1) The document provides a whistle-stop tour of issues in marine management including overfishing, bycatch, benthic damage from fishing gear, expansion of fisheries to deeper waters and seamounts, and fishing down the food web. 2) It then summarizes approaches to ocean governance including how the ocean is divided, regional fisheries management organizations, international advisory bodies, and major policy documents. 3) Finally, it presents a case study of the West Greenland coldwater prawn fishery which underwent assessment for Marine Stewardship Council certification. The certification involved an ecological survey of the benthic habitat using camera and grab samples.

1. Marine management – a history
of monumental failure, a future of
success?
Dr Kirsty Kemp
Institute of Zoology,
Zoological Society of London,
Regent’s Park,
London, NW1 4RY
Kirsty.kemp@ioz.ac.uk

2. A whistle-stop tour of major fishery issues
1
2
3
4
5
6
Overfishing
Bycatch
Benthic community damage
Expansion of fisheries
“Fishing down the food web”
Non-compliance

3. Bycatch and discards

4. Benthic damage: ground gear
Trawling is on very rough
terrain
Ground gear includes large
rubber bobbins to help gear
to be towed over obstructions
Used to be steel bobbins but
rubber are more efficient

5. Benthic community damage
Octocorals ~2700 years old - recovery will be slow (~ 100 – 1000y)

6. Expansion: Fishing deeper
Time series of bottom fisheries
catches by depth
(Morato et al. 2005 Fish & Fisheries 7: 24-34)
Original slide: Alex Rogers

7. Expansion: Fishing seamounts
Seamounts difficult to fish
Require special gear and techniques to
fish
Trawl doors modified to hold net open
with minimal or no bottom contact
Shoals targeted with acoustics
Tow times very short (as little
as15 minutes)
Original slide: Alex Rogers

8. Expansion: Seamounts - unfished
Original slide: Alex Rogers

9. Expansion: Seamounts - fished
Original slide: Alex Rogers

10. Fishing down the foodweb
Pauly, D. et al (1998) Science, New Series, Vol. 279, No. 5352, 860-963

11. Non compliance: Move on rule
Scientific investigations for
trawling indicate levels should be:
75kg sponge
2kg for large octocorals
0.2kg for small octocorals
Management threshold levels set at:
NEAFC – 1000kg sponge, 100kg live coral
NAFO – 1000kg sponge, 60kg coral
NPFC – 50kg coral
CCAMLR – 10kg of VME taxa
Original slide: Alex Rogers

12. Decision making and conflict resolution
Consensus-based decision making
means that the interests of a few
parties lead to poor decision
making or a lack of timely
decisions
Even where majority decisions are
allowed members may not be
bound by decisions if they register
an objection
Lack of information is often used
as an excuse for inaction instead of
application of the precautionary
principle
Lack of transparency
Lack of formal mechanisms for
conflict resolution
Original slide: Alex Rogers

13. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

14. Dividing up the ocean
Territorial waters (defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea) are coastal waters extending12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the baseline
(usually the mean low-water mark) of a coastal state. The territorial sea is regarded
as the sovereign territory of the state, although foreign ships (both military and
civilian) are allowed innocent passage through it; this sovereignty also extends to the
airspace over and seabed below. Adjustment of these boundaries is called, in
international law, maritime delimitation.
Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea) is a sea zone over which a state has special rights to the
exploration and use of marine resources. An EEZ stretches from the baseline of a
coastal state (usually the mean low-water mark) out to 200 nautical miles.
International waters is any body of water that transcends international boundaries
Oceans, seas, and waters outside of national jurisdiction are also referred to as the
high seas. Ships sailing the high seas are generally under the jurisdiction of the flag
state however, when a ship is involved in certain criminal acts, such as piracy, any
nation can exercise jurisdiction under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction.

15. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

16. Regional fisheries management organisations
RFMOs are international organisations formed by countries with fishing
interests in an area.
Some of them manage all the fish stocks found in a specific area, while
others focus on particular highly-migratory species, notably tuna,
throughout vast geographical areas.
They are open both to countries in the region (“coastal states”) and
countries with interests in the fisheries concerned.
Some have a purely advisory role, but most have management powers
to set catch and fishing effort limits, technical measures, and control
obligations.

