This page is part of the Ending the Squander of Our Seas campaign. View the campaign.
Why International Plan of Action on bycatch reduction?
Many research institutions, NGOs, inter-governmental organisations and Governments around the world are doing important work to reduce bycatch.
Some focus on the incidental capture of endangered/vulnerable species, others address the food security issues linked to high bycatch levels in the developing world. Others still work to mitigate the impacts of bycatch on the commercial fishing industry.
However, EJF feels there is much value in taking an integrated approach to bycatch reduction, rather than relying on a piecemeal focus on specific fisheries or specific bycatch species. An International Plan of Action, under the auspices of the United Nations FAO, would not replace or compete with current bycatch reduction schemes, rather it would help to support them and extend their scope and success. Lessons learnt in one context can be applied to another. Effective bycatch reduction technology and techniques can be transferred between countries and regions. More crucially, an overarching approach would help avoid the substitution of one bycatch problem with another, as fishing gears/methods are introduced in new areas. Finally, an IPOA could help push forward research on bycatch reduction, giving this field the injection of innovation it urgently needs.
Bycatch can be reduced by lowering overall fishing effort or lowering the bycatch per unit effort:
* Regulatory bans - For example, spatial and/or temporal closures of fisheries (assuming level of effort does not increase outside/after closures).
* Regulatory limits - For example, setting quotas.
* Trade-related measures - For example, the United States' decision to only import shrimp caught by trawlers fitted with Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
* Changes in consumer behaviour - For example, the establishment of eco-labelling schemes.
* Gear changes - For example, the use of passive fishing gears, where appropriate.
* Technological changes - For example, the use of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) in trawl fisheries.
Why International Plan of Action (IPOA) on bycatch?
* Operational changes - For example, avoiding areas where bycatch tends to be high.
* Training - For example, in the application of the "backdown procedure" in tuna purse-seine fisheries to release dolphins from nets.
* Management actions - For example, setting bycatch limits for individual vessels and rewarding fishermen who succeed in reducing bycatch.
Who supports bycatch reduction?
As part of EJF's campaign for bycatch reduction, we have obtained widespread support for a UN FAO International Plan of Action (IPOA) on Bycatch Reduction. Our petition has been signed by over 150 members of the scientific community, NGOs working on environmental and developmental issues, as well as several Members of the European Parliament. See the list of signers.
Some focus on the incidental capture of endangered/vulnerable species, others address the food security issues linked to high bycatch levels in the developing world. Others still work to mitigate the impacts of bycatch on the commercial fishing industry.
However, EJF feels there is much value in taking an integrated approach to bycatch reduction, rather than relying on a piecemeal focus on specific fisheries or specific bycatch species. An International Plan of Action, under the auspices of the United Nations FAO, would not replace or compete with current bycatch reduction schemes, rather it would help to support them and extend their scope and success. Lessons learnt in one context can be applied to another. Effective bycatch reduction technology and techniques can be transferred between countries and regions. More crucially, an overarching approach would help avoid the substitution of one bycatch problem with another, as fishing gears/methods are introduced in new areas. Finally, an IPOA could help push forward research on bycatch reduction, giving this field the injection of innovation it urgently needs.
Bycatch can be reduced by lowering overall fishing effort or lowering the bycatch per unit effort:
* Regulatory bans - For example, spatial and/or temporal closures of fisheries (assuming level of effort does not increase outside/after closures).
* Regulatory limits - For example, setting quotas.
* Trade-related measures - For example, the United States' decision to only import shrimp caught by trawlers fitted with Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
* Changes in consumer behaviour - For example, the establishment of eco-labelling schemes.
* Gear changes - For example, the use of passive fishing gears, where appropriate.
* Technological changes - For example, the use of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) in trawl fisheries.
Why International Plan of Action (IPOA) on bycatch?
* Operational changes - For example, avoiding areas where bycatch tends to be high.
* Training - For example, in the application of the "backdown procedure" in tuna purse-seine fisheries to release dolphins from nets.
* Management actions - For example, setting bycatch limits for individual vessels and rewarding fishermen who succeed in reducing bycatch.
Who supports bycatch reduction?
As part of EJF's campaign for bycatch reduction, we have obtained widespread support for a UN FAO International Plan of Action (IPOA) on Bycatch Reduction. Our petition has been signed by over 150 members of the scientific community, NGOs working on environmental and developmental issues, as well as several Members of the European Parliament. See the list of signers.
Created by Greenvoice at 09:01 on 12 December 2007