Fishers’ Training Material Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Activity Code: O4-A2 Developed by Ege University

Training Objectives After completion of the training session trainees are expected to be able to: Recognize how ecosystem benefit human societies Understand the concept of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Realize a new management approach is required to address the many threats and issues facing capture fisheries. Describe some of the benefits of using an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Explain how EAFM complements other approaches Understand complexities of multiple societal objectives Training material

Definitions and concept What is an ecosystem? “An ecosystem can be defined as a relatively self-contained system that contains plants, animals (including humans), micro-organisms and non-living components of the environment as well as the interactions between them.” Training material

Definitions and concept Ecosystem services and benefits Supporting – e.g. food webs of plants and animals Provisioning –e.g. supply of fish for animal and human food Regulating – e.g. coastal protection and resilience against variability and change, as well as natural disasters Cultural – e.g. recreation, cultural and traditional heritage values Training material

Definitions and concept Ecosystem approach The Convention on Biodiversity defines the ecosystem approach as “It is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way” The ecosystem approach is the way to implement sustainable development. Training material

Definitions and concept Fisheries management An integrated process that aims to improve the benefits that society receives from harvesting fish. Existing fisheries management in the regions will differ among countries and locations. But, some possible characteristics are common and similar; Mainly focused on target species and stock assessment Single sector specific (fisheries) Mainly control of fishing (e.g. gear, time and area restrictions) Based on biological objective e.g. maximizing production Training material

Definitions and concept Ecosystem approach to fisheries management -more holistic than single species approach -consider indirect effects on habitats and food webs -act to maintain valued ecosystem goods and services -identify potential conflicting management objectives -considertradeoffs among management objectives Training material

Why we should move to EAFM? Fishery resources are seriously degraded in the region with many issues Existing fisheries management does not cover all threats and issues and can often fail A broader and more inclusive approach is needed that expands on existing management Training material

Why we should move to EAFM? What are the benefits? Integrated approach that allows trade-offs when balancing human and ecological well-being Allows adaptive management – leading to more effective planning Increased stakeholder participation Provides a way to consider large-scale, long-term issues (e.g. climate change) Increased political support Can help unlock financial resources Training material

Course work (1 hour) A piece of paper and a pan will distribute to each participant. Participant will write on a paper what they know about existing fishery management in their country and failure of the existing fisheries management according to their experience. Then they will discuss on existing fisheries management and ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Training material

Components of EAFM Ecosystem Approach is the way to implement sustainable development. Sustainable development is about maximizing the ecosystem benefits but at the same time not degrading the systems to the extent that the benefits cannot be sustained. Training material

Ecological Well-being for future generations Components of EAFM Sustainable development Ecological Well-being Good Governance Human Well-being for future generations Training material

Components of EAFM Ecological well-being Healthy ecosystems that maximize ecosystem services Biodiversity that leads to ecosystem resilience Supportive ecosystem structure and habitats Healthy oceans, coastal areas and watersheds Food webs based on diverse sources of primary production Training material

Components of EAFM Human well-being Material living standards (income, food and wealth) Health Education Food security Basic human rights e.g. political voice and influence Social connections and relationships Living environment (present and future conditions) Economic security and human safety Training material

Components of EAFM Good governance The way rules and regulations are set and implemented (both formal and informal). It includes: planning and implementation mechanisms processes and institutions through which citizens and governing groups voice interests, mediate differences, exercise legal rights and meet obligations compliance and enforcement Training material

Principles of EAFM Key principles: Good governance Appropriate scale Increased participation Multiple objectives Cooperation- coordination Adaptive management Precautionary approach Training material

Principles of EAFM Good governance has 8 major characteristics: Training material

Principles of EAFM Three dimensions: scales - extremes 1-Ecological scales single species --- large marine ecosystem 2-Socio-economik scales village ---coastline 3-Political/governance scales single jurisdiction ---multiple jurisdictions Training material

Principles of EAFM Participation is central to the process Stakeholders Fishers and their associations Governments (district-national) Fishery related (e.g. Boat owners, money lenderd) Compliance and enforcement External agents (e.g. NGOs, researchers) Training material

