fishing effort between resources and oceans, depletion of many highly valuable resources, including those in the Antarctic, and possibly beyond recovery for some whales.The fact that uncontrolled development of fishing effort leads to serious ecological, social and economic problems has now been widely acknowledged in the scientific literature and by high-level fisheries management and development authorities. In day-to-day practice, however, this verbal recognition does not always seem to translate into facts and the future of high seas resources must therefore be considered carefully. A strengthened framework for better management of high seas resources is provided by the 1995 UN Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the 1982 Convention of the Law of the Sea Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the UN Fish Stocks Agreement) and by the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its 1993 Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (the Compliance Agreement). In addition, the adoption in 1999 by the FAO Committee on Fisheries of an international plan of action to curb Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU fishing) is a positive move towards improving management in both EEZs and the high seas.Trade in fish is common to all societies and has taken place from time immemorial. A fisher returning with more fish than is needed to meet personal needs will tend to exchange surplus fish for other goods or services. The distribution of fish globally is also very uneven. Some places enjoy abundance far beyond the needs of the local population, while others may have no direct access to fisheries resources. This necessitates trade, which achieves a more even distribution of fish across the globe. | | | | Trade has always played an important part of the fisher's livelihood, even in ''subsistence" fisheries. International fish trade has been increasing very rapidly in recent decades. An estimated 45% of the world catch is now traded internationally. The widespread use of refrigeration, and improved transportation and communications has facilitated a vast expansion of trade. The theory of international trade tells that through free and unhindered trade we could optimise the benefits of fisheries resources for humanity as a whole. The idea of free trade in the fisheries, however, is often vehemently contested because there are often tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and other distorting factors, such as subsidies, present in trading relationships. | | | | International trade rules have developed through several rounds of international trade negotiations under the GATT. The last of these, the 1994 Uruguay Round, agreed to establish the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and a number of important agreements with relevance to fisheries were concluded. The FAOs Committee on Fisheries has a Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, which provides an inter-governmental forum for consultations on technical and economic aspects of trade in fish and fish products. | | | | |
 | | | | | | | Title | Information on Fish Trade (FAO FISHINFO Network)
( WEBSITE )
| | Description | FAO Network providing information on fish trade | |
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| Content Language(s) | English | | Web Address (URL) | http://www.fao.org/fi/gl ... c/map.htm | |
| Type of Website | Thematic website | |
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1076 Topics - 5135 Related Knowledge - 2534 Members - 34 Editors |
