4 - Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture

Nat~onal workshop-cum-~ratning on Blolnfommtics and Information Management in Aquaculture
Policymaking requires a choice among a set of alternative options on the basis of
an objective assessment of their pros and cons. Policies are made either in a
proactive mode to create new options and pathways, or in response to changed
conditions or public pressure. Accordingly the information on parameters for
policy development can provide insights into the issues and prevailing factors
affecting them and suggest new options and implementation strategies and their
likely consequences (Williams, 1996).
3. Fishery policy typologies and management of information
To have the information required for a fisheries policy, the prerequisite is the
type of policy for which information is to be gathered. It could be approached in
various ways and a number of typologies may be suggested (Garcia, 1999). For
instance, by jurisdictional areas one can group policies in terms of national and
international policies, where national policies cover both sectorai and intersectoral
issues, while international policies deal with trans-boundary or transborder
issues. On the other hand, policies can be specific to a particular
production area or system, such as marine fisheries, inland fisheries, and
aquaculture. The analysis of the priorities in the three main production systems
(marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture) showed that, when properly
expressed, most of the broad priority issues are common to the three systems
and only a few specific differences exist. Nevertheless, management of
information and research aimed at strengthening and improving policies for
fisheries in developing countries need to integrate three main levels of
consideration, such as: i) filling the information gap from a disciplinary point of
view; ii) providing an understanding of the policymaking process; and iii)
identification of the main policy issues and challenges for information
management.
In case of fisheries, there are three priority areas for policy development:
sustainable development and responsible fishing, food security and capacity
building. Accordingly the information should be gathered and managed on the
issues and options for each priority area of policy development. These are
summarised in following paragraphs.
4. Sustainable development and responsible fishing
Policies that relates mainly to sustainable development and responsible fishing
will reauire information on combination of various issues effectina - aauatic .
systems (Garcia, 1999). These issues are:
i
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
conservation of resources and the environment for future generations;
optimizing economic value (and efficiency) of the sector;
promoting improved and fair trade;
regulating access to resources;
optimizing interactions between small-scale and industrial sectors;
optimizing interactions with other sectors;
improving governance; and
accompanying socioeconomic transformation