Working Paper 030 Let’s talk fish Guide for journalists and media Co-implemented by Project funded by Food and Agriculture Organization European of the United Nations Union The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Indian Ocean Commission concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by Indian Ocean Commission in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Indian Ocean Commission. © 2014 Indian Ocean Commission Indian Ocean Commission Blue Tower 5th floor, rue de l'Institut Ebene, Mauritius Tel : +230 402 6100 Fax: +230 466 0160 [email protected] www.coi-ioc.org www.smartfish-coi.org CREDITS Concept and Structure : Toky Rasoloarimanana Graphic Design : Shirley Chan Author : Claire Artwood, Editor of ‘Intrafish magazine’ Drawings : Pov “ This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and can no way be taken to the reflect the views of the European Union.” Let’s talk fish Guide for journalists and media SF/ 2014/ 30 CONTENT PAGE Preface 06 The Role of Media 08 SmartFish Programme 10 The World of Fish and Fishing 12 Fisheries in Africa 15 Topics and Story Ideas 32 Glossary 50 Key Contact 55 5 Did you know that off the coast of Madagascar, large ocean-going vessels catch lobster at depths of up to 800 m; that Lake Victoria’s Nile perch fishery is shared by three countries; and that one of the largest tuna canneries in the world is in Seychelles? Welcome to the wonderful world of fishing in Africa, an area of economic activity that combines science, politics, economics, industry, technology and conservation. With this Media Guide, the Indian Ocean Commission through SmartFish Programme hopes to introduce you to the fisheries of Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands (the ESA-IO region) and stimulate your interest in learning more about the subject. The objective of the present guide is to help you to report knowledgeably and confidently about fisheries in your country or sub- region so that your readers, listeners or viewers gain a better understanding of the diverse and dynamic fisheries of the area where they live. The guide begins with an introduction to global fisheries which highlights the important role that fish and fishing play in the global economy. A summary of fisheries in the ESA-IO region follows. Although it has not been possible to describe every fishery in every country, this consolidated overview should help you to better understand the different fisheries that exist in the region and to appreciate some of the key issues that influence or affect them. We have included information on topics that we think may PREFACE interest you and have provided some suggestions on how 6 Let's talk fish - Guide for journalists and media to report on these topics. The glossary of fisheries terms should help you to navigate the world of fish and fisheries and successfully report on this subject. There is a wealth of information available and countless fishing stories to be told, many of them good news stories about human endeavour, adventure and discovery, the development of new technologies and the wise use of natural resources. We hope that this Media Guide will give you the impetus you need to start telling the fishing stories that are unfolding every day in your community, country or region. Mr Harijhons Léon Martial RAZAKA Officer in Charge Indian Ocean Commission 7 The Role of Media If one accepts that the media exists to serve society – providing people with the information they need to make informed judgements on the issues of the day – then there is potential for the media to play an extremely important role in the context of fisheries. This is especially true in light of a global trend towards the co- management of fisheries. Co-management involves fishers, fishing communities and other stakeholders in the management of fisheries and, as a result, ordinary citizens are playing a more active role than ever before in the assessment, planning, monitoring and management of fisheries. Consequently there is potential for the media to play its part in the co-management of 8 Let's talk fish - Guide for journalists and media fisheries by providing stakeholders with accurate and credible information needed for decision-making. Reliable, balanced reporting about the lives of fishers, the business of fishing and the management of fisheries has the potential to influence the debates of the day and even bring about changes in policy and governance. However, the old adage “there are two sides to every story” is especially apt when it comes to fisheries because fishing stories almost always combine elements of science, economics, conservation and industry, which may be at odds with each other. As is evident in the pages of this Media Guide, the fisheries of the ESA-IO region are expansive and diverse, with activities spanning the entire spectrum of society, from the grassroots to the international arena. As such, there are countless stories to be written and told, some of them human-interest stories with real implications for local, regional and even international policy and governance. 9 Sudan Eritrea Djibouti South Ethiopia Sudan Somalia Uganda Kenya INDIAN OCEAN Democratic Rwanda Republic of Burundi the Congo United Seychelles Republic of Tanzania archipelago of Comoros Malawi Zambia Mozambique Zimbabwe Mauritius Madagascar Reunion Swaziland South Africa THE SMARTFISH PROGRAMME The governance and management of fisheries and aquaculture, also affect food security, social benefits, regional trade and economic growth. The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have developed regional strategies to enhance responsible fisheries and aquaculture 10 Let's talk fish - Guide for journalists and media development as well as develop fish trade and improved food security. SmartFish is financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the IOC jointly with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with COMESA, EAC and IGAD and in collaboration with SADC. Effective collaboration with all relevant national authorities and regional fisheries organisations has been established and technical support is provided by the Agrotec consortium (a private sector group of companies that provides technical assistance to the Programme). SmartFish is supporting the implementation of these regional fisheries strategies through capacity building and related interventions aimed specifically at : • implementing sustainable regional fisheries management; • initiating a governance framework for sustainable regional fisheries; • developing effective monitoring, control and surveillance for transboundary fisheries resources; • developing regional trade strategies and implementing regional trade initiatives; • contributing to food security through livelihood diversification and the reduction of post-harvest losses. 11 The world of fish and fishing All over the world, fish provide people with food, jobs, economic activity and in many cases an accessible form of recreation and relaxation. The business of fishing spans the globe and with improvements in technology and distribution, the global supply of fish has dramatically increased in the past five decades. Global fisheries at a glance • Capture fisheries and aquaculture supplied the world with 154 million metric tonnes (Mt) of fish in 2011. • At least 131 million Mt of the total catch was utilized as food for people. • Fish products are among the most traded food commodities, representing about 10 % of total food exports. People in different parts of the world eat different amounts of fish • In Asia, on average each person eats about 21 kg of fish per year. (This is referred to as ‘per capita consumption’.) • In Africa, per capita consumption is about 9 kg per year. • In China, a massive growth in aquaculture production means people are eating more fish. Aquaculture (fish farming) is producing 12 times more fish than in 1980 • Aquaculture produced 60 million Mt, with a value of about USD 119 billion in 2010. • In Africa, aquaculture has expanded rapidly with the largest producers being Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana. 12 Let's talk fish - Guide for journalists and media • Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia are also increasing production. Inland waters (rivers, lakes and reservoirs) contributed 11.2 million Mt to the world’s total fish catch in 2010 • FAO considers the production of inland waters to be seriously underestimated. Fisheries, aquaculture and associated activities support the livelihoods of 660 to 820 million people worldwide • Employment in aquaculture is growing faster than employment in agriculture. • Generally employment in capture fisheries is stagnating or decreasing (most notably in Europe), but employment in aquaculture is growing. • The fisheries sector provides employment in many ancillary activities such as fish processing, packaging, marketing and distribution, as well as the manufacturing of fishing gear, boats and equipment, etc. FAO estimates that 29.9 % of fish stocks are overexploited (over-fished) and in need of strict management plans to restore their full biological and ecological potential. • Most of the stocks of the top ten species are fully exploited. • One third of tuna species are overexploited In a nutshell, the state of the world’s capture fisheries is worsening and there is an urgent need to put effective management plans 13 in place to rebuild overexploited stocks.