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Implementing the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries: Recent FAO Tools and Examples from Africa, Mediterranean and the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) The ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) has been adopted at the FAO Committee on Fisheries as the guiding approach for achieving sustainable fisheries. The FAO Technical Guidelines on EAF support the implementation of the FAO Code of Conduct For Responsible Fisheries, assisted by other FAO guidance material and tools. The EAF is holistic and risk-based management approach that takes into consideration the ecological, human and social elements of sustainability and the most appropriate governance framework. Its main purpose is to plan, develop and manage fisheries more effectively. It seeks to reconcile a broader set of objectives in a holistic participatory and adaptive process. Although the EAF is increasingly being internalized at regional bodies and county level, difficulties still exist in full EAF implementation. The implementation of the EAF depends on countries’ capacity to address management in a cost-effective way considering availability of adequate human and financial resources. At the regional level, holistic implementation varies depending on the mandate of the respective organizations, particularly so in the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). FAO has been leading efforts and assisting countries to promote the implementation of the EAF by assisting regional fisheries bodies and through its field projects. This side event will highlight two recently developed EAF Tools, and showcase specific experiences from the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as from the ABNJ via the Common Oceans Program.

Language English

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    The publication documents the results of the review of the level of implementation of the FAO Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) by the fisheries management bodies in each of the different ABNJ regions. The review was designed to help identify future activities by the ABNJ Deep Sea Project to address gaps and capacity development and make recommendations to strengthen EAF among deep-sea fisheries management bodies and/or their members. The information to complete the EAF reviews was largely obtained from web-based materials. To assist with the accuracy of these desktop assessments, following initial drafting of each EAF background report and associated EAF assessment, both documents were sent to the respective RFMO secretariats. Comments and/or suggestions provided by the secretariats were then addressed with revised versions of the background reports and review assessments generated. Based on these revised reports, the comparative analyses were finalized and a full report was drafted. Being a desk-top assessment of the level of implementation of the EAF approach by each of the RFMO management bodies, the study had a number of caveats including only being able to measure systems and processes, not outcomes. A more complete assessment of EAF adoption and especially the outcomes would require direct involvement of the various stakeholders, including all relevant management, compliance and scientific bodies, contracting parties (CP), non-contracting parties (NCP), vessel owners, crews, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.
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