Results and conclusions of the project “Ecosystem approaches for fisheries management in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem”

FAO Fisheries Circular No. 1026

FIMF/C1026 (En)

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE PROJECT
"ECOSYSTEM APPROACHES FOR FISHERIES
MANAGEMENT IN THE BENGUELA CURRENT
LARGE MARINE ECOSYSTEM"

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 2007

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Contents

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ISBN 978-92-5-105824-4
ISSN 0429-9329

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© FAO 2007

Cochrane, K.L.; Augustyn, C.J.; Bianchi, G.; de Barros, P.; Fairweather, T.; Iitembu, J.; Japp, D.; Kanandjembo, A.; Kilongo, K.; Moroff, N.; Nel, D.; Roux, J.-P.; Shannon, L.J.; van Zyl, B.; Vaz Velho, F.
Results and conclusions of the project "Ecosystem approaches for fisheries management in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem".
FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 1026. Rome, FAO. 2007. 167pp.

Abstract

This report provides the final results and conclusions of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) project LMR/EAF/03/01 “Ecosystem approaches for fisheries management in the BCLME”. The project set out to examine the feasibility of implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem which extends from east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Angola's Cabinda province in the north. The project, a cooperative effort by BCLME, the management agencies of the three countries and FAO, started in January 2004 and ended in December 2006. The main objective of the project has been to investigate the feasibility of EAF management in the BCLME region through examining the existing issues, problems and needs related to EAF, and considering different management options to achieve sustainable management of the resources at an ecosystem level. The approach followed was to focus on ten of the major fisheries in the three countries. The project used a structured and participatory approach, attempting to engage the range of stakeholders in the countries, in order to identify and prioritize the gaps in the existing, largely conventional, approaches to fisheries management and to describe potential management actions necessary to address those gaps. In a similarly participatory approach, preliminary estimates of the costs and benefits (positive and negative impacts) of those actions specifically related to implementation of EAF have been made. The costs and benefits were evaluated for each of the broad objectives identified for each fishery. The detailed results, including potential management actions and their costs and benefits, are still preliminary but the issues and the broad management needs and possible actions that have been identified are highly informative. The process that has been developed provides a valuable framework for future refinement and implementation of EAF. The project also considered the applicability of a number of tools and activities that would be important for effective progress in implementation of EAF, in particular methods for improved decisionmaking, incentives to encourage implementation, institutional requirements and research needs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preparation of this document
Abstract
Executive summary

1. CHARACTERISTICS AND STRUCTURE OF THE SECTOR

1.1 Terms of reference of the BCLME project on EAF

2. THE FISHERIES INCLUDED IN THE STUDY

2.1 Reviews of current fisheries management approaches
2.2 Fisheries included in the study

3. NATIONAL EAF ISSUES AND PRIORITIES
The Risk Assessment for Sustainable Fisheries (RASF) Workshops
Results of the RASF Workshops

3.1   Angola
3.2   Namibia hake fishery
3.3   Namibia purse seine fishery
3.4   Namibia midwater trawl fishery
3.5  South Africa demersal hake fishery
3.6  South Africa small pelagics fishery
3.7  South Africa West Coast rock lobster fishery

4. REGIONAL ISSUES AND PRIORITIES

4.1 Overview of the Benguela Current Commission Interim Agreement
4.2 Issues raised at the Third Regional Workshop

5. EVALUATING OPTIONS FOR EAF MANAGEMENT ACTION
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS

5.1   Angola
5.2   Namibia
5.3   South Africa
5.4   Conclusions

6. RESULTS FROM APPLICATION OF SIMULATION MODELS
TO INVESTIGATE FEASIBILITY OF EAF

6.1   South Africa
6.2   Angola
6.3   Namibia
6.4   Comments from the Third Regional Workshop

7. INDICATORS FOR EAF

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Conclusions and recommendations of the Third Regional Workshop

8. COMPARATIVE APPLICATION OF INDICATORS TO CHARACTERIZE
ECOSYSTEM STATES, CHANGES AND FUNCTIONING IN THE
BENGUELA REGION

8.1   Overview of existing knowledge on ecosystem states,
        changes and functioning in the BCLME
8.2   Discussion and conclusions of the Third Regional Workshop

9. OPTIONS FOR IMPROVED TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES
TO STRENGTHEN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

9.1   Introduction
9.2   Multicriteria support for decision-making in the ecosystems
        approach to fisheries management
9.3   An application of fuzzy logic to facilitate decision-making
9.4   Conclusions of the Third Regional Workshop

10. POTENTIAL INCENTIVES FOR FACILITATING EAF

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Conclusions of the Third Regional Workshop

11. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF EAF

11.1 Angola
11.2 Namibia
11.3 South Africa
11.4 Discussion and conclusions of the Third Regional Workshop

12. RESEARCH NEEDS

12.1 Angola
12.2 Namibia
12.3 South Africa
12.4 Conclusions on research needs from the Third Regional Workshop

13. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

13.1 Introduction
13.2 The issues and priorities
13.3 Options for EAF management action
13.4 Potential use of simulation models
13.5 Indicators for EAF
13.6 Options for strengthening the decision-making process
13.7 Potential incentives for facilitating EAF
13.8 Institutional arrangements for implementation of EAF
13.9 Research needs

REFERENCES

APPENDIX – METHODS

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