Putting Into Practice The Ecosystem Approach To Fisheries

Although the principles of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) are not new, there is very little practical experience in their implementation. Translating high-level policy goals into operational objectives and actions is now the key challenge to sustainable fisheries. This describes the EAF approach and assesses its benefits, considers what is required for its implementation and the range of management measures available, and highlights outstanding research issues.

Boom-and-bust cycles are commonplace in the exploitation history of sea cucumber fisheries but pandemic overfishing to critical levels now threatens the persistence of breeding stocks for future generations of coastal fishers. Resource managers must embrace an ecosystem approach to fisheries, in which biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and the concerns of stakeholders are taken into account alongside of the productivity of stocks and the economic gains from fishing. This booklet provides a "roadmap" for developing and implementing better management of sea cucumber fisheries.--Publisher's description.

"Sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems is high on regional, national and international agendas and central to the implementation of international agreements on biological diversity, responsible fisheries and fish stock management. Since 2001, when political commitments were made to implement the ecosystem approach, countries have begun to incorporate ecosystem considerations into their fisheries management and have met with varied success." "The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries covers both theoretical andapplied aspects of sustainable management, with a particular emphasis on reviewing concepts and addressing implementation issues in the form of case studies from around the world. Personal experiences are considered from diverse backgrounds and discuss the constraints encountered, strategies identified and best practices to facilitate further implementation."--BOOK JACKET.

These guidelines have been produced to supplement the FAO code of conduct for responsible fisheries which was instituted in 1995. The main volume of guidelines were published in 1997 (Fisheries management - .B17514496).

The publication documents the results of the review of the level of implementation of the FAO Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) by the fisheries management bodies in each of the different ABNJ regions. The review was designed to help identify future activities by the ABNJ Deep Sea Project to address gaps and capacity development and make recommendations to strengthen EAF among deep-sea fisheries management bodies and/or their members. The information to complete the EAF reviews was largely obtained from web-based materials. To assist with the accuracy of these desktop assessments, following initial drafting of each EAF background report and associated EAF assessment, both documents were sent to the respective RFMO secretariats. Comments and/or suggestions provided by the secretariats were then addressed with revised versions of the background reports and review assessments generated. Based on these revised reports, the comparative analyses were finalized and a full report was drafted. Being a desk-top assessment of the level of implementation of the EAF approach by each of the RFMO management bodies, the study had a number of caveats including only being able to measure systems and processes, not outcomes. A more complete assessment of EAF adoption and especially the outcomes would require direct involvement of the various stakeholders, including all relevant management, compliance and scientific bodies, contracting parties (CP), non-contracting parties (NCP), vessel owners, crews, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

This Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management training course (Inland Fisheries) is designed as a complete training course for the sustainable management of inland fisheries using the ecosystem approach. It is targeted at middle-level fishery and environment officers, extension workers, facilitators and other stakeholders engaged in the planning and management of inland fisheries. This training course is designed to be applicable to many inland fishery contexts around the world (including overlapping freshwater fishery/aquaculture systems). It is also intended to be adapted to suit specific local contexts. This the first of three volumes, developed for the training course: VOLUME 1: HANDBOOK FOR TRAINEES VOLUME 2: INLAND FISHERY CASE STUDIES VOLUME 3: TRAINING COURSE PRESENTATIONS & VISUALS VOLUME 4: TRAINING SESSION PLANS This volume is VOLUME 1: HANDBOOK FOR TRAINEES and contains the background reading material required for each of the training course modules.

A pilot case study on the implementation of the ecosystem approach to the purse-seine fisheries in Lebanon initiated in 2016, under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon. One of the first steps in the pilot case study was the elaboration of a Baseline Report, which is presented in this publication. The Baseline report documents the available information on the purse seine fishery with the objective to assist with the rest of the management planning process. It describes relevant information about the fishery, the species and geographical areas covered in the case study, the socioeconomic profile of the fishery and the institutional arrangements for its management.