Time for change

Sustainable use of natural resources is for nations, and have agreed to work towards many developing countries the only means to the Millenium Development Goals set out in eradicate poverty, prevent food shortage and Johannesburg in 2002. fuel development. To ensure the future for To meet these goals and to give people Food security – fish is vital ! Exporting overfishing local communities that depend upon a and fisheries a chance, WWF calls on the healthy marine environment, fisheries access EU to adopt sustainability principles in its Marine fisheries are vital to food security in agreements must respect both local fishers agreements and advocate for Parties to the The lack of capacity leads to many access agreements many poorer coastal states. Over 39 per cent having no limit to how much fish can be caught, causing and marine resources and be part of an FAO Commission on Fisheries to solely severe environmental damage, bycatch of sometimes integrated approach to environmental enter into fisheries partnership agreements of the global population live within 100 threatened species, and ultimately to the depletion of fish sustainability and development. As such, with developing countries under the kilometers of a coast, and many of these resources on which local communities and industry of the they must be carefully designed, managed auspices of a fully developed fisheries people depend on the productivity of the sea. management plan and design those coastal State depend for income and food supply. and enforced. In Asia alone, over one billion people rely on The European Commission negotiates fisheries Industrialised nations have a responsi- according to the seven key principles agreements with third countries – Fisheries Partnership bility towards the future of people in poorer described above. the sea for protein. Agreements (FPA) – under the auspices of the Common Fisheries also provide jobs and income Fisheries Policy. It currently has such agreements in place to many people in coastal areas. In Senegal, with more than 20 countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean and for example, the fishing industry accounts for the Pacific. As an example, in 2004, Spain had fisheries 15 per cent of national employment. agreements with 18 States, 16 of which in the developing world – as far apart as Kiribati and Cape Verde. Despite the importance of healthy fish stocks to food security and local and national economies, rampant overfishing threatens to Reflagging and deprive more than one billion people in 40 developing countries of their main source of joint ventures protein, according to the UN Development Programme.

©WWF-CANON / TANTYO BANGUN Getting access to fisheries resources within a country's ©WWF-CANON / JÜRGEN FREUND ©WWF-CANON / JÜRGEN FREUND exclusive economic zone is also done by reflagging vessels or establishing joint ventures with a local company. Joint ventures are meant to facilitate transfer of know-how and penalties for operating in violation of the regulations International obligations technology, securing long-term development of the fisheries established under bilateral access agreements. sector of the partner, and are partly financed by the EU. In Reflagging and joint ventures must only be reality, they often enable EU vessels to fish in countries with allowed when a strong management structure is in As inadequate fisheries management leads to access to fish for excess stocks in their waters. a minimum of fisheries management in place, and allow place, have strict terms of references, and their actual Fair fishing deals more and more fish stocks becoming Such access agreements can be on a state-to- unscrupulous vessel owners to avoid any monitoring or benefit to the coastal state is assessed, as they are depleted in industrialised nations' waters, state, or private basis. If properly designed, they restrictions imposed upon foreign vessels, and escape the truly uncertain. many vessels venture far from home to catch can generate substantial foreign exchange revenue Sustainable development through sound fisheries management enough fish to keep their businesses running for developing countries and help developing the and to feed an ever-growing market demand. infrastructure needed for monitoring and enforcing According to the UN Law of the Sea, any fisheries management efforts. But if not, they nation has the right to give other nations contribute to overfishing and exacerbate poverty, The Cotonou Agreement – Fisheries access agreements are principles of sustainability – both in terms leading to tension between increasingly common arrangements of environment, economy and social governments, local fishers

