Ccrf

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and conservation of aquatic biodiversity

Jaspreet SinghFRM-MA6-04

Contents: Biodiversity meaning. Classification of biodiversity. Threats to biodiversity

World fisheries: context (facts/issues)‒ Why it needed? OR Why do we manage the fisheries in a responsible manner?

The Code of Conduct (CCRF)‒ Origin‒ Definition‒ Aim ‒ Structure (Articles)

CCRF - Implementation‒ Technical Guidelines‒ Compliance level

Outlook - suggestion

BIODIVERSITY

Definition:‘Biological diversity’ or biodiversity is that part of nature which includes the differences in genes among the individuals of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at different scales in space, locally, in a region, in the country and the world, and various types of ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic, within a defined area.

 The word BIODIVERSITY originates from the Greek word BIOS = LIFE and Latin word DIVERSITAS = VARIETY or DIFFERENCE. The whole word BIO DIVERSITY generally therefore means: VARIETY OF LIFE. 

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

Natural causes:Narrow geographical areaLow populationLow breeding rateNatural disastersAnthropogenic causes:Habitat modificationOverexploitation of selected speciesInnovation by exotic speciesPollutionHuntingGlobal warming and climate changeAgriculture

Why it needed? OR

Why do we manage the fisheries in a responsible manner?

1. Overexploitation or depletion of the stock : result the loss of potential benefits such as food, income and employment both immediately and in long term.

2. Ecological damage that may result in the negative effect on fish population itself and also on other species in the habitat. (By-catch,  discards, pollution, habitat degradation)

3. Economic waste due to over investment in fishing activity causing over capacity and resulting in the loss of future economic income.

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

CCRF (Code) The code is a set of guidelines (do’s and don’ts) to be voluntarily

implemented for conducting fishing, processing and trade activities in

a responsible manner so as to make them sustainable in accordance

with relevant international laws for the benefit of present and future

generations.

OR

The code sets out the principles and international standards of

behaviour for responsible practices with a view to ensuring the

effective conservation, management and development of living aquatic

resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity.

• Responsible fishing implies “the recognition that fishes in the oceans are a renewable resource which must be protected and manage to be ensure that catches in the short term never exceed the long term sustainable yield…fishing that is conducted in an ecologically and environmentally responsible manner to provide for protection of the stocks and the marine habitat and to drive the max socio-economic benefits.”

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

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

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

Article-1:Nature and scope of the Code

1.1 The Code is voluntary in nature (UNCLOS,1982 and Agreement to Promote

Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by

Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, 1993).

1.2 The Code is global in scope (Directed toward members and non-members of FAO,

fishing entities, subregional, regional and global organizations, whether

governmental or non-governmental, and all persons concerned with the

conservation of fishery resources and management and development of fisheries,

such as fishers, those engaged in processing and marketing of fish and fishery

products and other users of the aquatic environment in relation to fisheries).

1.3 The Code provides principles and standards applicable to the

conservation, management and development of all fisheries. It also

covers the capture, processing and trade of fish and fishery products,

fishing operations, aquaculture, fisheries research and the integration

of fisheries into coastal area management.

1.4 The term fisheries applies equally to capture fisheries and

aquaculture.

Article-2: Objectives of the Code

• Promote protection of living aquatic resources and their environments and coastal areas;

• Promote the trade of fish and fishery products in conformity with relevant international rules and avoid the use of measures that constitute hidden barriers to such trade;

• Promote research on fisheries as well as on associated ecosystems and relevant environmental factors; and

• Provide standards of conduct for all persons involved in the fisheries sector.

• Provide guidance which may be used where appropriate in the

formulation and implementation of international agreements

and other legal instruments, both binding and voluntary;

• facilitate and promote technical, financial and other

cooperation in conservation of fisheries resources and

fisheries management and development;

• Promote the contribution of fisheries to food security and

food quality, giving priority to the nutritional needs of local

communities;

• Establish principles and criteria for the elaboration and

implementation of international law and national policies

for responsible conservation of fisheries resources and

fisheries management and development;

Article-3:Relationship with other international instruments

• UNCLOS,1982

• Cancun Conference 1992

• Agreement to Promote Compliance with International

Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing

Vessels on the High Seas, 1993.

