The Fishing Industry in the 21st Century - Case Study Example

The Fishing Industry in the 21st Century Introduction The Fishing industry comprises any activity or industry that deals with culturing, taking, processing, storing, preserving, marketing, transporting or selling fish products or fish. It is expressed by the Food and Agriculture Organization as comprising subsistence, recreational and commercial fishing. It also includes the processing, harvesting and marketing sectors (FAO, 1997). The industry aims to deliver fish and other products of seafood for human consumption and input elements in other processes of industries. Indirectly or directly, more than 500 million livelihoods in developing countries depend on aquaculture and fisheries. There exists many challenges in the fishing industry in carrying out its function, and in order to improve, it needs to improve its management to ensure efficient fish stocks (FAO, 1997). Concerns Aquaculturists occasionally face controversial issues and operational difficulties that interrupt stability of food and income in the industry. If they are to meet the demands of their customers in any increasing stream of aquatic products. The main controversy subjects are; the use and access of natural resources. The first concern is which natural resources people may use and hence, alter them. Most groups of civil society argue that more natural resources should be undisturbed and be for non-consumptive uses that are, as an amenity. In contrast, the developing world, adding to its improving mobility, it’s diminishing the natural resources of the earth progressively. In time, a massive portion of non-consumptive use will leave little resources accessible for consumptive objectives. The second concern is the consumptive use sustainability of natural resources that were renewable. In this case, the participants of civil society and others from the fisheries sector maintain that specific aquaculture and fishery practices that modify the ecosystem. The system modification makes it not able to sustain the natural resources regeneration. The adopted production technologies for such practices are, thus, considered unsustainable. For example, the popular disputes on overfishing lead to permanent damage to the marine aquatic life (Sorensen, 1997). The Issues Ninety percent of fish globally is taken within the national jurisdiction zones, primarily owing higher proximity and production of the shelf and coastal areas. Therefore, these regions with bulk fisheries experience managerial issues. At least 50 years, such issues often occur. The governments have been cautioned to be aware of their fisheries state and implement policies. The policies are aimed to facilitate the increase of stock rehabilitation and prevent fisheries inputs wastage and depletion of resources (FAO, 1997). Nearly 60% of the main supervised commercial stocks are contemplated to require new or developed management. Hence, the current world’s fisheries state shows that, must improve governance. The government task is to control fisheries in a way that sustainable and optimum use of resources is as well as efficiency of the economy. The government should also ensure a widespread of social benefits. Furthermore, the management responsibility should not be for the government alone but also to be divided to the fisheries operators. Also, other departments that contemplate having rights in decision-making participation on humanity natural heritage should have their managerial responsibility. The fisheries governance was widely expected to improve in 1980s due to the establishment of an extended national jurisdiction. The jurisdiction was below the United Nations Conference on Sea (UNCLOS) law. In this case, countries managed to develop their governance. Very frequent they were involved in exclusive economic zone (EZZ) fisheries already or had readily accessible capacity within the department to do so. The subsequent involvement has proved that, even on favorable situations, having good governance is a lengthy process. Most governments with an improved fisheries management owe that success 20 to 40 years of constant adjustments and efforts (FAO, 1997). In most nations, languishing of governance has been influenced by various reasons. They include; human scarcity, financial and institutional resources needed to implement and devise management programs. In addition, lack of agreement by both the fisheries participants and the government, of the potentially profits that can be provided by good management. The international community, through financial and aid assistance projects, continues to manage extensive efforts towards developing fisheries institution capabilities in such nations. Second, Very few nations have suitable legal policies and framework for aquaculture. Frequently, inclusive policies and related legal frameworks have been flouted. It is due to experienced developments in supporting technical aspects in production. Also, the policy-makers have frequently isolated aquaculture from other sectors hence, ignoring significant connections, comprising externalities (FAO. 1997). The need to join economic, political, social, legal and environmental aspects has been ignored, mostly with negative outcomes for the sector. The recent industrial aquaculture emergence, the rapid development of the sector and the increase of resources completion have fixated attention on the need for regulatory frameworks and policy measures. It is important for suitable operational conditions to be at all levels (regional, international, local, national and farm). Due to, have a sustainable exploitation of aquaculture, attractive to fishers, farmers and other entrepreneurs. Governments are supposed to maintain and create an appropriate climate for maintainable development of the sector. Such environment includes legal, economic, physical and social components and must ensure equal access to resources. It should also have mechanisms for solving conflicts and access data, markets and credit. Therefore, it is expected that there are functioning communication channels in institutions and representatives for other competitors (Anon, 1997). In developing an appropriate environment, it is important there exists a balance the ecosystem conservation and the need for growth and development. In this situation, it is important to deal and recognize the growing resources competition. The reduced public sector role as a development promote and market globalization must also be checked. Third, many important fisheries in the world are subjected to excess capacity in fishing causing great concern. Excess capacity leads to smaller fleets than are expected to land and catch the fish volumes available at lower costs. It also exceeds the fishing requirements in the stock events being allowed to recover the volume. It not only threatens the fish stock sustainability being misused but also other stocks. This problem has led to investors buying more vessels to create more returns (Sorensen, 1997). Excess fishing capacity is influenced by lack of control of fishing access to fish stocks. In addition, in some nations it is led by public funding on new vessels investments and rehabilitation of aged one. Over capacity is led by excess investments and indiscriminately use of fishing inputs. The excess capacity manifestation includes biological overfishing. Poor performance on economic and