Ecosystem-based management of fisheries. Opportunities and challenges for coorination between marine regional fishery bodies and regional seas conventions
Documents - Paper: Conference paper
30 Nov 1999
Practical application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is still in early stages of development by regional organizations respectively competent for fisheries, and for the marine and coastal environment. EAF was seen as a platform for potential cooperation between these bodies by the Subcommittee on Ocean and Coastal Areas of the UN Administrative Committee on Coordination. To this end, this paper has been developed jointly and discussed by FAO and UNEP. The paper presents a brief description of marine regional fishery bodies (RFBs) and regional seas conventions (RSCs), their origin, mandate, functioning, etc., and recalls the origin of the EAF requirement. Activities of both groups of commissions are described. Future actions and possibilities for collaboration are discussed. It is suggested that as ecosystem considerations and indicator frameworks are increasingly factored into fisheries management, the funcitonalities of RFBs and RSCs will need to be adapted in a practical, cost-effective way to meet future needs. This could be done in a way that would not overburden either RFBs or RSCs, and build on current programmes. Some examples of activities which could form a basis for practical cooperation are suggested. Taking into account current activities of RFBs and RSCs, as well as the experience gained through the cooperation already established between some RFBs and RSCs, concrete suggestions are made for options that may lead to enhanced cooperation on ecosystem-based fishery management.
Author: FAO and UNEP
Organizer: FAO and UNEP
Related Topics: The ecosystem approach to fisheries management
