FishCode component activities

FishCode component activities are field-oriented and closely linked to FI's normative activities under its Medium Term Plans (the latest MTP period covers 2006-2011).

Activities involve considerable capacity building and lay emphasis on sensitization of fisheries and fish trade policy makers and technical training and advice to planners, managers, fish food controllers, fishers, industry and trade personnel and relevant NGOs as a means to create enabling policy environments and to strengthen institutional capabilities to deal with CCRF implementation constraints.

Targeted training occurs in the form of national, subregional, regional and interregional workshops and sharing of lessons learned through multi-media dissemination of guidelines and reviews. Advice and assistance related to fisheries policy, legislation, planning, management and development for the harvest and post-harvest sectors strengthens the capabilities of national, subregional and regional institutions to fulfil their role in promoting responsible fisheries.

Components

• Management for Responsible Fisheries (MRF)
  MRF aims to facilitate improved capabilities and capacities within selected reference fisheries in support of improved fisheries policy, planning, management, legal and institutional arrangements, scientific advice, and monitoring, control and surveillance.
  
  
• Support for the Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA IUU)
  IUU fishing has been identified in a wide range of international fora as a major constraint to the achievement of responsible fisheries.
  
  
• Support for Implementation of the International Plan of Action for Management of Fishing Capacity (IPOA Capacity)
  The need both to avoid creating further fishing capacity and to reduce existing capacity poses extraordinary challenges to attaining responsible fisheries in many parts of the world.
  
  
• Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries (Strategy-STF)
  COFI at its Twenty-fifth Session recognized the need for extra-budgetary support for implementation of the Strategy-STF and accordingly endorsed a proposal to develop a multilateral project under the FAO FishCode Programme as a means to accomplish this.
  
  
• Training and Awareness for Responsible Fisheries (TrainFish)
  Strong public awareness and political support are essential for the success of responsible fisheries approaches. In addition, it is necessary to overcome poor institutional structure and human resource development constraints that contribute to fisheries management deficiencies.
  
  
• Responsible Fisheries for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
  The nature of problems faced by SIDS with respect to the effective conservation and management of fisheries resources are not vitally different from those of other states. However, SIDS are considerably disadvantaged in that they do not have the same range of solutions to these problems that larger States have at their disposal.
  
  
• Fishing Operations & Safety at Sea (OPSAS)
  Fishing is probably the most dangerous occupation in the world. Fatality and injury rates are extremely high in comparison with other employment sectors. At the same time, fishing operations can have major impacts on aquatic ecosystems owing to the use of destructive or non-selective gear and practices.
  
  
• Responsible Fisheries Post-Harvest & Trade (FishTrade)
  The important changes taking place in the areas of quality requirements and health and sanitary regulations are of the utmost importance for international fish trade operations, as are changing expectations in major fish importing countries with regard to fishing practices and their environmental impacts.
  
  
• Responsible Aquaculture Development and Management (FishFarm)
  Aquaculture is seen not only as having greater development potential than capture fisheries, but also as an important tool for increasing food security and alleviating poverty.
  
  
• Management for Responsible Inland Fisheries (RIFI)
  The vast inland waters of Africa, Asia, and South America host fisheries that provide a direct source of livelihoods and income for hundreds of thousands of artisanal and subsistence operators, and millions of others benefit from fisheries-generated employment. However, for many continental water bodies the level of exploitation is judged excessive.
  
  
• Support for Fisheries Research
  The need for improved generation and dissemination of knowledge relevant to the sustainable development of aquatic resources is recognised in Article 12 of the Code of Conduct as well as other major international normative statements.
  
  
• Umbrella Support to Non-Governmental Organizations
  FishCode works actively with a variety of international, regional and national fisheries stakeholder and conservation advocacy groups as part of its global partnerships approach to CCRF implementation.
  
  
• Pipeline Projects
  The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department continuously monitors the fisheries situation around the world and identifies changing priorities for responsible fisheries actions.