International issues
A trend evident in international initiatives is the increasing use of voluntary and market-based mechanisms, in addition to regulation and control, to improve fisheries and environmental management. Important developments of this kind are the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries developed by the FAO, and accreditation arrangements such as that under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and International Standard ISO 14001. Other major international issues include international arrangements for control of trade in endangered species and of sea dumping.
FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
In October 1995, the FAO adopted a voluntary Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries directed toward both member and non-member countries alike. The code provides principles and standards applicable to the conservation, management and development of all fisheries. These cover: the capture of, processing of and trade in fish and fish products; fishing operations; aquaculture; fisheries research; and the integration of fisheries into coastal-area management.
The FAO Consultation on Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries was held on 26-30 October 1998 and resulted in the production of the texts of three international plans of action (IPOAs):
- the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity;
- the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks; and
- the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries.
The FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) adopted the plans in March 1999. In line with these IPOAs Australia has developed a and is currently drafting a National Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. In terms of Seabirds Australia’s focus has been on development and implementation of the Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or By-catch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations.
National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (Shark Plan)
Growing concern about the conservation and management of sharks led to the adoption of an International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-Sharks) by the FOA Committee on Fisheries (COFI). The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry established a Shark Advisory Group to assist in developing the Shark-plan based on the IPOA-Sharks. The group includes representatives from fisheries and environment agencies, scientists, representatives from industry and representatives from non-government conservation organisations. The Shark Advisory Group produced a comprehensive Shark Assessment Report in 2002 that highlights a number of issues, including:
- the need to consider and improve consistency in shark management, data collection and reporting across Australia’s fisheries
- the identification and management of recreational and charter-fishing impacts on sharks
- market issues and their relationship to the sustainability of shark stocks in Australia and overseas
- the need for rehabilitation of sharks on some areas of the continental slope, and
- shark finning.
The issues raised in the report formed the basis of the Shark-plan, which provides a national framework with measures to improve the conservation and management of sharks through six key themes:
- Reviewing existing conservation and management measures
- Improving conservation and management measures
- Changes to data collection and handling
- Research and development
- Education or awareness raising, and
- Improved coordination and consultation.
The Shark-plan was endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council on 16 April 2004. The implementation of the Shark-plan is being overseen by the Shark-plan Implementation Review Committee, which includes representation from all jurisdictions.
All jurisdictions are currently implementing relevant aspects of the Shark-plan.While the Commonwealth has only one target shark fishery, sharks are taken as bycatch in a number of other Commonwealth fisheries. The Commonwealth government introduced a ban on shark finning in tuna fisheries from October 2000.Several Commonwealth fisheries have limits on the number of shark species they can retain and landing requirements to promote full utilization of the sharks retained.
Marine Stewardship Council
The MSC was formed in February 1996 by a partnership between the World Wide Fund for Nature and Unilever - the latter a major buyer of seafood and a supplier of frozen-fish products. The Council is now established as a stand-alone organisation. It is a non-profit, non-government body that establishes environmental standards for accrediting sustainable fisheries. Only seafood products certified by the MSC will be able to display the endorsed logo on their packaging, similar to the successful dolphin-friendly tuna campaign.The MSC is a form of third-party environmental certification for fisheries.
International workshops in Boston, United States; Bremen, Germany; Vancouver, Canada; Canberra, Australia; Aberdeen, Scotland; Wellington, New Zealand; Capetown, South Africa; and Bergen, Norway developed the approach globally. Six case studies were commissioned to demonstrate how the labelling approach would operate in practice, including the use of principles and criteria underpinning the certification methodology. The Western Rock Lobster Fishery - managed by Fisheries Western Australia, and one of the demonstration cases - was the first fishery to received MSC accreditation (in March 2000). The Australian Ice Mackerel fishery received MSC certification in 2006.Visit the Marine Stewardship Council website for more information.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is an international standard that contains specific requirements that may be audited for certification or registration purposes. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are used by an organisation to determine the effects it is having on the environment and how the organisation can reduce the effects. Often these evaluations are not independently developed, so are not fully supported by all parties. To rectify this, EMS and environmental performances can be assessed against internationally recognised standards, such as the ISO 14001. The assessment is carried out independently and allows the organisation to gain certification for responsible environmental management. The assessment and certification is for the environmental-management process, not for the management outcomes or products.
Seafood Services Australia have an ongoing initiative to promote industry-driven environmental management systems (EMSs) to help implement and promote ESD and more information can be found at Seafood Services Australia website.
The Stehr Group, a Port Lincoln Fishing Company has obtained ISO 14001 accreditation. The company is the first Australian commercial-fishing operation, and only the third in the world, to commit to follow the environmental guidelines of the accreditation. Through this accreditation process, the Stehr Group are required to undertake an environmental audit to identify potential problems within the business; undertake training of their staff to be environmentally aware; ensure all their operations are conducted in an environmentally friendly manner; and develop emergency plans for the operations.
CITES
Australia was one of the first of the now more than 130 countries to ratify the Convention on International Trade in Exports of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora after it entered into force in July 1976. CITES member countries act by banning commercial international trade in an agreed list of species threatened with extinction, and by regulating and monitoring trade in others that might become endangered. Australian legislative requirements in relation to the CITES are implemented under the EPBC Act, which is administered by Environment Australia.
Historically the few marine species listed in the CITES appendices are primarily the higher vertebrates, such as the great whales, sea turtles and the saltwater crocodile. Some marine fish are listed, including sturgeons, the coelacanth and totoaba, none of which occur in Australian waters. In recent years an increasing number of marine species, such as seahorses, great white sharks, whale sharks have been proposed for nominations on CITES Appendicies. More information can be found on the CITES website.
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