inefficiency. Overcapitalization in capturing the capital on fisheries wastes investment leads to high costs on fishing. Similarly, when stocks are the fish resources are wasted. Fishing capacity is in many countries in the world. For example, due to increasing of pressure in fishing, many coastal demersal and pelagic fish stocks in Bengal Bay, South China Sea, and the Gulf of Thailand are fully overfished. It is evident, alia, inter, in the growth proportion of species with low value and juveniles species with high value being caught (Sorensen, 1997). Possible Solutions First, the appropriate solutions for good governance in fisheries industry are well recognized. They include the need for an explicit strategy for economic, ecological and social sustainability. Effective fisheries research and agencies institutions also need to be formed. An organized, cooperative and informed fisheries and adequate legal and law institutions including deterrent control, monitoring and surveillance is needed. In addition, there should be linkages with appropriate international and regional bodies. In many cases, the government has been recognized as the creator of statutory committees. Another important solution can be financing the fisheries management and research. An underlying idea of having wider acceptance should be accompanied by financing from the beneficiaries such as the fisheries participants. The fisheries have also demanded rights in decision making on money spending leading to more fixated spending and systems accountability (Anon, 1997). There should be more transparency on activities taking place in the industry. Though, some of the governance functions should be privatized. This development is in the case of research fisheries institutions which are more reliable to non-governmental finance resources. The fisheries governance is also benefiting from assistance from computers. It allows both managers and researchers to access the experience and knowledge of outsiders. Secondly, the main task is to make the code principles into operation, hence, clarifying the viable choices that might perform in practice. It therefore, coordinates the principles of the code into development plans and policies. It also explains certain responsible codes of practice comprising standards, norms and guidelines concord by the stakeholders. Given the aquaculture practices diversity and of economic, social and political conditions that it exists mostly, more education and information is required. So that, they can address environmental and developmental issues appropriately in any one region. Furthermore, the various approaches applicability needs to be monitored carefully, mainly where small-scale farmers are involved. Also, in the view of great decentralized nature of the industry of aquaculture (Pawaputanon, 1997). Existing legal frameworks and administrative need to be renewed to address specific needs that characterize the sector and a clear clarification responsibilities and privileges of aquaculturists. However, due to frequent aquaculture regulation by agencies, creating a sector’s comprehensive regulatory framework is usually institutional complex and legal. It involves amending or drafting legislation that focus on variety issues and developing institutional coordination with jurisdiction over natural assets. Other options of regulating aquaculture include the regulations enactment under the existing laws and voluntary method such as practice codes. The formulation of regulations in many nations is disadvantaged by shortage of data on aquaculture interaction production systems. There is need for financial and environmental efficiency of production management alternative approaches. In areas with available data, predictive and reliable models for interactions still need improvement in accuracy, affordability and general applicability (Pawaputanon, 1997). Thirdly, international and regional trade of aquaculture items differences in environmental standards friction among countries are through harmonization and coordination (Pawaputanon, 1997). If the standards are to improve, countries with few demands of environmental goods need to raise their standards. They can rise through various suitable support mechanisms, such as guarantees for extended market access to nations with high standards. Departments responsible for controlling fishing capacity should understand the connection with related circumstances. Mostly, they include the effects of mobility of fleets, subsidies impacts and the effects regulation methods to fish stocks. The common effective fishing capacity controlling methods is majored on controlling the use of fleet and its size. In countries that have developed, considerable experience is built by alternative management methods of fisheries to manage fishing capacity. Emergence of a consensus is in favor of TTQ management usage where practicable. Commonly, the ITQ management recommends limiting fishing units and allocation of quotas. The quotas allow the lease or sale of the quotas to right. The systems main objective is to ensure the creation of an enticement for charitable excess capital reduction by the owners of the vessels. To deal with this issue, the fisheries management should supervise the technology development and its effect on the capacity of fishing. Indeed, through fisheries inputs control, management have gained and been successful in widest acceptance. Many countries in Pacific region and Asia have frameworks in fisheries management for varying efficiency degree. Recent solutions Chile has established ITQs experiments in its tooth fish fisheries and deep-water shrimps, hence, being the only nation in Latin America to use the system. The government is looking forward to extending the system to various fisheries, but it is by concerned fisheries operators (Pawaputanon, 1997). Some states have introduced national measures to advance the code. Some NGOs such as producer groups have advanced or are advancing codes to control certain aquaculture aspects (Donovan, 1997). For example, code implementations plan for marine aquaculture and marine fisheries in United States. The Un Agreement in 1995 for management and conversation of straddling stocks of fish and High Migratory Stock of Fish focus on reducing water discards, pollution, catch by lost and catch of non-target fish (Solving By-Catch, 1998) . Conclusion. From the discussion, the world’ main fisheries industry need more and advanced management. The management should embrace ne technologies and eco friendly practices that will ensure sustainability of the fisheries resources. REFERENCES Anon. 1997. Global Aquaculture Alliance Formed in Guide Industry Toward Environmental Sustainability. Bangkok, Thailand: World Aquaculture, September 1997.pg 38 Donovan D. J. 1997. Environmental Code of practice for Australian Prawn Farmers. Bribie Island, Qld: APFA. P32 Pawaputanon O. 1997. Manual for harmonization of good shrimp farm practice. Thailand: ASEAN Fisheries Network project. FAO. 1997. Towards safe and effective use of chemicals in coastal aquaculture. Rome: GESAMP Reports and Studies No. 65 Sorensen J. 1997. National and international efforts at integrated coastal management: definitions, achievements and lessons. U.S.A: Coastal Management, 25. 3-41 Solving By-Catch: Consideration for Today and Tomorrow. University of Alaska, Fairbanks: Alaska Sea Grant College Program Report No., 96-03, Read More