Fisheries in Developing Countries:What kind of Aid for what kind of Trade?

Meeting on Fisheries, Trade and Development

Discussion on Optimizing the Use of Development Finance for Trade

Geneva, 16 June 2010

Yann YVERGNIAUX, Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements

“For developing countries, it is crucial that, before any conditionality is introduced to access the EU market, an efficient, user

friendly, transparent cooperation program is put in place, to ensure such conditionality

does not become a non-trade barrier for third countries producers, and ensure compatibility

with WTO rules”

Extract of the contribution of CFFA to the European Commission consultation

on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements2

Quality-related standards may act as non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade, providing considerable constraints on market access for ACP fish producers and exporters, particularly the small and medium-scale enterprises.

EU standards for SPS measures; EU legislation on residue levels and heavy metals

in fishery products; EU legislation on labeling; EU regulation on the fight against IUU fishing, in

particular the catch-certification scheme.3 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements

ACP fish-exporting countries need to assess what kinds of products are likely to bring more added value to their fish, and also to ensure that the main barriers to trade – health-and-hygiene regulations, traceability – are properly addressed.

Compliance with SPS regulations and other standards

Mechanisms to ensure sustainable levels of resource exploitation

Socio-economic benefits4 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements

5 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements

Subsidies negotiations have highlighted the need to differentiate between harmful and beneficial subsidies to the fisheries sector, and the need to allow exceptions for developing countries through special and differential treatment (S&DT), particularly for artisanal fisheries.

Infrastructure constructionSanitary prevention and controlIUU monitoringScientific data collectionTraining…

6 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements

Improve communication amongst professionals Promote the rule of law and respect for

international commitments Improve Participation and Co management Ensure that artisanal fishing access rights to the

coastal resources are respected and protected Fight against pollution Improve hygiene conditions Guarantee decent working conditions at sea

and on land Improve the trade of artisanal fishery products

Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements7

Improve regional trade Explore new possibilities Ensure freedom of movement of the goods and the people Stop harassment on the road Allow women fish processors to network Limit the negative role of intermediaries Enable professionals to organize meetings through the

region Meet hygiene and sanitary requirements

Organize trainings on the various processing technologies Raise awareness on the importance of complying with

quality standards Inform artisanal fishworkers about how to improve the

marketing of their products Put in place new adapted infrastructures Campaign for the harmonization of fish marketing measures Create an information review for the professionals

Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements8

Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements9

“Subsidies induce overharvesting of marine resources. Redirecting these amounts, by investing in the underlying fish resource, would generate significant returns” (UNEP, 2010, Green Economy Report: A Preview).

Public monies should be invested not only in ‘the fish resource’ as proposed, but also in improving living and working conditions in coastal fishing communities, in order to ensure they can fully play their role as an ‘engine of sustainable development’.

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“The way to deal with this is to allocate the total fish quota among the vessels or fishing communities in the industry and make the quota allocations transferable, where feasible” (UNEP, 2010, Green Economy Report: A Preview).

Generalizing a system of quotas will not be appropriate for many developing countries tropical fisheries. What we need is an ecosystem based management.

In terms of allocation of access, we feel priority access should be reserved for those operators who fish most sustainably. Small-scale fisheries, in the vast majority of cases, present characteristics that meet such ‘sustainable development criteria’ .

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