Title: Taking the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries to the grassroots: adaptation and dissemina
1Taking the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible
Fisheries to the grassroots adaptation and
dissemination
- Chandrika Sharma
- International Collective in Support of
Fishworkers (ICSF)
2 Why CCRF?
- Realization that fisheries resources are
finite--cannot sustain rapid and uncontrolled
exploitation and development - Clear signs of overexploitation of fish stocks,
ecosystem modifications, significant economic
losses, conflicts on management and fish trade
threatening long-term sustainability of fisheries
and contribution of fisheries to food supply.
True of Bay of Bengal countries . - Agreement on need to maintain fisheries and
aquaculture as a vital source of food,
employment, recreation, trade and economic
well-being of people, including future
generations.
3 The CCRF
- The Code provides principles and standards
applicable to the conservation, management and
development of all fisheries. - It 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. - The Code recognizes the nutritional, economic,
social, environmental and cultural importance of
fisheries and the interests of all those
concerned with the fishery sector. - Four IPOAs and 12 Technical Guidelines under the
CCRF. Also Strategy for Improving Information on
Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries and the
Compliance Agreement.
4 The CCRF
The Code is global in scope, and is directed
toward members and non-members of FAO, fishing
entities, sub regional, 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 (Art. 1.2)
5 Disseminating the Code
- States and users of living aquatic resources
should conserve aquatic eco-systems. 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 (Art 6.1). - The Code explicitly recognizes that responsible
fisheries can only be achieved if all those
concerned with the fisheries sector collaborate
in the fulfillment and implementation of the
objectives and principles contained in the Code. - The Code assumes that the State will take the
leadership role in bringing all stakeholders
together to achieve responsible fisheriesonus on
the State.
6 Disseminating the Code
- States and international organizations, whether
governmental or non-governmental, should promote
the understanding of the Code among those
involved in fisheries (Article 4.4) - States should ensure that fishers and fishfarmers
are involved in the policy formulation and
implementation process, also with a view to
facilitating the implementation of the Code
(Article 6.16).
7 Disseminating the Code
- The Code is not cast in stone. It outlines the
broad objectives and principles for responsible
fisheries. It has to be adapted to local
realities, to foster greater national
implementation. - Popular participation in adapting the Code to
suit national conditions will lead to enhanced
acceptance of the Code.
8 Disseminating the Code
- The Code needs to be simplified translated and
disseminated through various ways. - This process of dissemination is not an end in
itselfit is a means to an end, the end being to
stimulate dialogue, consultative processes and
participation in policy making and legislation to
achieve responsible fisheries.
9 Disseminating the Code
- The outcomes of consultation (on measures needed
for responsible fisheries) need to be fed back
into policy and legislationthis will ensure
better ownership and implementation of measures
proposed, and improved fisheries management. - The most effective implementation of the Code
can only be through a viable partnership between
the government, industry and the civil society.
10 Disseminating the Code
- Small-scale fishworkers constitute the vast
majority of those in the fisheries in Bay of
Bengal countries. Special focus on this
sub-sector, seeking their ownership of the Code,
and their participation in its implementation, is
paramount. - The need to focus on fisheries (not fishing),
including on post-harvest sector, and on all
stakeholders, including women in the sector, is
essential.
11 Disseminating the Code
- Lack of essential information in Bay of Bengal
countries is a major constraint to the
implementation of the Code. - There is need to draw on wide range of
information to facilitate informed decision
makingon traditional knowledge systems and on
best available scientific informationand to
encourage research on information gaps. - Not only the Code, but also information essential
for its implementation, needs to be widely
disseminated (TG 12 on Information and Knowledge
Sharing). - .
12 Disseminating the Code
- Several examples of disseminating the Code, and
related essential information - Regional workshops, for example on safety at sea
and IPOA shark (BOBP-IGO), on Asserting rights,
defining responsibilities - perspectives from
small-scale fishing communities on coastal and
fisheries management in Asia and on legal
instruments relevant to fisheries (ICSF)
13 Disseminating the Code
- Several examples of disseminating the Code, and
related essential information - National level meetings/ workshops/ training
programmes, for example, on ILO Convention,
fisheries management, safety at sea, women in
fisheries, for fishworker organizations in India
and Sri Lanka (ICSF, NFF, SIFFS, NAFSO), for
fishworker representative and cooperative
(governments of Sri Lanka and Maldives,
BOBP-IGO), organization of fisherfolk weeks
(BOBP-IGO)
14 Disseminating the Code
- Several examples of disseminating the Code, and
related essential information - Translation of code of conduct Sinhala (NAFSO)
Divehi, Bangla, Tamil and other Indian regional
languages, in both brief and simplified format,
and complete text (governments, BOBP) - Pamphlets, posters, comics, calenders, case
studies/reports, publications (governments,
BOBP), newsletters/Journals (SAMUDRA Report,
Yemaya, BOBP Newsletter). - Audio-visual Radio programmes, street
plays, videos/films (governments, BOBP)
15 Disseminating the Code
- Several examples of disseminating the Code, and
related essential information - Integration into the educational curriculum
(Government of Maldives) - Village information centres in India (MSSRF)
- Projects Co-management projects (ICLARM, FAO-
Bangladesh co-management project in Tamil Nadu
and Kerala (SIFFS/UNTRIS/FAO Project), Safety at
sea project (Bangladesh), Shrimp seal of quality
programme (NACA, initiated in Bangladesh)
16 Disseminating the Code
- Many more such initiatives to reach the
grassroots, are needed. We are still a long way
from realizing responsible fisheries!
17THANK YOU