|
The framework for international interaction and
collaboration on fisheries matters is characterised
by the existence of a large number of regional
fishery bodies - about 40 already exist and new
ones are being established - with exclusive
responsibilities. Some o have real management
powers and make decisions on allowable catches,
quota allocations by fishing nation, and technical
management measure (on mesh size, fishing seasons,
closed areas, etc.). Many have a purely advisory
role and foster statistics collection, information
exchange and scientific analysis. These only advise
members on management and provide a forum, as well
as training opportunities, in contributing to
capacity-building. Many of the latter are
established under the aegis of FAO.
United Nations institutions
A large number of international organizations
that deal with fisheries but are not involved in
fisheries management. Although it is not possible
to review them all ,a number of relevant
international institutions are established under
the United Nations, such as:
- The United Nations holds the Secretariat of
the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and
monitors its implementation through its
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the
Sea (DOALOS). This Division is also the
Secretariat of the International Tribunal for
the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which recently
dealt with the Australia-Japan-New Zealand
conflict regarding the Southern Pacific Bluefin
Tuna.
- The United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) as the main deliberative organ of the
United Nations, it deals with some important
fisheries questions. For example, it fostered
and followed the development of the 1982 UN
Convention of the Law of the Sea as well as the
1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement. It is the source
of the international ban on large-scale pelagic
driftnet fishing and has recently addressed the
question of illegal fishing.
- The UN Open-ended Informal Consultative
Process on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
(UNICPOLOS) was established in 2000 to
advise the UNGA on matters relevant to the
sustainable development of oceans.
- The Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD) is a discussion forum established as a
follow-up to the UN Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED, Brazil, 1992). and
regularly addresses fisheries matters.
- The ACC Subcommittee on Oceans and
Coastal Areas (SOCA), as a subcommittee of
the Administrative Committee on Coordination
(ACC) of the UN, it oversees and reports on the
implementation of the Agenda 21's Chapter 17,
which deals with oceans and coastal areas.
- The Joint Group of Experts on the
Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental
Protection (GESAMP) provides advice relating
to the scientific aspects of marine
environmental protection to its sponsoring UN
organizations, as well as to member states and
other organizations of the United Nations
system. It prepares periodic reviews and
assessments on the state of the marine
environment and identifies problems and areas
requiring special attention.
- The International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) deals indirectly with fisheries
through such issues as flags of convenience
(open registers), international rules for
navigation, safety at sea, disposal of disused
oil platforms. .
- The International Labour Organization
(ILO) regulates the conditions of work on
board of fishing vessels greater than 24 length
overall (LOA).
- The World Trade Organization (WTO)
touches on fisheries for issues related to trade
and environment, tariffs and non-tariff trade
barriers, subsidies, etc.
- The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
affects fisheries through its mandate and
recommendations related to the conservation and
use of biodiversity.
Non-UN international organizations
A number of other, non-UN, more or less
specialised organizations or country groupings deal
with fisheries as part of a more general mandate,
such as:
- The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) recently increased its interest in
aquatic species subject to large scale
exploitation such as fishery target
species.
- OLDEPESCA is the Latin American
organization for fisheries development whose
main purpose is to adequately meet Latin
American food requirements by using the area's
fishery resource potential for the benefit of
Latin Americans and by promoting the steady
development of Latin America and continual
strengthening of regional cooperation in
fisheries.
- The International Centre for Living
Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), or
the World Fish Center, is the only fisheries
organization in the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It
is devoted to global research to improve the
productivity, management and conservation of
aquatic resources for the benefit of users and
consumers in developing countries.
- The Network of Aquaculture Centres in
Asia-Pacific (NACA) is an autonomous
regional organization aimed at promoting
regional aquacultural development to increase
food security, income and employment and
operates on the principle of technical
cooperation among developing countries.
- The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development
Center (SEAFDEC) is an inter-governmental
agency established in 1967 to promote fisheries
development in Southeast Asia. The SEAFDEC's
ultimate goal is to assist member countries in
developing fishery potentials for the
improvement of the region's food supply through
training, research and information programmes
and services.
In addition, some regional economic
organizations are also concerned with specific
aspects of fisheries. Among the ones most active in
fisheries are: the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), Caribbean Community and Common
Market (CARICOM), Commonwealth of Independent
States, Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), European Community (EC), League of Arab
States, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), Secretariat of the South
Pacific Forum (SPF), Southern African Development
Community (SADC); Economic Community of Central
African States (ECCAS).
Non-governmental organizations
Finally, a number of international
non-governmental organizations deal with fisheries,
either exclusively or as part of a broader mandate.
Among these are:
- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
whose goal is to stop, and eventually reverse,
the degradation of the planet's natural
environment, and to build a future in which
humans live in harmony with nature. WWF seeks to
achieve this goal through preserving genetic,
species, and ecosystem diversity; ensuring that
the use of natural resources is sustainable both
now and in the long term; and promoting action
to reduce pollution and wasteful consumption to
a minimum.
- The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
influences, encourages and assists societies
throughout the world in conserving the integrity
and diversity of nature and in ensuring that any
use of natural resources is equitable and
ecologically sustainable.
- The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
is a global charitable organization that has
established a certification system and labelling
scheme for sustainable fisheries products.
- The International Coalition of Fisheries
Associations (ICFA) consists of national
fisheries trade groups of the leading fishing
nations of the world. Its objective is to
preserve and maintain the oceans as a major fish
source of food. In this light, members of ICFA
are committed to the long-term sustainable use
of marine resources to contribute to global food
security.
- The International Collective in Support
of Fishworkers (ICSF) deals with issues that
concern fishworkers the world over and is
involved in monitoring and research, exchange
and training, campaigns and action programmes
and communications.
- Greenpeace is a global environmental
campaigning organization. It prepares public
campaigns for, among others, the protection of
oceans against the release of genetically
modified organisms into nature and the promotion
of renewable energies in order to stop climate
change.
|