17. RFMOs
Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/rfmo/

18. RFMOs
Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/rfmo/

19. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

20. International advisory bodies
UN – United Nations (eg FAO, UNEP)
ICES – International Council for Exploration of the Sea
coordinates research and advises management bodies such as the
EU with respect to North Atlantic fisheries
http://www.ices.dk/Pages/default.aspx
OSPAR – The OSPAR Convention is the current legal instrument
guiding international cooperation on the protection of the marine
environment of the North-East Atlantic.http://www.ospar.org/
IWC – International Whaling Commission is the global
intergovernmental body charged with the conservation of whales
and the management of whaling.
And many more…

21. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

22. Major policy documents
1982 UNCLOS United Nations Law of the Sea Convention
– international agreement regulating conservation: MSY-based
1992 CBD Convention on Biological Diversity
-the only global agreement focusing on biodiversity management
1995 UNFSA United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
– shift in emphasis: first global fisheries agreement requiring the
precautionary approach to fisheries management
1995 UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
- Voluntary, includes detailed technical guidance for implementation
of the precautionary approach

23. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

24. Shifts in management ideology
MSY Maximum sustainable yield
• The common fisheries policy – 1970s EU member states agreed that
fishermen should share access and have common rules for fishing in each
other’s waters. 1983 the CFP was created
• Tragedy of the Commons
• (2010) 88% of European stocks fished beyond sustainable levels, 30% close
to collapse
Ecosystem-based fisheries management and the Precautionary Principle
• 2012 reform of the CFP: ecosystem-based fisheries management now
obligatory

25. Shifts in management ideology
MSY Maximum sustainable yield
• The common fisheries policy – 1970s EU member states agreed that
MSY
fishermen should share access and have common rules for fishing in each
other’s waters. 1983 the CFP was created
• Tragedy of the Commons
• (2010) 88% of European stocks fished beyond sustainable levels, 30% close
to collapse
Cochrane, K.L., FAO Corporate Document Repository, A fishery manager’s guidebook
Ecosystem-based fisheries Management Measures and Theirthe Precautionary USE OF SCIENTIFIC
management and Application, CHAPTER 5: THE Principle
INFORMATION IN THE DESIGN OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
• 2012 reform of the CFP: ecosystem-based fisheries management now
obligatory

26. Shifts in management ideology
MSY Maximum sustainable yield
Ecosystem-based
management
• The common fisheries policy – 1970s EU member states agreed that
fishermen should share access and have common rules for fishing in each
other’s waters. 1983 the CFP was created
• Tragedy of the Commons
• (2010) 88% of European stocks fished beyond sustainable levels, 30% close
to collapse
Ecosystem-based fisheries management and the Precautionary Principle
• 2012 reform of the CFP: ecosystem-based fisheries management now
obligatory

27. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

28. Shifts in regulatory approach
Government regulation
approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach
(voluntary labeling)

29. Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
In the past decade – explosion of voluntary certification and labeling
schemes
• 1st party – firm certifies itself to its own standard
• 2nd party – standard is developed by an industry body that then certifies
members to that standard
• 3rd party – standard is developed by a group at arm’s length from
individual companies and the industry, and compliance is audited by
independent organisations with no vested interest in the outcome
• Hybrid schemes
Forest sector, mineral sector, fisheries, organic agriculture, coffee, clothing..
Does it work?

30. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

31. An independent, global, non-profit organisation
working to enhance responsible development of
seafood resources
Standard for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability
To carry the label every business in the supply chain must have
undertaken a detailed traceability audit against the MSC Chain of
Custody standard

34. Fisheries (and seafood businesses) voluntarily seek
certification
Assessments are carried out by independently accredited
certifiers (‘third-party’)
• First party: an organisation, product or service meets
standards it has set for itself
• Second-party: it meets standards established by
peers, for example by an industry association
• Third-party (‘certification’): an independent
assessment shows that the organisation, product or
service meets standards that have been set by impartial
experts.
• A certificate is issued to prove that the standard has
been met.

35. Three core principles form the MSC fisheries standard:
Principle 1: Sustainable fish stocks: The fishing activity must be at a
level which is sustainable for the fish population. Any certified
fishery must operate so that fishing can continue indefinitely and is
not overexploiting the resources.
Principle 2: Minimising environmental impact: Fishing operations
should be managed to maintain the structure, productivity, function
and diversity of the ecosystem on which the fishery depends.
Principle 3: Effective management: The fishery must meet all local,
national and international laws and must have a management
system in place to respond to changing circumstances and maintain
sustainability.

