Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture: Implementing the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

This publication provides guidance on how to implement the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) using an ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture. The CCRF is a voluntary code covering all aspects of the management and development of fisheries and is designed to ensure sustainable development without adversely affecting the livelihoods of local communities that share the same resources as the fisheries. The authors outline the basic principles of the CCRF, describe concrete steps to be taken to use the ecosystem approach effectively, and recommend certain institutional changes and reforms that will be necessary if the potential of the ecosystem approach is to be realized in the Asia-Pacific region. The most significant reform needed is a paradigm shift in policy from one that is production oriented to one that is benefits oriented (social and economic). There is evidence that this is already being undertaken in the region with efforts being made to limit access, reduce the number of fishing vessels and introduce community-based rights systems. Stakeholder participation is essential and existing legal instruments and practices that interact with or impact fisheries may also need to be reconsidered, and adjustments made where necessary. In the future, it may even be necessary to regulate the inter-sectoral interactions and impacts through primary legislation. To promote broader adoption and implementation of the ecosystem approach by member countries, a wide range of regional activities is suggested by the authors including a media campaign, the building of fishery alliances among countries and capacity building in fishery agencies

APFIC Regional Workshop on "Mainstreaming Fisheries Co-management"

This is the report of the APFIC regional workshop on "Mainstreaming fisheries co-management" held in Siem Reap, Cambodia from August 9-12, 2005 . The goal of the workshop was to provide a forum to learn from past experience and to promote devolved management of fisheries. Participants at the workshop had the opportunity to be exposed to a range of coastal and inland fisheries co-management interventions and the elaboration of approaches needed to make fisheries co-management a "mainstream" activity in developing countries. The objective of the workshop was to develop summary conclusions on the status of co-management in the region and provide some concrete recommendations for action towards mainstreaming fishery co-management in the Asia-Pacific region. The report contains the action plan and recommendations of the workshop. Many agencies (both governmental and non-governmental) are striving to improve the livelihoods of poor people that are dependent on aquatic resources by including these stakeholders in the planning and implementation of fisheries management. Many states have adopted decentralization as the way to implement future fisheries management, especially in developing countries, which often involves a partnership between government and the local communities, i.e. a co-management approach. The challenge is to find a way for co-management to become a mainstream practice of both government and non-government organizations and communities

Ionic aspects of the physiology and biology of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) 1879.

The giant Malaysian freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii spends its juvenile and adult life primarily in freshwater. The larval stages of this species require brackishwater for their survival and development. Adult females of Macrobrachium rosenbergii migrate into brackishwater to spawn, and some populations of this prawn live entirely in brackishwater. Other Macrobrachium species have larval stages that require brackishwater for development. Some Macrobrachium species do not require brackishwater for larval survival and have abbreviated larval development. The ,ionic requirements for successful larval development and metamorphosis were studied using a formulated artificial seawater. It was found that trace element impurities, either in the salts used in the artificial seawater, or contained within the artemia fed to the larvae, were sufficient to allow normal larval development. The omission of bromide from the artificial seawater was found to cause total mortality to early stage larvae. Further work attempted to discover the minimum threshold concentration of bromide required by the larvae. The manner by which Macrobrachium rosenbergii adults regulate the ionic composition of their haemolymph when exposed to freshwater and brackishwater of varying salinity was investigated. The effect of the moult cycle on divalent cation regulation is studied. It was found that in varying salinity adult Macrobrachium showed a strong regulation of its haemolymph osmotic pressure, Na, Cl, Mg, Ca, K and Sr concentrations. The haemolymph Ca and Br concentration increased with increasing salinity, while the haernolymph Cu concentration decreased. The high concentration of bromide and strontium in the haemolymph of prawns held in freshwater was regarded as an indication that they might be essential to the adult prawn. The implication of their roles was in the process of cuticle hardening. A close relationship between haemolymph strontium and magnesium concentrations was revealed, although the significance of this is uncertain. The effect of the moult cycle on haemolymph divalent cation regulation revealed that Ca and Cu decreased after the ecdysis. Haemolymph magnesium concentrations were elevated during pre- and postmoult. Strontium increased markedly prior to ecdysis, this was further evidence as to a potential role in the calcification process. The haemolymph bromide concentration was reduced during pre- and postmoult. This was attributed to, either its incorporation into the cuticle, or increased ionic fluxes during the pre- and postmoult period. The calcification of the larval stages of Macrobrachium rosenbergii was investigated. The larvae are calcified in a similar manner to the postlarvae. Concentrations of strontium and bromine in the postlarvae decrease when they are transferred to freshwater. Analysis of larval exuviae revealed high concentrations of bromine (=1000ppm) confirming its role in the sclerotisation of the larval cuticle. A close relationship was found between the strontium and magnesium concentrations of the larvae and postlarvae held in seawater, confirming this discovery in the adult haemolymph. Such a relationshipwas not found between these ions and calcium. Salinity did not affect the function of Macrobrachium rosenbergii haemocyanin significantly. This was attributed to the relatively stable internal ionic environment that this prawn is able to maintain over a wide range of salinities. Temperature had a pronounced effect on the haemocyanin oxygen affinity. The oxygen transporting characteristics of Macrobrachium rosenbergii haemocyanin were similar to those found for marine and brackishwater crustaceans. The P02 of Macrobrachium rosenbergii haemolymph was found to be substantially lower than the P02's recorded for marine and bracklshwatar species. This was attributed to a reduced perfusion of the gills by haemolymph. The reason for this was supposed to be a means by which this prawn reduces its permeability, and hence loss of ions, when in freshwater