©WWF-CANON / MARTIN HARVEY providing an incentive between big fishing nations and coastal aspects – and the EU is now aiming for and industrial groups. developing countries. Many of these all its vessels to exploit fisheries in a Access agreements have agreements simply allow foreign vessels sustainable manner, whether in European in the past rarely had In 2000, the EU signed an agreement with 77 access to coastal fisheries through or distant waters. If these principles are adequate provisions for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries – the WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the WWF's Global Marine Programme paying a lump sum in cash, with no incorporated into all new fisheries access ensuring sustainable Cotonou Agreement. This aims to tackle planet’s natural environment and to build a future in WWF International obligations on how this money should be agreements between the EU and third fisheries management, nor poverty and promote sustainable development which humans live in harmony with nature, by: Avenue du Mont Blanc used, nor for the vessel owners to countries, fishing deals could achieve considered the protection of through focusing on development cooperation 1196 Gland, Switzerland ◆ conserving the world’s biological diversity respect the state of fish stocks. healthy fisheries, contribute to the marine environment. and trade between the EU and these Tel: +41 22 364 9019 Such agreements often entail negative sustainable development and reduce According to the UN Law of countries. WWF believes fisheries partnership ◆ ensuring that the use of renewable natural Fax: +41 22 364 0526 [email protected] consequences for fisheries and local poverty. the Sea, a fisheries agreements should be one of the cornerstones resources is sustainable www.panda.org/marine communities, for example by depriving To bring about this essential change of in this approach, and through integrating FPA agreement should be signed ◆ promoting the reduction of pollution and local communities and local fishing direction in access agreements, WWF is negotiations with European development only if fish stocks are not wasteful consumption industries from revenue opportunities, focussing our work on the EU. We believe policy, the EU can champion the promotion of fully utilised. But in reality, and are in breach with the development the EU's legal framework for distant water sound resource management in developing most developing nations goals agreed upon by the international fleets can, if properly designed, serve as countries – making a difference for people and have little or no capacity to community. a model for sustainable agreements to be monitor their fish stocks, nor ©WWF-CANON / MARK EDWARDS fisheries. The European Union's reformed used by all countries engaged in distant to control and enforce Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) includes water fishing.

©WWF-CANON / JO BENN bilateral agreements. 3 2 WWF’s strategy for fair fishing deals New partnership agreements – Current EU fisheries partnership agreements an opportunity for change To help fishing nations and third countries develop fair agreements, Through the introduction of FPAs, European access deals WWF has developed a global strategy to negotiate fairer access have taken a step towards becoming a management tool agreements and is working in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific for sustainable resource use. If properly implemented, they Ocean to share this strategy with fishers, governments, fisheries can provide a governance structure that reduces the managers and other stakeholders. WWF has also produced a footprint of European vessels on the marine resources of handbook for developing nations to use when negotiating sustainable developing countries and promote equal sharing of fisheries deals, based upon one basic requirement and seven key benefits from the exploitation of marine resources principles. WWF's principal requirement is that: between fishing nation and the country giving access to resources. Fisheries partnership agreements should only be granted Every few years, the EU renegotiates its agreements under the auspices of a fully developed fisheries management with third countries. As the reformed CFP emphasises plan and after conducting environmental impact assessments. the promotion of sustainable fisheries for all European vessels, WWF is working to ensure that the EU fulfils its Agreements should ensure a comprehensive, ecosystem-based obligations on sustainability and true partnership with approach to management of all activities. Management should include third countries. However, a transition from heroic measures to promote selective fishing gear to reduce bycatch, close intentions to real change requires cooperation between ©WWF-CANON / MEG GAWLER spawning and nursery grounds to fishing during key periods and the the EU's external policies. The development, trade and establishment of fully protected areas. fisheries sectors should all acknowledge their mutual This is now also required under the new European CFP, but will need impacts and give priority to increasing coherence The EU's agreement with Senegal to be addressed in negotiations between other fishing powers and third between policies where marine resources are vital for countries. Once fulfilled, negotiations can begin, following the key poverty reduction. ©WWF-CANON / ISAAC VEGA principles below. Through the inclusion of sustainable fisheries ©WWF-CANON / MARTIN HARVEY The fisheries agreement between the EU and management practices within the Cotonou framework Senegal was renewed in June 2002. The four-year (see box), fisheries partnership agreements can be a policies too support the sustainable deal, worth €64 million, has taken some significant valuable tool for poverty reduction and good governance development of fisheries in developing steps towards achieving more sustainable fisheries WWF’s seven key principles of marine resource exploitation. Trade plays an important countries, and that the doors to the and developing Senegal's fishing industry. role in the reduction of poverty and development of local European market are open to fish products economies. The EU must therefore ensure its trade from developing countries. Review – before agreements are renewed, their Cooperation on research and reporting – Changes impact on the marine environment and local knowledge on state of target stocks and the level of economy and livelihoods should be assessed via catch is essential for sound fisheries ◆ Eighteen per cent of payments are dedicated to 1 4 How can European FPAs contribute effective impact assessments. The impact on management. Distant water fleets should cooperate national Development (DFID), UK) support conservation of fish stocks and fish stocks, the wider marine environment, with the coastal state in scientific research on strengthen the Senegalese fishing sector, the livelihoods of coastal peoples, the local fishing stocks and accurately report catches and fishing to sustainable development? including support for the development of industry and the economy of the host nation should effort. Senegal's fisheries management capacity, control be assessed. The results should be used to and monitoring systems. A proportion of these If properly designed, the FPA framework can serve as a Total EU gain from agreements = €798 million/year improve the ecological and social sustainability of Sustainable fishing levels – total catches should blueprint for fair and sustainable access agreements funds is allocated to scientific research and the

