U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

oad regions of the seas, the existing regional fishery organizations are generally weak.They lack adequate financial resources or enforcement capabilities, and allow memberstates to opt out of individual management measures they dislike.The United States is a member of more than a dozen regional fishery commissionsand related organizations concerned with straddling stocks or high seas living marineresources. These organizations undertake fishery research, adopt measures to conserveand manage the fisheries under their mandate, and attempt to reduce and regulatebycatch. They also develop policies for the conservation, sustainable use, and ecosystembasedmanagement of living marine resources.The work of regional fishery organizations must be paid for by their members. Thecost of U.S. participation is set at roughly $20 million annually, although in fiscal year2003, Congress did not appropriate the amount requested.Recommendation 19–25The U.S. Department of State, working with the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration, should review and update regional and bilateral fishery agreements to whichthe United States is a party, to ensure full incorporation of the latest science and harmonizethose agreements with the Fish Stocks Agreement. The United States should fulfill existinginternational fishery management obligations, including full funding of U.S. commitments.Non-binding International DocumentsThe FAO has adopted a number of voluntary, nonbinding instruments, beginning in 1995with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code). While acknowledging thediversity of national and cultural traditions, the Code sets out principles and standards forresponsible practices in fisheries and aquaculture. Its purposes are to promote conservationof biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, and sustainable use of living marine resources.More specifically, the Code calls for the use of the best scientific information, application oftraditional knowledge where possible, adoption of ecosystem-based and precautionaryapproaches, effective flag state control, and participation in regional organizations.More recently, FAO has adopted a number of International Plans of Action that elaborateon the Code and address weaknesses in existing regulatory schemes involving suchissues as the bycatch of seabirds and sharks. The International Plan of Action on illegal,unreported, and unregulated fishing, although emphasizing flag state responsibility, alsocalls upon regional organizations to play a role in monitoring, surveillance, and deploymentof observers, and urges port state control. These International Plans of Action can bebest implemented through corresponding national plans of action.NOAA’s fishery and technical experts helped develop criteria for defining overcapacityin marine fisheries that have been adopted by FAO and accepted as worldwide standards.Nevertheless, progress has been slow in persuading many nations to implement capacityreduction measures.There is no existing interagency body positioned to review and make recommendationsfor U.S. actions on international fishery issues. However, an international committeeunder the National Ocean Council, as recommended in Chapter 29 (see Recommendation29–3), would be ideally suited to fill this void.Recommendation 19–26The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, working with the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and U.S. Department of State, should design a national plan of action forthe United States that implements, and is consistent with, the International Plans of Actionadopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and its 1995 Code ofConduct for Responsible Fisheries. This national plan should stress the importance of reducingbycatch of endangered species and marine mammals.302 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY