Annex 2. Major issues concerning fisheries and environmental sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region

International and regional fishery bodies and arrangements are endeavoring to assist their member countries to attain the goal of self-reliance in fisheries and environmental sustainability. However, there are several issues of regional relevance having implications on fishery resources and environmental sustainability which remain to be resolved. Several of these issues are summarized below.

Population growth

The above issue gives rise to the increasing demand for fish supplies. At the global level, Miles (1999) referred to a recent projection of the world population by the year 2100 of between 7.8 and 12.5 billion people, compared to 4.2 billion in 1991. Using the 12.5 billion figures, he projected that if consumption grew at a conservative rate of two percent per year, it would be eight times the 1991 rate by the year 2100. An eight-fold increase in consumption combined with a 2.6-fold increase in world population would be equivalent to a 20-fold increase in consumption of physical resources. He concluded that there would be no possibility of achieving sustainable development without drastic controls of world population growth and the rate of consumption¹. Population growth will affect the pattern of resource utilization and environmental quality, especially in the coastal areas because close to 40 percent of the population would be living within 100 km of a coastline. Miles stated that in Asia, where economic development is intense, coastal reclamation is routinely carried out in several countries to create bases for development, whether for industrial centres or ports and harbors. These development projects are often not subjected to careful cost/benefit evaluations and, when they are, the costs rarely include consideration of the environmental implications, loss of productivity and declining biological diversity².

Fish as a common property resource

Another major issue implicating future resources sustainability is that of continued open access to marine fishery resources in many countries of the region. The root cause of the decline of fishery resources is the general recognition of governments that fish in the sea are a common property, and thus open access in exclusive economic zones and outside them should be allowed, for their citizens. The issue is to change this perception and to develop suitable policies and mechanisms to effect controlled access and the reduction in fishing efforts commensurate with the capacity of the resources to reproduce.

Global policy issues covering the entire fisheries sector (including aquaculture) which are also relevant to the Asia-Pacific region are summarized in FAO document COFI/99/Inf. 15, entitled “Future challenges in world fisheries and aquaculture”, which was submitted to the Twenty-third Session of the Committee on Fisheries in 1999. The issues and the measures for resolving them are familiar to fisheries administrators and management scientists in the region because they have been discussed many times in regional and global fisheries fora and in seminars and symposia, especially those organized in recent years by APFIC. Nevertheless, reference should be made to some of the issues to stress their importance.

Integrated coastal area management

The issue is concerned with the use of integrated coastal area management (ICAM) or integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) as a framework/tool for coastal and inshore resources and environmental management. During the past two decades, there has been an increasing recognition that ICAM is the right policy for promoting coastal and inshore fishery resource conservation and combating land-based pollution and fish habitat degradation^3,4,5. In the Asia-Pacific region, the countries that have ICAM activities include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea (Rep. of), Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam⁶. These countries have adopted different approaches in implementing ICAM such as:

• a national programme with strong government support;
• a local or community programme without strong support from the central government; or
• operation under co-management (government and local communities).

ICAM has created increasing awareness amongst policy makers and the people concerned in several countries but it is not yet a commonly recognized policy framework for fisheries and environmental management in the region. Thus, progress in the implementation of this innovative management approa/;/=.-==-ch has been slow.

In order to establish ICAM as an effective tool in coastal resources management, continued support of governments and local communities in terms of adequate funding, increased technical capability and managerial skills of workers as well as the commitment and good will of the concerned agencies will be required. International organizations such as FAO and regional bodies such as APFIC can play a useful role in promoting the strengthening ICAM by providing venues and support to facilitate the exchange of views, experiences and information.

Management of shared and straddling fish stocks

Another policy issue which requires follow-up is the management of shared and straddling⁷ or transboundary fish stocks. Yamamoto (1994) pointed out that several fish stocks being exploited by the offshore fleets of China, Republic of Korea and Japan in the East China Sea were shared stocks. These include yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis), white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), seabream (Pagrosomus spp.), filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer), and sharks and rays (Figure1). In the Japan Sea or East Sea, the offshore fleets of China, Japan, Russia, Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea exploit Pacific saury (Cololabis saira), Japanese pilchard (Sardinops melanostictus) and squids (Figure 1).

In the South China Sea, there are 28 potential shared fish stocks, several of which are fished by two or more countries. They are mainly neritic pelagic species, including scads (Decapterus spp), trevallies (Caranx spp.), torpedo scad (Megalaspis cordyla), sardines (Sardinella spp.), anchovies (Stolephorus spp), Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus spp.) and mackerels (Rastrelliger spp)⁸.

The First Session of the APFIC Working Party on Marine Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, 13-16 May 1997, identified 11 small pelagic stocks in the Western Indian Ocean (FAO Statistical Area 51), and 19 in the Eastern Indian Ocean (FAO Statistical Area 57) including the Malacca Strait as potential shared stocks (Table 1).

Many of these shared stocks which inhabit coastal seas are heavily fished. There may be economic and political problems if they were depleted due to lack of proper management. Although management activities have already been initiated by a number of countries and by regional bodies such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the Bay of Bengal Programme, they are currently confined to developing statistical databases and collecting biological and bionomic information on the exploited stocks in question. These undertakings are intended to gain more knowledge of the stocks and their distribution and to assess the state of their exploitation. Future tasks will be to develop collaborative agreements on how to exploit the shared stocks rationally, with careful consideration of catch allocation, fishing regulations, surveillance, and enforcement and dispute settlement, based on the available information and knowledge of the stocks. This may require the adjustment of policies and fisheries laws. Hence, the tasks will not be easy but should be initiated as soon as possible with the good will and commitment of the parties concerned. Impartial bodies such as FAO and APFIC could assist their Members in the preparation of such collaborative management agreements based on available scientific knowledge.