(Source: Department for Inter (Source: deals. be compatible with sustainable fishing levels, evaluation of fish stocks, increasing the security between other fishing nations and third countries across based on a scientific assessment of the state of of small-scale fishing vessels and providing 5 the world. Transparency – as part of good governance, stocks. If data is unavailable, the precautionary training for fishers. By carefully designing each FPA, they can help negotiation of terms and conditions of the approach should be used. The negotiation of manage fisheries and alleviate poverty, as good deals Monitoring is essential ◆ To protect the interests of local fishers, the areas 2 agreement should be transparent. The negotiation fishing deals should only take place when analysis can promote coherence between fishing, development where EU vessels can operate are restricted and of access agreements should be in the public shows a surplus of stocks. Fishing deals should and biodiversity protection policies. By forging deals the overall EU fishing opportunity for certain domain and the agreement texts should be also allow for yearly adjustments to the level of between governments, a solid foundation for promoting The new CFP provides some tools intended to available. The analysis of the status of stocks catch over the duration of the agreement based on

stocks reduced. The number of Senegalese ©WWF-CANON / JO BENN increase the sustainability of new agreements, for sustainable fishing and increased opportunities for local fishers required to be employed on EU vessels should also be made available. regular analysis of stock levels, and the use of example: economies can be created, and illegal, unreported and has been increased from 33 to 50 per cent. seasonal closures. unregulated (IUU) fishing, a major threat to global fish Monitoring and enforcement capacity – the ◆ establishment of bilateral scientific committees stock, can be addressed. Additionally, not all nations ◆ EU landings of tuna in Dakar have increased, to WWF's take coastal state should have adequate capacity to Environmental costs – foreign fleets should to advice on sustainability of the fishing sector have the ability to fully exploit their marine resources, so support the local fish processing industry. monitor and enforce fishing agreements. To foster cover their share of the environmental costs of Although the deal is a major step forward, there is still 3 access agreements can provide an opportunity to good governance of fisheries, money should be fisheries. ◆ impact assessments room for improvement. The reduction of quota is 6 ◆ promote the development of sustainable domestic Pelagic fishing (two trawlers dragging one net), used to develop infrastructure for effective inadequate and research must be further strengthened fishing industries, if transfer of technology and know-how ◆ financial incentives to promote sustainability which results in high bycatch levels, has been monitoring and surveillance, and the data gathered Protecting local fishers – the interests of small to identify sustainable fishing quota and closure is done correctly. banned and an annual two-month fishing ban evaluated, made public and used in future scale fishers must be protected. Fishing deals Fair fishing deals must also ensure adequate To be effective in reducing poverty and ensuring has been established to help fish stocks periods. The provisions to protect the country's small-

ARD PARKER management. However, many coastal states do not should minimise the impact of foreign fleets on replenish. scale fishing sector also need to be improved. 7 stakeholder involvement and impact assessment studies sustainable use of marine resources, these tools have adequate capacity and in such cases fishing national fishing interests by restricting access to Surveillance and enforcement must be increased for must be carried out for all new and renewed agreements. need to be closely surveyed. WWF will monitor the agreements should seek to strengthen capabilities. inshore areas or stocks on which local communities ◆ There are provisions for observers on EU vessels this sector and local fishers need to be more closely Lastly, it is imperative that the EU vessel owners' impacts of FPAs on local economies and For example, a proportion of the payment by the or the local fishing industry depend. Ideally, fishing to increase Senegal's ability to monitor the deal. involved in the negotiations of future agreements. expenses are adjusted to a level that matches the real ecosystems, and demand coherence between the fishing state could be allocated for monitoring deals should be used to promote local employment

©WWF-CANON / EDW costs and values of their fishing activities. EU's development, trade and fisheries policies. ©WWF-CANON / MARK EDWARDS activities. and the development of the local fishing industry. 4 5 6 7