Marine Fisheries Policy Research Articles

Contribution and Prospect of Marine Fisheries in the Economy of Bangladesh and Sustainable Blue Economy Challenges: A Review

Marine resources of Bangladesh are abundant, both in terms of huge sea area and its biological richness. The marine water area supports a large number of commercially important fin fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and seaweeds, offering significant economic potential due to their diversified use and high demand in the international market. Therefore, the current review comprehensively examines both the contribution and potentials of marine fisheries resources to the economy, as well as the challenges involved in marine fisheries sectors in attaining a sustainable blue economy in Bangladesh. The study revealed that, the marine fisheries plays an important role in national economy and has huge prospect in employment generation and ensuring food security of Bangladesh. The expansion of mariculture and effective utilization of marine resources will open a new window for the economic development of Bangladesh. Marine fisheries production of Bangladesh has increased over the last two decades, but its relative share in total fisheries production has declined. Despite being rich in marine living resources, commercial mariculture has been developed only for shrimp, prawn, and mud crab. Challenges hindering mariculture expansion includes limited research, technological deficiencies, inadequate skilled workforce, underdeveloped domestic seafood markets, and financial constraints. Concerted efforts including exploring new fishing grounds, conducting stock assessments, implementing scientific management strategies, enacting a national marine fisheries policy, enforcing legislation, and establishing robust surveillance and monitoring mechanisms are required to foster a sustainable blue economy in Bangladesh.

Future advances in UK marine fisheries policy: Integrated nexus management, technological advance, and shifting public opinion

Having left the European Union, the UK Fisheries Act (hereafter referred to as the Act) provides a framework that may advance sustainable marine resource management. This requires the bias towards social-economic concerns to be recognised, and greater emphasis to be placed on securing the natural capital to support fisheries. A Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) to be published in 2022 by the UK’s devolved fisheries authorities will set out how the objectives of the Act will be achieved. While recognising the value of principles of the Act, this article challenges the current management framework in light of the wider challenges in fisheries practice. It argues for more emphasis on ecological and fisheries regeneration, and maximising societal benefits rather than yields. Three recommendations are provided: (1) an integrated and more holistic Fisheries-Energy-Environment Nexus resource management approach would better utilise systems thinking to optimise trade-offs and synergies between competing domains to achieve fisheries, conservation and other environmental goals (e.g. delivering the national net zero strategy); (2) the use of best available technologies as is reasonably practicable to monitor compliance and facilitate enforcement should be a regulatory requirement under the JFS; (3) the fisheries and marine conservation science community should work with other stakeholders to change the media narrative, public opinion, and political direction away from a “business-as-usual” model that risks long-term degradation of the marine fisheries resource.

Tuna Fisheries within the West Indian Ocean: Is there a Role for COMESA?

Tuna is an important marine resource and is caught in most of oceans. Certain tuna species in some of the existing stocks are already overfished, while others are fully exploited. The West Indian Ocean stock, composed mostly of skipjack and yellowfin is reported as moderately exploited and hence, requires efforts in order to prevent movement of the stock towards collapse. This paper acts as a short review of information relating to the tuna fishery within the WIO region. Various mechanisms such as those stemming from the UNCLOS are in place and efforts to streamline management of the tuna fishery are ongoing. However, within the WIO tuna fishery, a number of DWFNs are active within the WIO stock while some COMESA member countries such as Comoros have no exports reported in their trading books. Besides, the DWFNs operating in the fishery which have deployed better technology catch and trade more tuna than countries operating a less technical operation.The paper further utilizes a gravity model in an attempt to clarify whether membership to COMESA as well as other tuna management organizations can improve tuna exports from the WIO. Unlike the bulk of gravity models in trade literature, our approach uses a number of proposed estimation approaches — Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood Estimator, Heckman Sample Selection Estimator as well as the usual OLS — also used for comparison. Results imply that COMESA membership does not improve tuna exports. The authors conclude that COMESA needs to speed up the development of a marine fisheries policy which can guide investment in the value chain in order to improve the lives of coastal folk and earn revenue. This it can do with the help of resolutions made through established mechanisms e.g. IOTC and Inter-Governmental Organizations such as SWIOFC and other Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. At the national level, support by CSOs can help provide a platform to drive the agenda and include local priorities in policy development. In addition, suggestions are provided on agreements between fisheries authorities and trade partners, recommendations which may strengthen the bargaining position of WIO countries and introduce management decisions based on economic reasoning.

