ANNEX: SUPPLY PROSPECTS BY MAJOR FISHING AREAS
Production (million tonnes) |
|||
Historical maximum (year) |
Present 1989/91 | ||
| Marine fisheries | |||
| Northern Atlantic. Generally overfished; catches of most important high-value species (Atlantic cod, capelin, Ad. herring) in decline; consequent pressures on low-value stock (pollack, silver hake), already fully exploited; few instances of successful management; even successful management could add only 2-3 million tonnes to total catch; possibility of increasing cephalopod catch by 1 million tonnes. Over the last decade notable is the increase in landings of invertebrates, making up 32% of the catch in 1990, and high proportion of the total value. The coastal states curtailed or eliminated distant water efforts in their EEZs. Management of shelf areas seaward of 200 miles has been conducted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) to maintain stocks levels. In the Northeast Atlantic TAC (total allowable catch) systems have been used as the standard tool in managing stocks. Agreed TACs have exceeded the TACs recommended by the International Commission for Exploitation of the Seas, and actual catches have exceeded the agreed TACs. | West | 4.2(1970) | 3.1 |
| East | 12.3(1975) | 9.6 | |
| — | |||
| 12.7 | |||
of which culture |
(0.8) | ||
| Central Atlantic. Current catch some 5.8 million tonnes; generally fully exploited. In Western Atlantic marine fisheries include small and large pelagics, reef fish, coastal demersal fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Some underutilized resources like cephalopods. Many of the resources are shared by several countries. In Eastern Atlantic catches are recorded by 21 coastal countries and more than non-coastal countries giving a markedly international character. The share of landings by non- African long-range fleets remains high, being at 58% in 1989/90. | West | 2.2(1975) | 1.8 |
| East | 4.1 (1990) | 3.9 | |
| — | |||
of which culture |
5.7 | ||
| (0.1) | |||
| Southern Atlantic. Important fisheries include hake and blue whiting fishing. The latter is considered moderately exploited. Several management measures (e.g. licensing, mesh size regulation, etc.) have been in force for some years. Rapid development of offshore fishing in the Southern Patagonian shelf and slope by long-range fleet is source of concern in the Southeast Atlantic, southern Angola and Namibia have an exceptionally high biological productivity due to the Benguela current, but currently Namibian policy is low catches and stock rebuilding. However, the total fishing potential of the Benguela region is not well known | West | 2.4(1987) | 2.2 |
| East | 2.8 (1975) | 1.6 | |
| — | |||
| Mediterranean and Black Seas. Stocks are fully exploited with possible exception of mackerel, horse mackerel and sardines. The recent decline has been caused by the environmentally-induced collapse of fish catches from the Black Sea; overfishing of most of the highly valued demersal species such as hake, red mullet and clams. Few stock assessment recommendations have been made. The complex of problems faced in many Mediterranean countries with fisheries management, are focused on the coastal zone, where critical habitats for fisheries are often encountered, and there is uncontrolled expansion in the use of the same areas for other human activities | 2.1 (1988) | 1.5 | |
of which culture |
(0.16) | ||
| Indian Ocean. Catches of most important high-value species (shrimp) are fully or overexploited. Main opportunities increase of catches 4.3 million tonnes for small pelagic stocks off Mozambique and Somalia, for dernersal fish off Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania and increased utilization of increased by-catch from shrimp trawlers. Potential development for small pelagics (anchovies, scads, Indian and Jap. mackerel, round herring) in the southwestern Indian Ocean, needs to be assessed. Some form of management is required for trawl fishing in Somalia and shrimp fishing in Mozambique and Madagascar. Stock assessment work is needed in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Underexploited deep-sea resources may exist in the shelves of the Amadaman and Nicobar Archipelago, and Myanmar, but generally fisheries of the northern Indian Ocean are heavily exploited to overfished. Fishing by foreign vessels in the eastern Indian Ocean has grown less intense. Scientific management of fishery resources is not yet well established although development of fisheries has passed the point where this is becoming urgently needed | West | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| (1989, 1990) | |||
| East | 2.8 | 2.8 | |
| (1990) | — | ||
| Northern Pacific. The total landings remain among the highest in the world: 31 % of the total world marine catch. The recent decrease was primarily from the decline in landings of Alaska pollack and the Jap. pilchard. In Northwest Pacific the stock of pollack is fully exploited and there has been a significant increase in the proportion of undifferentiated fish in the catch. Most cod stocks are fully exploited. The demersal stocks in East China Sea and Yellow Sea seriously depleted and estimated 1/5 to 1/10 of their highest levels. Little sign of recovery. The Jap. pilchard exceeded 5.4 million tonnes in 1988, making it one of the largest single species catches but subject to wide fluctuation. Probable future declines possibly counterbalanced by other shoaling pelagic species. The total catch of pelagic fish ranged from 6 to 8 million tonnes. Due to major changes in relative abundance of different species, it is