FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries. No. 13.  Recreational fisheries

FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries. No. 13

RECREATIONAL FISHERIES







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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2012


ABSTRACT

FAO.
Recreational fisheries.
FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries. No. 13. Rome, FAO. 2012. 176p.

Recreational fishing is defined as fishing of aquatic animals (mainly fish) that do not constitute the individual's primary resource to meet basic nutritional needs and are not generally sold or otherwise traded on export, domestic or black markets. Recreational fishing constitutes the dominant use of wild fish stocks in all freshwaters of industrialized countries, and it is prominent in many coastal ecosystems. The importance of recreational fisheries is increasing rapidly in many transitional economies. The present Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries are focused on recreational fisheries and describe strategies to promote environmentally sustainable and socially responsible management of such fisheries. To this end, the document details policy, management and behavioural recommendations for sustainable recreational fisheries that are an increasingly important component of global fisheries. Specifically, the Guidelines translate the relevant provisions of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries into specific advice for recreational fisheries. The concept of aquatic stewardship is introduced as an overarching ethical framework needed to achieve ecologically sustainable recreational fisheries on a global scale. Within this normative mindset, the adaptive management philosophy based on quantifiable and transparent objectives and continuous learning and feedback loops is proposed along with the acknowledgement of principles such as the ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach. Detailed sections on policy and institutional frameworks (tailored towards policy-makers), recreational fisheries management actions and strategies (tailored towards fisheries managers), recreational fisheries practices (tailored towards individual recreational fishers) and recreational fisheries research (tailored to researchers and managers) provide tangible advice for responsible recreational fisheries. The special considerations necessary for recreational fisheries in developing countries and economies in transition are acknowledged. Adherence to the guidelines and recommendations presented in the present document will enable policy-makers, managers and the entire recreational fisheries sector to orient recreational fisheries towards maintaining or achieving sustainability.



CONTENTS

Preparation of this document
Abstract
Acronyms and abbreviations
Background


1.


INTRODUCTION

 

1.1

Definitions

 

1.2

Global trends of recreational fisheries

 

1.3

Types and benefits of recreational fisheries

 

1.4

Biological issues of recreational fisheries

 

1.5

Objectives and target audience of guidelines

 

1.6

A guide to the use of the guidelines and relation to other FAO documents

2.

NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

 

2.1

A general overview

 

2.2

Towards aquatic stewardship

3.

MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

 

3.1

Overview on adaptive management

 

3.2

Adaptive management with structured decision-making

 

3.3

Adaptive management and the precautionary and ecosystem approach

 

3.4

Conclusions

4.

POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS

 

4.1

Governance structures

 

4.2

Access, rules, compliance and enforcement

 

4.3

Internal policies and procedures

 

4.4

Funding and licensing

 

4.5

Design principles for sustainable management

 

4.6

Conclusions

5.

RECREATIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

 

5.1

Background

 

5.2

The management purview

 

5.3

The fishery management process

 

5.4

Matching management to objectives

6.

RECREATIONAL FISHING PRACTICES

 

6.1

Safety

 

6.2

Sale and trade of aquatic animals, particularly fish

 

6.3

Use of harvested aquatic animals, particularly fish

 

6.4

Tackle, gear and fishing techniques

 

6.5

Litter and pollution

 

6.6

Environmental and wildlife disturbance

 

6.7

Environmental monitoring and reporting

 

6.8

Baiting and collection and transfer of live bait organisms

 

6.9

Illegal release and transfer of fish

 

6.10

Fish welfare in relation to capture, retention, kill and catch-and-release

7.

INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND RESEARCH

 

7.1

Information and knowledge sharing

 

7.2

Research

8.

PARTICULARITIES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND ECONOMIES IN TRANSITION

9.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GUIDELINES

 

9.1

The role of different bodies and stakeholder groups in implementation

REFERENCES

GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS

ANNEX – Recommended guidelines by specific area of recreational fisheries governance and management



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