Principles of EAFM EAFM deals with interactions within the fishery sector and with other users Each sector and user group probably have their own objectives Need to balance these objectives Requires stakeholder engagement and negotiation Training material

Principles of EAFM EAFM involves cooperation and coordination among many stakeholders. Institutional cooperation and coordination. How do you achieve this? Talk to others Link in with existing arrangements (e.g. ICM, inter-agency activities) Share information Harmonize work plans/budgets Memorandums of understanding/binding agreements Training material

Principles of EAFM Learning while doing Evaluate Improve Discard Work More uncertainty Less uncertainty TIME Training material

Principles of EAFM “… where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation” (UNCED, 1992) Lack of information should not be used as reason for lack of action Where there is uncertainty, management actions should be less risky Training material

Importance of planning Plans are needed to implement policies High level principles and policies can not be implemented as they stand EAFM plans provide a link between higher level policy (e.g. National fisheries policy) and management actions on the ground Training material

Importance of planning Linking policy to action An example: The national policy might be to promote healthy ecosystems. This is too broad as there are a number of issues that will need to be addressed. In the EAFM, one of the issues might be degraded seagrass and the objective is to restore and protect the seagrass. The stakeholders have all agreed that the best way to do this is to have no-take areas allocated within the seagrass beds. Restoring and protecting seagrass will help meet the policy of “healthy environment” Training material

Importance of planning Healthy environment Policy Restore and protect rocky reefs EAFM Plan Allocate no-take area to prevent fishing in selected rocky reef areas Management actions Training material

Importance of planning Good planning; provides a clear sense of direction promotes transparency considers alternative courses of action is based on the best information available Training material

Management measures and approach EAFM measures can adapted to the extension of traditional fisheries management. Thus the range of input and output controls and technical measures (including spatial measures) used to regulate fishing mortality remain highly relevant; but these controls will need to be considered in a broader context. This means recognizing that the range of measures chosen should not only address a series of target species concerns, but should also enhance ecosystem health and integrity. Training material

Management measures and approach Technical measures Fishing gear regulations -Mesh size restrictions -By-catch reduction -Lost gear measures -Precautionary approach in the use of high impact fisihing methods -Adjustment to fishing operations and methods Spatial and temporal controls Control of the impact from fishing gear on habitats Training material

Management measures and approach Input (effort) and output (catch) control measures Controlling overall fishing mortality Catch controls Ecosystem manipulation Habitat modifications Population manipulation Rights-based management approachs Training material

An example to EAFM practice: New Zealand 1960 capacity problems in inshore fisheries 1963 removed the restrictions on fishing effort 1965 provided guarantees on loans for fishing vessel increase fishing capacity!!! Early 1980s overfishing and over capitalization within inshore fleets Late 1980s Intense consultations among stakeholders Introduction of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) Training material

An example to EAFM practice: New Zealand The introduction of ITQs, together with the financial assistance to restructuring, was designed to reduce fishing capacity. The initial adjustment retired 15 800 tones of catch from New Zealand fisheries. The reduction in the size of the fleets, whether it was due to this assistance scheme or to the subsequent introduction of ITQs, was dramatic. The number of vessels dropped by 22 percent between 1983/84 and 1986/87 and there was a further 53 percent reduction resulting from the use of ITQs between 1986/87 and 1994/95. As this rationalization primarily occurred in the country's inshore fisheries, one of its effects was to redirect investment into deep-water fisheries. Training material

Practice in Laboratory Two work: 1- Size measurement of marine animals 2- Age determination of fish Training material

Size measurement Fish Training material

Size measurement Bivalve mollusc Training material

Size determination on Crustacean Training material

Age determination of fish The scales, otoliths (ear bones), and other bony parts of fish often contain a record of seasonal growth patterns. This is because fish grow faster in the summer than in winter, due to higher temperatures and increased food consumption. Patterns in the scales and otoliths reflect this change: summer zones are wide, and winter zones are narrow. Fish age, in years, can therefore be determined by counting the number of paired summer/winter growth zones. One pair of such zones is called an annulus (plural, annuli). Thus, the process of ageing fish is similar to finding the age of a tree by counting rings in the wood. Training material

Age determination from scales and otoliths Scale Otolith Training material

Age determination practice on otolith Training material

Questions & Answers Training material