Session II: Relevant Indicators and Basic Practices: National and Regional Experiences

1. Session II: Relevant Indicators and Basic Practices: National and Regional Experiences Sebastian Mathew International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) UNEP-WWF Symposium Disciplining Fisheries Subsidies: Incorporating Sustainability at the WTO & Beyond 1-2 March 2007, Palais des Nations Geneva, Switzerland

2. Some basic facts • Developing Countries account for nearly 70 per cent of global marine capture fisheries production • Six of the top ten marine fish producing countries are from the developing world: China, Peru, Chile, Indonesia, India and Thailand (2004) • Developing countries contribute nearly 50% of the total world fishery commodity export trade • Four of the top ten fish exporting countries are from the developing world: China, Thailand, Chile and Viet Nam, and seven of the top ten net fish exporting countries are also from the developing world (2004)

3. Fishing population • 28 million people, of which 11 million are full-time fishers, are dependent on marine capture fisheries for employment and income; China alone accounts for 30%, followed by India and Indonesia; • 6 million fisher people earn an income less than US$1/day • Except for 200,000 on board larger vessels, all fulltime fishers work on board vessels below 24 m LOA, and particularly on board vessels below 12 m LOA • While the total number of fishers has been declining in developed countries, it is increasing in developing countries

4. Fisheries Management • All of the rules, regulations, conditions, methods, and other measures, which are required torebuild, restore, or maintain any fishery resource and the marine environment, as qualified by relevant environmental, economic and social factors, including the livelihood and food security needs of fishing communities, and taking into account fishing patterns and the interdependence of stocks and any generally recommended international minimum standards

5. Indicators of Stock Abundance • Percentage of commercial species groups that are below the estimated potential yield (For most of the species groups in countries like India and China marine fish landings have reached, or crossed, the estimated potential yield threshold) has not been showing a declining trend

6. Indicators of fishing fleet and fishing effort • Fishing fleet is in conformity with potential fisheries resources and there are mechanisms to regulate fleet size • Mechanisms to ensure safety of fishing vessels and safety of fishers on board • Registration of all fishing vessels • Implementation of mesh size regulations, especially in the cod-end of trawl gear • Promotion of energy-efficient propulsion units • Observance of closed fishing areas and season • Prohibition, or phasing out, of destructive fishing gear and practices • Promotion of selective, labour-intensive, artisanal, fishing gear and practices

7. Indicators of Infrastructure for Effective Fisheries Management • Adoption of a comprehensive and coherent fisheries legislation at the federal and state level • Developing a national fisheries management plan • Effective implementation of various management measures • Participation of fishing communities in fisheries management programmes • Developing capacity of fishers’ organizations to undertake fisheries management functions • Functioning of an effective and time-bound monitoring and enforcement mechanism for fisheries

8. Prerequisites to the Use of Capacity-enhancing Fisheries Subsidies • Most of the indicators listed above should demonstrate a move towards responsible fisheries • Notification of subsidies to the WTO • Transparency and verifiability of fisheries management measures

9. Other Considerations • Considering that developing countries, in general, are cash-strapped, extending capacity and effort enhancing subsidies should, in general, be considered after setting up financial mechanisms to support alternative employment, social safety nets and welfare programmes for fishing communities, unless there are compelling reasons to be otherwise

10. Thank you