Guidelines for Responsible Fishing

Abstract

A document, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, Vol. 1: Fishing Operations has been recently published by FAO to provide practical advice on implementing the provisions of Article 8 of the Code of Conduct regarding fishing operations to ensure all fishing operations are conducted responsibly. These Technical Guidelines are addressed to States, international organizations, fisheries management bodies, owners, managers and charterers of fishing vessels as well as fishers and their organizations. While the Guidelines may be applied by States on a voluntary basis, they give specific responsibility to all States, including Flag States and Port States, to research institutions for resources and environment, and for the fisheries sector in general, in the country and abroad. They also indicate, in detail, the fishing operators responsibilities, including proper equipping of fishing vessels, furnishing of documents, authorizations and certificates, as required, respecting of all existing regulations, and reporting in detail on fishing operations and catch, etc. In practice, compliance with the recommendations of the Code regarding fishing operation are very exacting for fishery administrations, skippers and fishermen. To assist in this matter, a number of meetings will be organized in various parts of the world to discuss specific aspects such as fishing gear selectivity and responsible fishing practices, and several global programmes have been elaborated to assist in the training, including responsible fisheries practices, of fishing operators, or for establishment and operation of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS). Regional bodies and NGOs are taking measures to spread the message about responsible fisheries practices.