Landing profiles of Portuguese fisheries: assessing the state of stocks

Long-term trends in Portuguese fisheries landing profiles of biodiversity, assemblage composition, trophic groups and marine trophic index (1950–2009) were studied to understand the evolution of the fisheries from an ecological viewpoint and evaluate the effects of fisheries on stocks. The number of species landed has increased considerably since the 1980s. This indicates an expansion of the fisheries and also a better use of the marine biodiversity for redistributing effort. Changes in the ecological composition of fisheries catches have occurred since the 1950s, with a significant shift in the middle 1980s (anchor point). Deep-sea resources and higher trophic levels (cephalopods, large benthopelagics, flatfishes, demersal invertebrates, small-medium and large rays, medium bathydemersal, shrimps, small benthopelagics large sharks) have increased while traditional commercial species captured by nearshore fisheries (medium and small pelagics) have decreased. Despite the decreasing trend in catches since 1988, the marine trophic index (MTI = 3.04) increased by approximately 0.2 units per decade (MTI in 2009 = 3.46). The number of collapsed, overexploited and fully exploited stocks has increased considerably over the last 20 years (>50%). Overall, the data indicate that redistributing fishing effort and targeting of deep-sea resources may have been driven by depletion of inshore fishery stocks, which signals concern for the fishery. Marine biodiversity indexes and ecological structure of landings profiles should be considered by fishery managers when redefining new marine fisheries policy.

Views on Policy; Human Rights Forum; Highlight from AAA Blog

Abstract:VIEWS ON POLICY:“Identifying Opportunities in Marine Fisheries Policy” by Susan Abbott‐JamiesonPam Putenney is contributing editor of “Views on Policy,” the AAA Committee for Public Policy column in Anthropology News.HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM:“An Anthropologist in Political Asylum Court, Part I” by Carole McGranahanMiriam Ticktin is contributing editor of “Human Rights Forum,” the AAA Committee for Human Rights column in Anthropology News.Keywords:public policy, fishery management, human right, legal anthropology

Generating the evidence for marine fisheries policy and management

Abstract The uptake of research in marine fisheries management and policy making depends on how effectively fisheries managers, researchers and scientific advisers communicate the needs for evidence, and the results and policy implications of research. The MariFish network of the major European funders of marine fisheries has therefore undertaken a study of current practices relating to communication of research needs and results, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and consequently how two-way communications, and hence the effectiveness of generating evidence for marine fisheries policy making and management, can be improved. Conclusions and recommendations for ‘good practice’ include the importance of building good relationships and trust between researchers and fisheries managers, the need for fisheries ministries to have sufficient inhouse scientific capacity to act as ‘intelligent customers’, and the key role of interpreters of research whose skills and career paths need to be carefully developed.

Small-scale marine fisheries policy in Vietnam

Abstract Vietnam's marine fisheries are considered to be small scale and are concentrated in coastal near-shore waters. This has resulted in heavy pressure on near-shore fisheries resources. Near-shore fisheries are considered by fishers and the government to be over-exploited, causing hardship for many coastal communities. This paper reviews and analyzes changes in policy towards small-scale fisheries in Vietnam over the last two decades. The primary issues facing the small-scale fisheries in Vietnam are to restructure the near-shore fisheries and to address over-capacity. Recommended actions include improved fisheries statistics, resources for provincial fisheries staff, and a coordinated and integrated approach involving a mixed strategy of resource management; resource restoration; economic and community development; and new governance arrangements.

Commercial Fishing Rights Allocation in Post-apartheid South Africa: Reconciling Equity and Stability

The fundamental policy and regulatory framework for a post-apartheid dispensation to manage commercial fisheries in South Africa was put in place with the publication of the White Paper on Marine Fisheries Policy in 1997, and the enactment of the Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA) in 1998. In order to achieve equity within the fishing industry, a way had to be found to address the under-representation of historically disadvantaged individuals or companies. This presented a massive challenge to a government department that was, at the time, ill-equipped to implement the MLRA. Inadequate administrative capacity in the department, together with major new responsibilities, resulted in a virtually permanent state of crisis management, which was complicated by a system of annual rights allocations. A strategy for building a rational, legally defensible and transparent allocation system that met critical transformation targets was initiated in 2000. The new, medium-term rights-allocation system contains a number of key features designed to ensure a fair and equitable process. The allocation of fishing rights in 2001/2002 yielded mixed results in terms of meeting transformation targets, emphasizing once more that transformation is a complex process that can only be achieved over a period of time. Management interventions to optimize the potential social and economic benefits of marine resources continue to be constrained, primarily by institutional capacity. The challenge to government, the private sector and civil society is to build a partnership based on the three pillars of the MLRA: equity, economic efficiency and sustainability.

