"This document contains the Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fish Trade that were adopted by the eleventh session of the FAO Sub-Committee on Fish Trade in Bremen, Germany, on 6 June 2008"--Page III

This report focuses primarily on the direct and indirect influences of fish trade and food security. It reviews in detail the positive and negative impacts of international fish trade on food security in low-income food-deficit countries. The main findings are that this trade has had a positive effect on food security, both through higher availability of fish for human consumption in developing countries and through higher income generated through trade. The report cautions, however, that sustainable resource management practices are a necessary condition for sustainable international trade. It also highlights the need for free and transparent trade and market policies to ensure that benefits from international trade are enjoyed by all segments of society.

The purpose of this expert consultation was to review the draft Guidelines for Responsible Fish Trade, taking into account the current environment for the international trade in fish products, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU), sustainability and post-harvest practices. This consultation followed on from a recommendation made by the FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT) at its 10th session held in 2006,

Taking a social science approach, this book explores the governance of sustainable seafood, which is fundamental to food and nutrition security as well as being an important source of income and employment in many regions. Due to the importance of protein and other fishery and aquaculture by-products, many wild fisheries are coming under pressure, and this increasing demand has created a strong driver to expand aquaculture. As a result, the social and environmental sustainability of these production systems have come into question. The authors of the book explore the governance of sustainable seafood, taking into account the rise of social movements through environmental non-governmental organisations, the nature and perceived limits of government regulation within and beyond the state, and the promise of market-based approaches to governance such as ecolabelling. The book focuses on how concern over sustainable seafood has been translated into different current forms of governance. It then assesses what alternative governance approaches are starting to emerge that combine movements, states and markets for sustainable seafood production and consumption, and their effects. The book concludes with a vision for the future through key principles for evaluating the collective impact of governing sustainable seafood. This timely volume will be key reading for researchers interested in fisheries and aquaculture governance, as well as coastal and marine policies and sustainable food movements more broadly. It will also be of interest to practitioners and policymakers engaged in creating fishery policies and sustainable fishery development.

Discusses the linkages between trade, environment and sustainable development in the marine capture fisheries sector.

This book identifies possible transition paths to responsible fisheries, assesses their consequences and provides policy recommendations on how to enhance prosperity in this sector.

This document considers product certification and ecolabelling schemes used for fish and fishery products. It discusses the characteristics and theoretical foundations of these programmes, the links to international trade law; and other institutional aspects.

If the fishing industry is to survive in the long term, more responsible practices and approaches need to be adopted. This involves not only the industry’s own practices, but also public sector policies and in particular fisheries management approaches. This book identifies possible transition paths to responsible fisheries, assesses their consequences and provides policy recommendations on how to enhance prosperity in this sector. Analytical work by the OECD on fisheries is carried out by the Committee for Fisheries and covers a wide range of issues related to management, resource conservation, trade and sustainable development.