36. A whistle-stop tour through ocean governance
1
2
3
4
Dividing up the ocean
Regional fisheries management bodies
International regulating bodies
Major policy documents
5
6
7
8
Shifts in ideology of management of natural resources
Government regulation approach
Economic incentive approach
Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
9 One voluntary certification scheme – the MSC
10 A case study

38. Fishery location
West Greenland (NAFO sub-areas 1A-F
and 0B)
• Inshore and offshore fleet
• 35 small vessels
• 12 factory vessels
• otter trawls
• TAC for west and east Greenland is
139,700 tonnes
• The west Greenland fishery accounted
for 127,300 tonnes (2008)

39. Fishing method: Otter trawls
Fishery management: Greenland Fishery Act through a series of regulations:
•
•
•
•
•
Fishing licences
Fleet quotas
Access restrictions
Bycatch restrictions
Control measures, including logbooks, landing declarations, VMS (vessel
monitoring system), an observer program
• Technical conservation measures, e.g. minimum mesh size

40. Enforcement by Directorate of Fisheries (Greenland Fisheries Licence
Control)
• Track vessels, landing reports, and control the observer programme
• Observers 60% of the offshore and inshore fleet with processing
facilities on-board
• 10% of the inshore fleet without processing facilities
Policing is carried out by the Control Unit and through at-sea
inspections by (Danish) naval vessels. Vessels are inspected at sea
around 2-3 times per year.
Since 2004 the TAC (total allowable catch) for the entire fishery has
been set at 130,000 tonnes.
Commercial market
All coldwater prawn product is exported. Product for
domestic consumption is re-imported from Denmark.

41. Deep water shrimp
Pandalus borealis
Soft, muddy sediment
1-6°C
150-600 metres
Hermaphrodite: mature as a
males at age ~2, mate for 2-3
years, then change sex and live
the remainder of their lifespan
as a female
Spawn in autumn
Females carry the eggs until April/May
Hatch into pelagic larvae
Day -feed on or near the bottom
Night - migrate up to feed on zooplankton
heavily predated by ground fish and seals

42. • 2011 - IoZ approached by SFG to develop a pilot study to assess
Greenlandic benthos (part of MSC certification process)
• Pilot study showed promise, agreed to undertake a 2 year project
• Currently underway (June 2012- June 2014)
Primary Aim
• To assess what is there
• To determine the impact, and historical impact, of trawling on the
benthic habitat
• To generate results and establish a survey system that will aid
fisheries managers in monitoring benthic impact
Project made possible by
• SFG (Sustainable Fisheries Greenland) who initiated and fund the work
• GINR (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources) who provide shiptime
SFG and GINR – fisheries data

43. Approach – 3 paths of research
1. Ecological survey of the benthos
• What is there
• How is it changing
2. Genetic analysis
• What is there
• Connectivity (genetic links between populations)
3. How to improve and reduce analysis cost
• Machine learning towards automation of analysis
• Building a tool for use by non-experts

44. Ecological survey of the benthos
– camera survey

45. Ecological survey of the benthos
– camera survey
2011 & 2012
• 25 days at sea
• only 3 days lost to weather
• 97 stations covering ~1400 km continental shelf

46. Grab Sampling: 21 stations
Species identifications
confirmed by:
Taxonomy
Expert advice
Genetic analysis

47. Original slide: Chris Yesson

48. Analysis
• Fishing Impact Data
• Shannon Index
• Vulnerable Marine
Organisms
Original slide: Chris Yesson

49. Analysis
• Fishing Impact Data
• Shannon Index
• Vulnerable Marine Organisms

51. Analysis

52. Original slide: Chris Yesson

53. Results: what can we see so far
Original slide: Irina Chemshirova

54. Market based approach (voluntary labeling)
In the past decade – explosion of voluntary certification and labeling
schemes
• 1st party – firm certifies itself to its own standard
• 2nd party – standard is developed by an industry body that then certifies
members to that standard
• 3rd party – standard is developed by a group at arm’s length from
individual companies and the industry, and compliance is audited by
independent organisations with no vested interest in the outcome
Forest sector. Mineral sector. Fisheries. Organic agriculture. Coffee.
Clothing.
Does it work?

55. Student Debate Activity
Consumer power is more effective than government
regulation in the management of shared natural resources
Yes
No

56. Student Debate Activity
All commercial fisheries should be legally obligated to enter
into a 3rd party certification scheme such as MSC
Legal obligation to enter into MSC certification scheme
would be detrimental to the integrity of the scheme itself
Yes
No

57. Student Debate Activity
Socio-economic concerns are disproportionately considered
in the management of commercial fisheries
Yes
No

58. Student Debate Activity
It is appropriate for an independent research scientist to be
paid with money that originates from “industry”
Yes
No