Abundance to Scarcity: A History of U.S. Marine Fisheries Policy

The management of coastal and ocean fisheries is highly contentious. Industry interests focus on maximizing catches while conservationists and marine scientists have become increasingly concerned about dramatic declines in fish stocks and the health of ecosystems. Besides attempting to mediate among these interests, government agencies have pursued their own agendas, which have often lagged behind shifts in scientific understanding and public attitudes about the productivity of the oceans and uses of marine wildlife.From Abundance to Scarcity examines the historical evolution of U.S. fisheries policy and institutions from the late 19th century to the present day, with an emphasis on changes since World War II. Based on archival research and interviews with dozens of key players in marine policymaking, it traces the thinking, legislation, mandates, and people that have shaped the various agencies governing fisheries in the United States. The book: discusses the development of federal programs in marine biological sciences and the evolution of scientific understanding about marine wildlife populations describes the work of federal fisheries programs in promoting the interests of the fishing industry considers the response of agencies to factors such as dam-building and coastal development that have led to increased pollution and habitat loss examines the shifts in understanding and values that underlie major legislation including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the Sustainable Fisheries Act examines the evolving relationship between federal agencies, the fishing industry, communities, and nongovernmental conservationorganizations, with an eye toward future management practice From Abundance to Scarcity sheds light on the sets of interests that have shaped U.S. fisheries policy, lending historical depth to current debates and providing a fuller understanding of current laws and regulations, and administrative structures and mechanisms. It offers an insightful overview for professionals involved with fisheries management or the fishing industry, conservationists working on marine issues, and students and scholars of marine policy and affairs, environmental policy and law, or public policy and administration.

AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RESTRUCTURING THE SOUTH AFRICAN HAKE QUOTA MARKET

Hake is the most valuable fisheries species in South Africa, with an estimated landed value of R658 million in 1997. The fishery is presently managed under an individual quota system, where total allowable catch (TAC) is set annually and divided up amongst quota holders according to past performance, without quota holders having to pay for it. Fundamental restructuring of the South African hake quota market is however due to take place in the near future as recommended by the White Paper on Marine Fisheries Policy (1997). Factor analysis of data collected from a postal survey of existing South African hake quota holders and rejected hake quota applicants suggests that distinct differences in attitudes towards restructuring exist amongst respondents. Four factors, representing groups of respondents defined as (1) applicants, (2) quota holders, (3) small scale respondents (comprising of both applicants and quota holders), and (4) larger, longer established quota holders, sharing similar attitudes towards restructuring were extracted. It was also calculated that a substantial annual rent of approximately R279 million is generated by the South African hake industry, which is presently harvested free of charge by those issued with quota. It is stated policy of the White Paper to capture these rents, however methods of accomplishing this have not been well accepted by the industry. This study aims at providing some solutions to these problems of restructuring.

Implications of structural adjustment for Ghana's marine fisheries policy

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of a Structural Adjustment Program on the marine fisheries in Ghana, specifically on fishermen, fish production and fisheries management. An anthropological survey technique was used to gather information from fishermen and boat owners from four major fishing communities: Tema, Accra, Elmina and Cape Coast. Additional information was obtained from government agencies, commercial banks and the fishing community. The results of this study suggest that structural adjustment has created benefits, opportunities and constraints for the fisheries. The Ghanaian government, with the support of international donors, needs to address these issues to ensure that fisheries continue to play an important role in the economy and the diet of Ghanaians.

STATEMENT OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS ON THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE MAGNUSON FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT

Editor's Note: The following statement was submitted to the 1988 U.S. Congressional hearings on the reauthorization of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). The statement was written by William W. Fox, Jr., then Professor of Biology and Living Resources and Director of the Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Study of the University of Miami, and presently Assistant Administrator of Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. The statement was cosigned by a long list of distinguished marine scientists.While the focus of the statement is specifically on U.S. marine fisheries policy, the principles expressed are of much broader applicability, and will be of general interest to readers of this journal.

Implementing Canada's marine fisheries policy: Objectives, hazards and constraints

Implementing Canada's marine fisheries policy: Objectives, hazards and constraints