Fish Population Dynamic and Stock Assessment

10.4.10. Pointers from CCRF and IPOAs for responsible fishing

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries provides the following pointers for responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries development:

• Evolve regionalized consensus of Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing, in close participation with all stakeholders (traditional, motorized and mechanized fishermen organizations), fisheries research organizations and fisheries managers.
• Maintain a registry of all fishing vessels in waters under State jurisdiction with all essential details.
• Take measures to control open access by strict enforcement of a system of licenses (authorization to fish) in traditional, motorized and mechanized sectors.
• Periodically revalidate maximum sustainable yield of resources in the existing fishing grounds and determine fishing units of specific capacity in each category, for sustainable harvesting of resources.
• Standardise the capacities, dimensions and specifications of fishing units in each category.
• Address the question of excess capacity and take steps to remove excess capacity over a time schedule.
• Identify and delimit Protected Areas in marine and inland water ecosystems.
• Conduct periodic audit of fishing craft and gear combinations, their economics of operation, ecological and environmental impacts.
• Evolve regulations for mandatory survey of mechanized fishing vessels.
• Evolve a system for marking fishing vessels and fishing gears.
• Evolve regulations and promote use of life saving, fire fighting and communication equipment for safety of fishermen.
• Evolve regulations for mandatory survey of mechanized fishing vessels.
• Promote selective fishing gear and practices.
• Develop and implement National Plans of Action (NPOAs) for (i) management of fishing capacity, (ii) prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, (iii) conservation and management of sharks, and (iv) reducing incidental catch of seabirds in long line fisheries.
• Evolve an efficient Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) system.
• Make effective use of Geographical Information System for fisheries management; monitoring and control of fishing effort and energy use.
• Evolve and promote a package of practices of energy conservation in fish harvesting.
• Develop a Fisheries Information System for providing easy access to authentic information and facilitating fisheries research, management and business.
• Evolve a mandatory programme of training and certification for non-motorised, motorized and mechanized fishermen in safe navigation, fisheries regulations, responsible fishing, log keeping and reporting