Good Management Practice in Sustainable Fisheries: The Nature of Success in Fisheries Management

The fisheries and aquaculture sector is of fundamental importance to the Asia-Pacific region providing opportunities for revenue generation and employment, and contributing to food security. This document reviews the current status of inland and marine fisheries resources and their contribution to national economies and food security. Regional fishery data and information stored in FAO databases are analysed to provide a comprehensive picture of production trends of fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region, which is further illustrated by a detailed view of sub-regions and aquaculture production by species groups. It also touches upon issues that require closer attention in order for the fisheries resources to be managed in a responsive and sustainable manner

Inland fisheries: a valuable resource

The value of small-scale inland fisheries lies in its ability to provide essential protein, micronutrients, vitamins and fats for millions of people, particularly in developing countries

Enhancing fisheries productivity through improved management of reservoirs, dams and other water control structures

Dams and the reservoirs they create are increasingly ubiquitous in landscapes throughout the world. They have a major impact on fisheries, presenting both opportunities and constraints. This note, written for both water sector and fisheries sector practitioners, policy-makers and decision-makers, is intended to: i) increase awareness of the importance of inland fisheries; ii) highlight the impacts of dams and other water control structures on fisheries; and iii) outline approaches for increasing fisheries yields and benefits, both within reservoirs and downstream in rivers and irrigated areas. The focus of the note is on how reservoirs and associated water management structures, can be managed or modified to provide a wider range of benefits. In this context, we advocate a landscape approach with much more prominence given to fisheries since they represent a significant untapped potential for sustainably increasing landscape productivity. In future, much greater emphasis should be given to safeguarding and improving fisheries opportunities in the aquatic environments created and impacted by dams and other water control infrastructure

Increasing the benefits and sustainability of irrigation through the integration of fisheries: a guide for water planners, managers and engineers

There is increasing recognition of the need to bring about changes across the full spectrum of agricultural practices to ensure that, in future, food production systems are more diverse, sustainable and resilient. In this context, the objectives of irrigation need to be much more ambitious, shifting away from simply maximizing crop yields to maximizing net benefits across a range of uses of irrigation water, including ecosystems and nature-based solutions. One important way to achieve this is by better integrating fisheries into the planning, design, construction, operation and management of irrigation systems. Irrigation – a major contributor to the Green Revolution – has significantly improved agricultural production worldwide, with consequent benefits for food security, livelihoods and poverty alleviation. Today, irrigated agriculture represents about 21 percent of cultivated land, but contributes approximately 40% of the total global crop production. Many governments continue to invest in irrigation as a cornerstone of food security and rural development. Investments in irrigation often represent a pragmatic form of adaptation to changing climatic conditions. This guide focuses on how to sustainably optimize and broaden the range of benefits from irrigation development - not only economic but also social and environmental benefits. It emphasizes the opportunities that fisheries could provide to increase food production and economic returns, enhance livelihoods and public health outcomes, and maintain key ecosystem services. The guide considers possible trade-offs between irrigation and fisheries, and provides recommendations on how these could be minimized

