Evaluations of compliance with the FAO (UN) Code of conduct for responsible fisheries
By: edited by Tony J. Pitcher, Daniela Kalikoski and Ganapathiraju Pramod.
Contributors: Pitcher, T. J.; Kalikoski, Daniela C. 1969-; Pramod, Ganapathiraju.; University of British Columbia. Fisheries Centre.
Series: Fisheries Centre research reports -- v. 14, no. 2.
Publisher: Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Vancouver, B.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 69
Subjects: Fishery management, International.; Sustainable fisheries.
Description: "This report presents evaluations of the compliance of 53 countries (strictly, marine fisheries jurisdictions) representing over 96% of the reported world fish catch, with Article 7, covering Fisheries Management, of the FAO (UN) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, originally agreed by members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published in 1995.  Evaluations are based on an adaptation of a previously-published rapid appraisal scheme of 44 questions, each scored on a scale of zero to ten according to pre-set guidelines. Scores less than 4/10 signify 'fail' grades, while scores of 7/10 and over are regarded as showing good compliance. Scores have been based on cited published and unpublished literature and on the views of experts: some 2475 references have been consulted in the course of the work, which has taken three years. Each country evaluation is authored by members from the scoring team and in some cases includes external experts. Each evaluation has been subjected to a rigorous scoring protocol involving a series of cross-checks by the scoring team. In addition, many of the evaluations have been validated by external experts familiar with the country concerned (33/53 in January 2007).  The 44 questions in the evaluations are divided in two parts, the first representing the intentions of a country to follow the Code, the second part assessing the actual performance achieved. Six evaluation fields, deriving from the themes of the 52 clauses in the Code text, cover management objectives (9 questions), regulatory framework (7 questions); precautionary approach (9 questions); the regulation of stocks, fleets and fishing gears (7 questions); social and economic factors (6 questions); and monitoring, control and surveillance (MSC) (6 questions). Overall results in each of these six fields for each country are expressed as a kite diagram. Each score has been given an uncertainty range that may be employed in any analysis of the results. A graphical score profile, including uncertainty, is presented for each country.  The authors are aware that omissions and errors of interpretation may still remain for some countries. An open protocol has therefore been adopted for all country compliance evaluations, and the team remains open at any time to comments, corrections, adjustments or opinions that may be used to improve the accuracy of the evaluations. The 53 country reports comprise over 1170 pages and are published as links to web-based files [available at ftp://ftp.fisheries.ubc.ca/CodeConduct/ or at http://public.box.net/CodeofConduct, and also linked from country pages at www.seaaorundus.org]. In this way, the country evaluations are 'living documents' that may change with time when modified or new material comes to light.  A comparative analysis of the results from these Code compliance reports will be published elsewhere."--Executive Summary.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 15).

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