Management of shared stocks in South China Sea: Are we ready?

Abstract

The paper informed, among others, that the development of fisheries management in the region should now be enhanced with the availability of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and its various technical guidelines. Fisheries management deals with allocation of resources, hence the participation of stakeholders in the process of management plan development is a forefront requirement. With the increase in globalisation, some developed countries had used trade as a tool to promote sustainable and responsible fisheries. Eco-labelling was one of the merging practice in the global trade. USA had used the TED/BED issue as a means to reject import from any country which did not use TED/BED in their shrimp fisheries. Dolphin safe was another label that was required for tuna imported to the USA. It this became clear that strengthening the national ,management institutions by coastal states bordering the South China Sea should form an important agenda for the Fisheries Department in the individual countries. Regional and international organizations could than play a role towards enhancing the management of shared stocks, with the management of national stock by individual coastal states, to make the region ready for the management of shred stocks.