Continued promotion of the EAFM concept in Southeast Asia: case in Myanmar

Abstract

The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) indicates that “the purpose of the ecosystem approach to fisheries is to plan, develop, and manage fisheries in a manner that addresses the multiple needs and desires of societies without jeopardizing the options for future generations to benefit from the full range of goods and services provided by marine ecosystems.” The CCRF sets the principles and international standards of behavior and practices to ensure effective conservation, management, and development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity. These include the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) that focuses on the relationship between fishing activities and the ecosystem as a whole, including the socioeconomic implications as well as management requirements. EAFM encompasses the management of target species as well as non-target species, endangered species, aquatic waste and pollution, biodiversity, and welfare of coastal communities, small-scale fisheries, and subsistence fishers.