• International Parties

Article-4: Implementation, monitoring and

updating4.1 All members and non-members of FAO and global organizations,

whether governmental or non-governmental, and all persons concerned with the conservation, management and utilization of fisheries resources and trade in fish and fishery products should collaborate in the fulfilment (promote) and implementation of the objectives and principles contained in this Code.

4.2 FAO, in accordance with its role within the United Nations system, will monitor the application and implementation of the Code and its effects on fisheries and the Secretariat will report accordingly to the Committee on Fisheries (COFI).

4.3 FAO, through its competent bodies, may revise

the Code, taking into account developments in

fisheries as well as reports to COFI on the

implementation of the Code.

Article-5:Special requirements of developing

countries• Relevant international organizations, whether governmental or non-

governmental, and financial institutions should give full recognition to the special circumstances and requirements of developing countries, including in particular the least-developed among them, and small island developing countries.

• States, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and financial institutions should work for the adoption of measures to address the needs of developing countries, especially in the areas of financial and technical assistance, technology transfer, training and scientific cooperation and in enhancing their ability to develop their own fisheries as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such fisheries.

Article-6:General principles

1. The right to fish carries with it the obligation to do so in a responsible manner so as to ensure effective conservation and management of the living aquatic resources.

2. Fisheries management should promote the maintenance of the quality, diversity and availability of fishery resources in sufficient quantities for present and future generations in the context of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

3. States should prevent overfishing and excess fishing capacity and should implement management measures; and should take measures to rehabilitate populations.

4. Apply precautionary approach.

5.Conservation and management decisions for fisheries should be based on the best scientific evidence available, also taking into account traditional knowledge of the resources and their habitat, as well as relevant environmental, economic and social factors.

6.Selective and environmentally safe fishing gear and practices ,minimize waste, catch of non-target species, both fish and non-fish species, and impacts on associated or dependent species.

7.The harvesting, handling, processing and distribution of fish and fishery products should be carried out in a manner which will maintain the nutritional value, quality and safety of the products, reduce waste and minimize negative impacts on the environment.

8. All critical fisheries habitats (wetlands, mangroves, reefs, lagoons, nursery and spawning areas) should be protected from destruction, degradation, pollution and other significant impacts resulting from human activities that threaten the health and viability of the fishery resources and rehabilitate them.

9. States should ensure multiple uses of the coastal zone and integrated into coastal area management, planning and development.

10.Framework to ensure compliance with code.

11.States should ensure that vessels flying their flags fulfil their obligations concerning the collection and provision of data relating to their fishing activities.

12. International trade in fish and fishery products should be conducted in accordance with the principles, rights and obligations established in the WTO Agreement and other relevant international agreements.

13.States should cooperate in order to prevent disputes and resolved in a timely, peaceful and cooperative manner.

14.States should promote awareness of responsible fisheries through education and training and ensure that fishers and fishfarmers are involved.

15.States should appropriately protect the rights of fishers and fishworkers, particularly those engaged in subsistence, small-scale and artisanal fisheries.

16.States should consider aquaculture in responsible manner and minimize adverse impacts on local communities and environment.

Article-7:Fisheries management

Article 7.1 General

Article 7.2 Management objectives

Article 7.3 Management framework and procedures

Article 7.4 Data gathering and management advice

Article 7.5 Precautionary approach

Article 7.6 Management measures

Article 7.7 Implementation

Article 7.8 Financial institutions

7.1 General

7.1.1 States and all those engaged in fisheries management should adopt measures for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources.

7.1.2 States should cooperate for transboundary fish stocks, straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks and high seas fish stocks.

7.1.3 A subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement should include representatives of States.

7.1.4 A non-member State should nevertheless cooperate.

7.1.5 Representatives should be given timely access to the records and reports of meetings, subject to the procedural rules on access to them.

7.1.6 States should take measures to prevent or eliminate excess fishing capacity.

7.1.7 States should ensure transparency in the mechanisms for fisheries management and in the related decision-making process.

7.1.8 States should give due publicity to conservation and management measures and ensure that laws, regulations and other legal rules governing their implementation are effectively disseminated.

7.2 Management objectives

Recognizing that long-term sustainable use of fisheries resources is the overriding objective of conservation and management.