Figure 1. Location of major fisheries operated by China, Korea (Rep. of), Korea (DPR) and Japan in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea⁹

⁹ After Yamamoto, T. (1994). Marine fisheries of Korea and its management need for international cooperation of fisheries management in East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Proceedings of the IIFET VII International Conference. pp 223-233.

Table 1. Major small pelagic resources in the APFIC Region

FAO Fishing Area		51	57		71				61
Subregional Area		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
No.	Species Group	Western Indian Ocean	Eastern Indian Ocean	Malacca Strait	Gulf of Thailand	South China Sea	Celebes Sea (Sulawesi Sea)	Australia (Northern)	East China Sea	Sea of Japan
1.	Mackerels: - Rastrelliger spp. - Scomber japonicus	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	- xx	- xx
2.	Scads (Decapterus spp., Selar spp., Atule spp.)	xx	x	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	xx	xx
3.	Torpedo Scad (Megalaspis cordyla)	xx	x	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	x	-
4.	Sardines: - Sardinella spp. - Dussumieria spp. - Sardinops spp.	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	xx	xx
5.	Jacks: - Caranx spp. - Trachurus spp.	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	x	- xx	- x
6.	Seerfishes (Scomberomorus spp.)	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	xx	x
7.	Small tunas (Auxis spp., Euthunnus spp., Thunnus tonggol, Sarda spp.)	xx	x	xx	xx	xx	xx	-	x	-
8.	Anchovies (Stolephorus spp.)	x	x	x	x	x	x	-	xx	xx
9.	Bombay-duck (Harpadon nehereus)	x	xx	-	-	x	-	-	-	-
10.	Hairtails (Trichiurus spp.)	xx	xx	x	x	x	x	-	x	x
11.	Shads (Hilsa spp.)	x	xx	-	x	-	-	-	-	-
12.	Wolf-herring (Chirocentrus spp.)	x	xx	xx	x	x	x	-	-	-
13.	Barracudas (Sphyraena spp.)	xx	xx	x	x	x	x	-	x	x
14.	Pomfrets (Formio niger, Stromateus spp.)	x	xx	x	x	x	x	-	xx	-
15.	Flyingfishes (Hirundichthus spp.)	xx	xx	-	-	x	x	-	x	x
16.	Mullets (Mugil spp., Liza spp.)	xx	x	x	x	x	-	x	x	x

x: Being exploited by coastal states; xx: Potential transboundary pelagic stocks

Source: Devaraj, M., and P. Martosubroto (Eds). 1997. Small pelagic resources and their fisheries inAsia-Pacific region. Proceedings of the APFIC Working Party on Marine Fisheries, First Session, Banglok, Thailand, 13-16 May 1997. RAP Publication 1997/31, 445 pp.

Transfer of technology and capacity building

The necessary ingredients for an effective management system, whether for coastal resources under ICAM or for shared stocks, are: reliable fishery information and data, supportive research on exploited fish stocks and suitable management options. These requirements point to the continuing need for competent research scientists, experienced administrators and efficient extension workers. Hence, accelerating technology transfer and capacity building will continue to be another key issue in the region. Regional bodies can promote the exchange of expertise amongst countries. They can organize, on a regular basis, training courses and seminars and working parties of experts on topics such as fishery policy and planning, resources assessment, and collection, collation and analysis of information and data.

Inland fisheries management

To effect the sustainability of inland fisheries, especially to ensure food security for rural population, rational fishery management again comes into the picture. An inland fisheries management scheme also has to include controlled access to the resources and participation of resource users in the management process. Ways and means of reversing the rising trend of environmental degradation and aquatic pollution and the promotion of cultured-based fisheries in natural water bodies and reservoirs should also receive more attention.

Aquaculture development and management

The contribution of aquaculture towards reinforcing food security and the betterment of the economies in the Asia and Pacific region and its potential for further expansion in the region are now generally recognized. However, to ensure the sustainable contribution of aquaculture, it is essential that a good management framework be implemented for each type of aquaculture to effect ecologically friendly practices, especially in intensive aquaculture operations. Such a framework should be supported by effective legislation and enforcement aimed at reducing the environmental impact of aquaculture and vise-versa. A balanced approach should be adopted with more attention to the development of rural aquaculture to enhance food security amongst rural populations; in many countries, priority is currently given to aquaculture that produces high-valued species for export.

Post-harvest technology development

Finally, challenges in the post-harvest sub-sector include the reduction of wastage and discards at sea and a prompt and efficient response to increasingly stricter requirements for fish and fishery products imposed by importing countries for health and other reasons. Concerted action amongst the developing countries in the region to reduce trade barriers on fish and fishery products will be a long-term challenge for them.

To respond to the above challenges, the fisheries sector must develop capacity and capability to deal with:

(1) the development of selective fishing gear that can minimize by-catches of juveniles and non-target species;

(2) the development of technology to economically utilize by-catches for human consumption;

(3) the implementation of quality assurance systems for fish and fishery products for both local consumption and export; and

(4) collective and concerted action to reduce trade barriers, including the promotion of intra-regional fish trade.