Chapter 4

Conclusions and follow-up

As far as the continuation of the monitoring of the economic performance of marine capture fisheries is concerned it was proposed that from now on, the countries, which so far participated in the study, should take care of updating the national cost earnings studies, which had so far been carried out with support of FAO. It was recommended that FAO's future involvement should focus on specialised studies. As priorities for future studies, the following three areas/topics were identified:

• The economic impact of direct Government financial transfers on the economic and financial performance of marine capture fisheries.
• The impact of fish utilisation, trade and value addition on the economic and financial performance of marine capture fisheries.
• The economic efficiency of selective and resource and environmentally friendly fishing practices.

More in detail the following studies and follow-up activities were proposed:

• Publication of study findings and workshop proceedings as FAO Fisheries Technical Paper.
• Desk study on the impact of revenue enhancing and cost reducing Government financial transfers in the European Union on economic performance of marine capture fisheries.
• Case studies (India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, China, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Norway) on quantification of Government Financial Transfers in relation to value of fish production by fisheries sub-sectors and assessment of positive and negative effects of Government Financial Transfers on economic performance of marine capture fisheries and preparation of guidelines for responsible and efficient use of Government Financial Transfers and Economic Incentives.
• Regional case study on changes of fish utilisation and trade flows in Asia and the Pacific over the last decade and their impact on incomes, foreign exchange earnings and availability and cost of fish and fishery products.
• Case studies on costs and earnings of value addition and post harvest fisheries for the following species/commodities/utilisation practices i.e. Alaska Pollock (Norway), anchovy/sardine threadfin bream (Thailand), fresh fish (Europe), on board versus on shore processing (Europe), Hake (Peru, Argentina).
• Case studies for the identification of environmentally/resource friendly and economic efficient tuna fishing methods in developing and developed countries (among small/medium-scale longlining, large-scale longlining, purse seining, handlining and trolling with and without FADs, medium-scale drift gillnetting, small/medium and large-scale pole and line fishing).