Excess fishing capacity is avoided and exploitation of the stocks remains economically viable;

The economic conditions under which fishing industries operate promote responsible fisheries;

The interests of fishers, including those engaged in subsistence, small-scale and artisanal fisheries, are taken into account;

Biodiversity of aquatic habitats and ecosystems is conserved and endangered species are protected;

Depleted stocks are allowed to recover or, where appropriate, are actively restored;

Adverse environmental impacts on the resources from human activities are assessed and, where appropriate, corrected;

Pollution, waste, discards, catch by lost, catch of non-target species, both fish and non- fish species, and impacts on associated or dependent species are minimized and development of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques;

States should assess the impacts of environmental factors.

7.4 Data gathering and management advice

7.4.1 Best scientific evidence.

7.4.2 The results of fisheries research should be disseminated to interested

parties.

7.4.3 Studies should be promoted which provide an understanding of the

costs, benefits and effects of alternative management.

7.4.4 States should ensure that timely, complete and reliable statistics on

catch and fishing effort are collected and maintained in sufficient detail to

allow sound statistical analysis.

7.4.5 Sufficient knowledge of social, economic and institutional factors

should be developed through data gathering, analysis and research.

7.4.6 States should compile and exchange fishery-related and other

supporting scientific data.

7.4.7 Data should available in a consistent manner with any applicable

confidentiality requirements.

7.5 Precautionary approach

catch and effort limits for new or exploratory fisheries.

States should take into account size and productivity of the stocks, levels and distribution of fishing mortality and the impact of fishing activities, including discards, on non-target and associated or dependent species, as well as environmental and socio-economic conditions.

The absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures.

7.6 Management measures • States should ensure that the level of fishing permitted is commensurate

with the state of fisheries resources.

• States should adopt measures to ensure that no vessel be allowed to fish unless so authorized.

• Mechanisms should be established to reduce fishing capacity to levels commensurate with the sustainable use of fisheries resources by monitoring the capacity of fishing fleets.

• The performance of all existing fishing gear, methods and practices should be examined and phased out and replaced with more acceptable alternatives.

• Recognition should be given to the traditional practices, needs and interests of indigenous people and local fishing communities which are highly dependent on fishery resources for their livelihood.

• In the evaluation of alternative conservation and management measures, their cost-effectiveness and social impact should be considered.

• The efficacy of conservation and management measures and their possible interactions should be kept under continuous review.

• States should promote, to the extent practicable, the development and

use of selective, environmentally safe and cost effective gear and

techniques.

• States should make every effort to ensure that resources and habitats

critical to the well-being of depleted or threatened with depletion

resources which have been adversely affected by fishing or other human

activities are restored.

Article-8:Fishing operations

Article 8.1 Duties of all States

Article 8.2 Flag State duties

Article 8.3 Port State duties

Article 8.4 Fishing activities

Article 8.5 Fishing gear selectivity

Article 8.6 Energy optimization

Article 8.7 Protection of the aquatic environment

Article 8.8 Protection of the atmosphere

Article 8.9 Harbours and landing places for fishing vessels

Article 8.10 Abandonment of structures and other materials

Article 8.11 Artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices

• Protection of the marine environment and the prevention of damage to or loss of fishing gear.

• Prohibit dynamiting, poisoning and other comparable destructive fishing practices.

• Documentation with regard to fishing operations, retained catch of fish and non-fish species and, as regards discards.

• States should promote the adoption of appropriate technology, taking into account economic conditions, for the best use and care of the retained catch.

• States should cooperate to develop and apply technologies, materials and operational methods that minimize the loss of fishing gear and the ghost fishing effects of lost.

Article -8.4 Fishing activities

Article 8.5 Fishing gear selectivity

• Fishing gear, methods and practices, to the extent practicable, are sufficiently selective

• States and relevant institutions should collaborate in developing standard methodologies for research into fishing gear selectivity, Fishing methods.

• In order to improve selectivity, States should, when drawing up their laws and regulations, take into account the range of selective fishing gear, methods and strategies available to the industry.

Article: 8.7 Protection of the aquatic environment

• Introduce and enforce laws and regulations based on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78).

• Owners, charterers and managers of fishing vessels should ensure that their vessels are fitted with appropriate equipment as required by MARPOL 73/78

• Minimize the taking aboard of potential garbage through proper provisioning practices.