difficult to establish long-term sustainable yields for individual species. Cephalopod stocks around Japan fully exploited but oceanic squid in the northern region and neritic cephalopods in the southern region may provide certain opportunities if bans on certain current fishing gears are not extended (i.e. large driftnets). Salmon stocks appear to have stabilized due to improved artificial breeding and releasing techniques. Shrimp stocks fully exploited. There is no functional multilateral organization to assess and manage shared fish stocks. In Northeast Pacific the marine environment linked to "El Niņo". The total catch ranged from 3.2 to 3.5 million tonnes in recent years. Alaska pollack consistently accounts for slightly less than half of the total catch. The pollack stocks tend toward a gradual decline. Major decline in salmon stocks attributed to degradation of the freshwater habitats resulting from urbanization and long standing drought conditions. Canada initiated individual vessel quotas (IVQs) for habitat on a two-year trial basis. Stocks of cods, hake and sablefish seem to be declining. Pressures are now growing for the institution of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) or alternatively, community development quotas (ACDs) | West | 26.7 | 25.5 |
| (1988) | |||
| East | 3.4 | 3.2 | |
| (1987, 1990) | — | ||
of which culture |
(2.7) | ||
| Central Pacific. Western Central Pacific generally overexploited; small-scale fisheries contribute most of the total catch. Dernersal and small pelagic fish comprise most of the total catch. Shrimp and tuna are the major export fisheries. Total catch has continuously increased over the last 20 years primarily due to the extension of fishing on to new grounds, but the rate of increase has slowed. Many stocks of coastal shrimp in Asian waters and in Northern Australia are fully exploited. Few countries have formulated fisheries management plans. Some of the excess fleet have had to compensate fishing in the waters of neighbouring countries through various bilateral agreements. In Eastern Central Pacific fisheries are strongly influenced by the California current system, and dominated by pelagic species and shrimps. Sardine stocks are subjected to wide natural fluctuations. Shrimp stocks are fully exploited except the stock off Nicaragua. Catches of tuna are relatively stable | West | 7.9(1991) | 7.5 |
| East | 1.8 (1989) | 1.6 | |
| 9.1 | |||
of which culture |
(0.3) | ||
| Southern Pacific. The Southwest Pacific generally overexploited both in pelagic and demersal species. Cephalopods show large fluctuations. The ITQ systems adopted by New Zealand and Australia have managed to stabilize a number of fisheries at more appropriate economic levels: in the Southeast Pacific the fisheries, particularly anchoveta and squids, are greatly affected by "El Niņo". The current level of production (14 million tonnes in 1990) exceeds the record catches of 13.8 million tonnes in 1970. Small pelagics are dominant, representing 90% of total landings. Potential annual yield is estimated to be 2 to 5 million tonnes and the stock is fully exploited. The potential yield of squid is believed to be much higher than the current level of production. Chilean jack mackerel is considered to be moderately exploited although catches are relatively high | West | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| (1989, 1991) | |||
| East | 15.3 (1989) | 14.5 | |
| Southern Oceans. Most of the catch is krill, accounting for about 90% of the total. Finfish are also taken but their resources are very limited. Most of the catch taken by the former USSR fleet and Japan. Because the annual net production of krill is low compared to the available biomass, the resource could be vulnerable to overfishing, and supplies the food requirements of Antarctic mammals and birds. There is a need for precautionary management measures | 0.5(1989) | 0.4 | |
| Marine total | 83.6 | ||
| of which culture | (4.06) | ||
| Inland Fisheries. They represent 15% of the total supply from all sources. The production of fish, crustacean and molluscs has increased steadily during the last decade; inland capture fisheries have shown sluggishness, whereas inland culture made a remarkable growth reaching about 55% of total inland production. Inland fisheries are becoming increasingly conditioned by degradation of environment. Management tends to centre around mitigation of adverse environmental impacts. Formulation of adequate legislation for the protection of stocks in lakes, reservoirs and rivers is needed | 15.2(1991) | 14.5 | |
| Capture | 6.8 | ||
| Culture | 7.7 | ||
| Aquaculture. (All figures quoted are already included in above table as appropriate). Current. production some 12 million tonnes. Aquaculture development has been rapid, registering a mean growth of 10.9% per year; coastal aquaculture growth has been less than that of inland aquaculture. Important increases in yield have been achieved through culture of shrimps in the tropics and salmon in the temperate zones. Aquaculture has expanded over most of the world and is responsible for the increasing contribution of inland waters to the world fisheries production. The intensification of production of export-oriented communities in fish such as salmon and shrimp is largely industry driven. Severe strains are on the environment and allocation of sites, disease control and feeds. The general failure of rural aquaculture can be largely traced to managerial problems | 12.0(1990) | 12.0 | |
| Mariculture | 4.5 | ||
| Inland waters | 7.5 | ||
| World production | 100.3(1989) | 98.2 | |