Home > Sectors > Fisheries

Sectors

Fisheries

About this sector

The fishing industry is crucial to the world economy and food supplies. The fishing industry involves the wild capture and farming of fish, shellfish and other aquatic species, and the processing of these into food items or their sale for other purposes including the aquarium and ornamental trade. This section focuses on both the capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors.


Impacts

  • Overfishing of target species.
  • By-catch of non-target species when unselective fishing methods are used.
  • Habitat destruction through destructive fishing practices and coastal development.
  • Impact on other resources through redirection of exploitative pressure.

Opportunities/Risks

  • New markets: consumers looking for sustainably produced or caught fish.
  • Security of Supply: Scarcity and increased cost of resources, reduced quotas and productivity.
  • Reputational risks: loss of biodiversity can lead to poor reputation with shareholders, investors, supply chain partners and consumers.

Case Studies


No case studies found

Tools and Mechanisms


Green Development Initiative Certification

Green Development Initiative Certification

http://gdi.earthmind.net/certification/

The Green Development Initiative (GDI) is an international response to the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10), particularly with respect to the strategies for resource mobilisation and business engagement. It aims to establish an international green development certification scheme for land management. Such a scheme will enable land managers to be recognised for their efforts to conserve biodiversity and use biological resources sustainably and equitably. In so doing, the GDI intends to stimulate new market-based financing of conservation and development on the ground.
Water Environment Federation

Water Environment Federation

http://www.wef.org/

The Water Environment Federation is a not-for-profit association that provides technical education and training for thousands of water quality professionals who clean water and return it safely to the environment. WEF members have proudly protected public health, served their local communities, and supported clean water worldwide since 1928.
Chain-wide Learning for Inclusive Agrifood Market Development: A guide to multi-stakeholder processes for linking small-scale producers to modern markets.

Chain-wide Learning for Inclusive Agrifood Market Development: A guide to multi-stakeholder processes for linking small-scale producers to modern markets.

http://www.regoverningmarkets.org/en/filemanager/a...

As modern markets replace traditional markets, outlets for small-scale producesr are reduced, risking increasing poverty for producers and entire rural communities. However, with the right kind of support, small-scale producers can be efficient and reliable providers of quality produce; in other words good business partners. This guide provides practical ways to enhance opportunities for small-scale producers in modern agrifood markets. Users may be market actors interested in creating direct links with small-scale suppliers, government policy-makers tasked with rural development, producer organisations working for their members, NGOs working for the rural poor, or researchers working to understand and support processes aimed at greater inclusion of small-scale producers.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm

The UNCLOS is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place from 1973 through 1982, and came into full effect in 1994. The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources
Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Aquaculture Stewardship Council

http://www.ascworldwide.org/

The ASC is responsible for working with independent, third party entities to certify fish farms that are in compliance with the standards.

Choose another sector


Fisheries

Case studies
Tools and Mechanisms