• The crew of fishing vessels should be conversant with proper shipboard procedures in order to ensure discharges do not exceed the levels set by MARPOL 73/78.

Article: 8.8 Protection of the atmosphere

• Reduction of dangerous substances in exhaust gas emissions.

• Vessels should fitted with equipment to reduce emissions of ozone depleting substances.

• Provision for the phasing out of the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and transitional substances such as (HCFCs) in the refrigeration systems of fishing vessels.

• Use of alternative refrigerants to CFCs and HCFCs and alternatives to Halons in fire fighting installations. should follow international guidelines for the disposal of CFCs, HCFCs and Halons.

• Establish an institutional framework for the selection or improvement of

sites for harbours for fishing vessels

Article: 8.9 Harbours and landing places for fishing vessels

• Establishing the frame work of proper site for fishing harbour.

• Waste disposal systems should be introduced,

• Pollution from fisheries activities and external sources should be minimized; and

• Arrangements should be made to combat the effects of erosion and siltation.

Article: 8.11 Artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices

• Enhancing fishing opportunities through the use of artificial structures.• Materials and geographical location selection for artificial reefs must be

concern the environment and safety of navigation .

• Establish management systems for artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices. Such management systems should require approval for the construction and deployment of such reefs and devices and should take into account the interests of fishers, including artisanal and subsistence fishers.

• Ensure authorities responsible for maintaining cartographic records and charts for the purpose of navigation.

Article-9:Aquaculture development

• Responsible development of aquaculture under national jurisdiction

• Responsible development within transboundary aquatic ecosystems

• Use of aquatic genetic resources

• Responsible aquaculture at the production level

Article-10:Integration of fisheries into coastal area management

• Institutional framework

• Policy measures

• Regional cooperation

• Implementation of Coastal Area Management

Article-11:Post-harvest practices and trade

• Responsible fish utilization

• (FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant organizations

or arrangements)

• Responsible international trade

• (WTO Agreements)

• Laws and regulations relating to fish trade

Article-12: Fisheries research

• Implementation of Code requires the availability of a sound scientific

basis to assist fisheries managers and other interested parties in

making decisions.

• States should ensure that appropriate research is conducted into all

aspects of fisheries.

CCRF - Implementation

Implementation of CCRF in India

(27035/19/99-Fy: T-5) 9th Nov., 1999

Three Sub-groups:

I: Marine fisheries development, infrastructure development, training and

safety at sea.

II: Responsible aquaculture development and application of fisheries

research.

III: Post-harvest practices and trade in fisheries.

Technical Guidelines

Intended to assist fisheries professionals in understanding the technical aspects of

the Articles of CCRF.

FTG-1: For fishing operations

FTG-2: For precautionary approach to capture fisheries and species introduction

FTG-3: For integration of fisheries into coastal area management

FTG-4: For fisheries management

FTG-5: For aquaculture management

FTG-6: For inland fisheries

FTG-7: For responsible fish utilization

FTG-8: Indicators for sustainable development of marine capture fisheries

FTG-9: Implementation of the IPOA to prevent deters and eliminates IUU

fishing

FTG-10: Increasing the contribution of small scale fisheries to poverty

alleviation and food security

FTG-11: Responsible fish trade

FTG-12: Information and knowledge sharing

What need to be done for effective implementation of the code?

1. The Govt. should incorporate its principles and goals into national fishery policies and regulations.

2. Govt. should take steps to consult with industries and other groups to promote their support and voluntary compliance.

3. Govt. should encourage fishing communities and industry to develop codes of practice that are consistent with and support the goals and propose of the code of conduct.

4. The guidelines of code need to be translated in local languages.

5. All stakeholders should work together to conserve and manage fish resources and their habitat.

6. Govt. should develop national capacities in order to improve their ability to develop and manage fisheries and aquaculture.

References:

FAO. 2011. Code of conduct for responsible fisheries. Assessed from:

http://www.fao.org/fishery/publications/code/en.

Raj, R.P., Chandrapal, G.D., and Moza, U., 2011. Responsible fisheries and aquculture. In:

Ayyappan, S. et.al., 2011. Handbook of fisheries and aquculture. ICAR. pp. 950-963.