Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

Fisheries, including aquaculture, provide a vital source of food, employment, recreation, trade and economic well being for people throughout the world, both for present and future generations and should therefore be conducted in a responsible manner.

With this situation in mind, more than 17O Members of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) adopted the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in 1995. The Code is voluntary rather than mandatory, and aimed at everyone working in, and involved with, fisheries and aquaculture, irrespective of whether they are located in inland areas or in the oceans. Because the Code is voluntary, it is necessary to ensure that all people working in fisheries and aquaculture commit themselves to its principles and goals and take practical measures to implement them.

Elaborated by representatives from members of FAO, inter-governmental organisations, the fishing industry and non-governmental organisations, the Code represents a global consensus or agreement on a wide range of fisheries and aquaculture issues.

The Code sets out principles and international standards of behaviour for responsible practices with a view to ensuring the effective conservation, management and development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity. It recognises the nutritional, economic, social, environmental and cultural importance of fisheries and the interests of all those concerned with the fishery sector and takes into account the biological characteristics of the resources and their environment and the interests of consumers and other users.

The Code describes how fisheries should be managed responsibly, and how fishing operations themselves should be conducted. It then addresses the development of aquaculture, the linking of fisheries with other coastal zone activities, and the processing and selling of the catch. The importance of countries co-operating with one another in all aspects of fisheries is highlighted.

FAO and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

As the Code does not explain exactly how fishers, industry and governments should take the necessary practical steps to implement the Code, the Fisheries Department of FAO is developing detailed guidelines on a range of different topics to support the Code's implementation. The purpose of these guidelines is to give practical and technical advice to fishers, industry and fishery managers as to the steps that might be taken to ensure that the Code is implemented as it was intended.

The Fisheries Department has also established FishCODE, a special programme of global partnership aimed at promoting responsible fisheries. The activities of FishCODE include upgrading capabilities in monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries and the provision of scientific advice for fisheries management.