Intersectorality in the governance of inland fisheries

© 2018 by the author(s). One of the defining characteristics of inland fisheries is that they are closely impacted by other essential human activities that rely on the same fresh or brackish water ecosystems, such as hydroelectricity generation and irrigated agriculture. Starting with the premise that an understanding of fisheries' interactions with these external sectors is in itself critical for achieving sustainability of the fisheries, this paper explores the topic of intersectoral governance and outlines an approach to analyzing the intricate and often challenging sector relationships. By drawing on examples of inland fisheries from around the world, the paper proposes four broad discursive mechanisms that can structure the study of the intersectoral dynamics, i.e., system characterization, valuation, power relations, and vertical policy interaction. A synthesis model then demonstrates their interwoven nature, revealing the way each mechanism influences one another as together they shape overall outcomes. It is apparent that analyses often need to be combined to advance more rigorous (and transdisciplinary) science and also inform appropriate courses for the governance of inland fisheries. Given the typically marginal position of fisheries in inland water-use discussions, we call for a more systematic understanding of intersectoral interactions to enhance the sector's resilience within the wider society and subsequently contribute to integrated governance of waterbodies

Maintaining Diversity of Integrated Rice and Fish Production Confers Adaptability of Food Systems to Global Change

Rice and fish are preferred foods, critical for healthy and nutritious diets, and provide the foundations of local and national economies across Asia. Although transformations, or "revolutions," in agriculture and aquaculture over the past half-century have primarily relied upon intensified monoculture to increase rice and fish production, agroecological approaches that support biodiversity and utilize natural processes are particularly relevant for achieving a transformation toward food systems with more inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, and ecologically sound outcomes. Rice and fish production are frequently integrated within the same physical, temporal, and social spaces, with substantial variation amongst the types of production practice and their extent. In Cambodia, rice field fisheries that strongly rely upon natural processes persist in up to 80% of rice farmland, whereas more input and infrastructure dependent rice-shrimp culture is expanding within the rice farmland of Vietnam. We demonstrate how a diverse suite of integrated production practices contribute to sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems policy, research, and practice. We first develop a typology of integrated production practices illustrating the nature and degree of: (a) fish stocking, (b) water management, (c) use of synthetic inputs, and (d) institutions that control access to fish. Second, we summarize recent research and innovations that have improved the performance of each type of practice. Third, we synthesize data on the prevalence, outcomes, and trajectories of these practices in four South and Southeast Asian countries that rely heavily on fish and rice for food and nutrition security. Focusing on changes since the food systems transformation brought about by the Green Revolution, we illustrate how integrated production practices continue to serve a variety of objectives to varying degrees: food and nutrition security, rural livelihood diversification and income improvement, and biodiversity conservation. Five shifts to support contemporary food system transformations [i.e., disaggregating (1) production practices and (2) objectives, (3) utilizing diverse metrics, (4) valuing emergent, place-based innovation, (5) building adaptive capacity] would accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 2, specifically through ensuring ecosystem maintenance, sustainable food production, and resilient agricultural practices with the capacity to adapt to global change.This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) led by WorldFish with contribution from the CGIAR Research program on Water Land and Ecosystems (WLE) led by the International Water Management Institute. Both these programs are supported by contributors to the CGIAR Trust Fund. Additional funding support for this work was provided by the Australian Government and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research grant work was provided by the Australian Centre for International Research through the Development of Rice Fish Systems in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar (ACIAR project FIS/2016/135). The support through the United States Agency for International Development under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-L-14-00006 and KAES contribution number 20-317-J and grant number AID-442-IO12-00001 are duly acknowledged. Photo credits: Anon., Finn Thilsted, Anon., Anon., Todd Brown (Figure 1)

Choosing best practices for managing impacts of trawl fishing on seabed habitats and biota

Bottom trawling accounts for almost one quarter of global fish landings but may also have significant and unwanted impacts on seabed habitats and biota. Management measures and voluntary industry actions can reduce these impacts, helping to meet sustainability objectives for fisheries, conservation and environmental management. These include changes in gear design and operation of trawls, spatial controls, impact quotas and effort controls. We review nine different measures and actions and use published studies anda simple conceptual model to evaluate and compare their performance. The risks and benefits of these management measures depend on the extent to which the fishery is already achieving management objectives for target stocks and the characteristics of the management system that is already in place. We offer guidance on identifying best practices for trawl-fisheries management and show that best practices and their likelihood of reducing trawling impacts depend on local, national and regional management objectives and priorities, societal values and resources for implementation. There is no universalbest practice, and multiple management measures and industry actions are required to meet sustainability objectives and improve trade-offs between food production and environmental protection