Annex 1: An ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture - A brief overview
The ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture is a holistic strategy for managing capture fisheries and aquaculture in ways that integrate all the ecological, socio-economic and institutional dimensions of the sector. The approach focuses on fisheries and aquaculture management, but not only on the production and management of commercially important species. It incorporates the interactions between the core of the productive fish system and the people who depend on it, and the system’s other social and ecological elements. It is aligned with general ecosystem approaches to development and supports the sector’s contributions to broader multisectoral objectives.
The purpose of the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture is to guide planning, development and management of fisheries and aquaculture in a manner that addresses societies’ multiple needs and aspirations, without jeopardizing the options for future generations to benefit from the full range of goods and services provided by aquatic ecosystems. The approach strives to balance diverse social objectives by taking into account both the knowledge and the uncertainties about the biotic, abiotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions, and applies an integrated management approach within ecologically meaningful boundaries.
To make progress in reaching the broad goal of improving the well-being of communities and the ecosystem, the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture must adhere to the following principles (FAO, 2003 and 2009b):
- apply the precautionary approach when faced with uncertainty;
- use the best available knowledge, whether scientific or traditional;
- acknowledge multiple objectives and values of ecosystem services;
- embrace adaptive management;
- broaden stakeholder participation with due consideration to gender;
- ensure equitable distribution of benefits from resource use; and
- promote sectoral integration and interdisciplinarity.
As ecosystem approach calls for a broader and more holistic approach to analysis and management actions (Figures B4.1 and B4.2 on the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture). The process itself can assist in monitoring climate change and its impacts. By following the ecosystem approach, a broad and integrated monitoring system would allow for the tracking of changes in the aquatic ecosystems and their impacts pathways through fisheries and aquaculture systems. A key step in any ecosystem approach process involves the identification of issues that need to be addressed by management and their prioritisation through risk assessment. This must cover all direct and indirect impacts on production, processing and supply chains on the broader aquatic and coastal systems. Also included in this process is the identification of issues that may be external to the management system, such as global demand, input prices, climate variability and change, that are affecting, or could affect in the future, the performance of the system and its management.
Figure B4.1 Annex 1: Using the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries issue identification process to identify climate change impacts
Figure B4.2 Annex 1: Using the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture issue identification process to identify climate change impacts
