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Publication year : 0
Thematic : Fisheries
Language : English
Note
Ongoing declines in production of the world’s fisheries may have serious ecological and socioeconomic consequences. As a
result, a number of international efforts have sought to improve management and prevent overexploitation, while helping
to maintain biodiversity and a sustainable food supply. Although these initiatives have received broad acceptance, the
extent to which corrective measures have been implemented and are effective remains largely unknown. We used a survey
approach, validated with empirical data, and enquiries to over 13,000 fisheries experts (of which 1,188 responded) to assess
the current effectiveness of fisheries management regimes worldwide; for each of those regimes, we also calculated the
probable sustainability of reported catches to determine how management affects fisheries sustainability. Our survey shows
that 7% of all coastal states undergo rigorous scientific assessment for the generation of management policies, 1.4% also
have a participatory and transparent processes to convert scientific recommendations into policy, and 0.95% also provide
for robust mechanisms to ensure the compliance with regulations; none is also free of the effects of excess fishing capacity,
subsidies, or access to foreign fishing. A comparison of fisheries management attributes with the sustainability of reported
fisheries catches indicated that the conversion of scientific advice into policy, through a participatory and transparent
process, is at the core of achieving fisheries sustainability, regardless of other attributes of the fisheries. Our results illustrate
the great vulnerability of the world’s fisheries and the urgent need to meet well-identified guidelines for sustainable
management; they also provide a baseline against which future changes can be quantified.
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Keywords : Juvenile
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
