example, the Government of Canada in providing its “Guidance on Implementation
of the Policy on Managing Bycatch” references the FAO Guidelines on Bycatch
Management and Reduction of Discards as a “primary source” for “tools and
measures that can be used to manage bycatch issues and problems” that would
comply with Canadian law.
18
The ecosystem approach to fisheries elaborates on the concept of species “associated with and dependent on “target species. A number of international guidelines
drafted by the FAO to assist States with implementing the FAO Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries feature any ecosystem-based approach. Three of these guidelines are briefly discussed here. First, in 2003, the FAO published as part of its
“Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries” a volume covering the ecosystem
approach to fisheries.
19 FAO republished this volume in 2009 to provide additional
information on how to manage practically “the human dimensions of the ecosystem
approach to fisheries.”
20 As of 2009, the FAO recognizes that implementing an
ecosystem-based approach to fishing requires analysis of the biotic, abiotic, and
human components of a given fishery but that full-knowledge is not essential to
initiating an ecosystem-based approach to policy planning and management. The
FAO guidelines offer general but useful advice on how to re-structure fisheries
management to incorporate ecosystem approach by acknowledging that different
stakeholder groups will prioritize ecosystem services differently; that the “realities of
the socioeconomic context” for fisheries management must be understood as a
foundation for shifting fishery management; and that investing in ecosystem-based
approaches require long-term commitments, legal flexibility, and adequate
funding.
21 While there is no universal approach to achieving ecosystem based
outcomes, programs must focus on a “fishery system” and take into consideration
the costs and benefits of certain management strategies including distributional
impacts.
22
In 2009, the FAO published the International Guidelines for the Management of
Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas to assist States and regional fisheries management groups in developing appropriate conservation and management mechanism.
18 Government of Canada, Guidance on Implementation of the Policy on Managing Bycatch.
Available at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/bycatch-guide-prise-accesseng.htm.
19 FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Guidelines, (2003), No. 4, Suppl. 2. Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-y4470e.pdf (The “ecosystem
approach to fisheries and aquaculture” is understood by FAO as a system that “strives to balance
diverse societal objectives, by taking account of the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic,
abiotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated
approach to fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries”).
20 FAO, The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, The Human Dimensions of the Ecosystem
Approach to Fisheries, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries (2009), No. 4, Suppl.
2, Add. 2. Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i1146e.pdf.
21 Id. at xvii.
22 Ibid.
208
A. Telesetsky
of the Policy on Managing Bycatch” references the FAO Guidelines on Bycatch
Management and Reduction of Discards as a “primary source” for “tools and
measures that can be used to manage bycatch issues and problems” that would
comply with Canadian law.
18
The ecosystem approach to fisheries elaborates on the concept of species “associated with and dependent on “target species. A number of international guidelines
drafted by the FAO to assist States with implementing the FAO Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries feature any ecosystem-based approach. Three of these guidelines are briefly discussed here. First, in 2003, the FAO published as part of its
“Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries” a volume covering the ecosystem
approach to fisheries.
19 FAO republished this volume in 2009 to provide additional
information on how to manage practically “the human dimensions of the ecosystem
approach to fisheries.”
20 As of 2009, the FAO recognizes that implementing an
ecosystem-based approach to fishing requires analysis of the biotic, abiotic, and
human components of a given fishery but that full-knowledge is not essential to
initiating an ecosystem-based approach to policy planning and management. The
FAO guidelines offer general but useful advice on how to re-structure fisheries
management to incorporate ecosystem approach by acknowledging that different
stakeholder groups will prioritize ecosystem services differently; that the “realities of
the socioeconomic context” for fisheries management must be understood as a
foundation for shifting fishery management; and that investing in ecosystem-based
approaches require long-term commitments, legal flexibility, and adequate
funding.
21 While there is no universal approach to achieving ecosystem based
outcomes, programs must focus on a “fishery system” and take into consideration
the costs and benefits of certain management strategies including distributional
impacts.
22
In 2009, the FAO published the International Guidelines for the Management of
Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas to assist States and regional fisheries management groups in developing appropriate conservation and management mechanism.
18 Government of Canada, Guidance on Implementation of the Policy on Managing Bycatch.
Available at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/bycatch-guide-prise-accesseng.htm.
19 FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Guidelines, (2003), No. 4, Suppl. 2. Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-y4470e.pdf (The “ecosystem
approach to fisheries and aquaculture” is understood by FAO as a system that “strives to balance
diverse societal objectives, by taking account of the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic,
abiotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated
approach to fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries”).
20 FAO, The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, The Human Dimensions of the Ecosystem
Approach to Fisheries, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries (2009), No. 4, Suppl.
2, Add. 2. Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i1146e.pdf.
21 Id. at xvii.
22 Ibid.
208
A. Telesetsky