Conference on Small-Scale Fisheries

SUPPORT AND PROMOTE GLOBAL SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES
 -TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES + SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(Download the seminar rapport at the bottom of the page.)  

_{Recommendations to address the Fisheries Crisis:}

These recommendations is the outcome of a two day workshop held in Copenhagen, Denmark, 8-9 September, 2009. It is prepared by the Danish Fishing Network and representatives from the African Union Fisheries Division, the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (India), Tambuyog Development Centre (the Philippines), Coastal Links (South Africa) and Institute for Security Studies (South Africa).

It is now widely accepted that global fisheries are in crisis. The European Union, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Bank, Civil Society, small-scale and artisanal fishworker organizations and researchers from all over the world have alerted us and predict enormous economic losses, depletion of fish and ecosystem degradation, increasing levels of food insecurity and increased poverty in the worlds' small-scale fishing communities.

To overcome this crisis it is imperative for decision-making bodies, particularly national and international governing institutions, to address the underlying problems. The following paragraphs provide some key proposals for addressing the above issues.

Fisheries Access (Partnership) Agreements between ACP countries and the world's biggest fishing nations, including the EU, China, Japan and the USA, have a significant negative impact in the world's fish stocks. The decline in fish stocks in ACP countries, primarily as a result of overfishing by foreign vessels, is having a negative impact on the potential for small-scale fisheries to thrive and develop. It is therefore imperative to reconsider and renegotiate the fisheries partnership agreements and change the objectives of these agreements from extracting the resources to achieving sustainable fisheries. Renegotiation must be more inclusive, and guarantee the participation of small-scale fishing communities and civil society organizations. Furthermore, it is crucial that only excess fish stocks are allowed to be harvested by foreign interests, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that the precautionary principle is applied in the case of inadequate scientific information, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Finally, the financial compensation received by ACP countries has to accurately reflect the value of the resources harvested, and be used to assist small-scale fisheries to develop, while ensuring biological sustainablity in fisheries.

Corruption in fisheries has received relatively little attention compared to other extractive industries- this despite the fact that various types of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, are taking place in the marine waters of many developing countries, leading to overfishing and marine ecosystem destruction.  In order to combat corruption and its negative effects, it is imperative to improve access to information. This will strengthen the capacity of civil society, encourage public accountability, and combat corruption in fisheries, particularly in ACP countries.

Small-scale fishing communities generally have little political power, and consequently have insignificant influence in decision making processes. The reason for this de facto exclusion of fishing communities in decision making processes is first and foremost because of the limited levels of mobilisation and organisation in small-scale fisheries. In order to achieve social and economic development and biological sustainability, it is crucial that national and international governing bodies create a conducive environment and provide the means for community members to mobilise and organise themselves.
Develop accurate accounting for depreciation of social and natural capital. A report by the World Bank (Sunken Billions: The Economic Justification for Fisheries Reform) states that half of the global fishing capacity could be scrapped with no effects on total catches. The report also states concern that some fishing nations ”artificially inflate” GDP by depreciating natural capital. In order to change this economic paradigm there must be an accurate accounting of depreciation of natural, and social, capital in all fisheries sectors, so that fleet reductions target those sectors that most inhibit the recovery and appreciation of fish stocks and ecosystems. Where values are uncertain and risk is high, such risks must be priced into production costs.

At a fundamental level, any solutions pursued must be consistent with a human rights-based approach. Domestic and external fisheries policies, as well as development cooperation policies, must meet human rights obligations--civil, political, economic, cultural and social--and must have a special focus on currently disadvantaged populations, in particular small-scale fishing communities and women of these communities.