Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The precautionary approach should be applied because the knowledge on ecosys-
tems is incomplete.
ยท
Governance should ensure both human and ecosystem well-being and equity.
Examples of EAF can be seen at both regional (supra-national) and national levels. Among
regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs), the Commission for the Conserva-
tion of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is usually seen as the pre-eminent
example (Constable
et al
.,
2000
). CCAMLR includes explicit objectives at the ecosystem
level, it has developed strategies for managing exploited species that take account of im-
pacts on predators (e.g. the krill harvest strategy), and has also developed ecosystem mon-
itoring programmes. However progress in EAF for other (mostly tuna-focused) RFMOs is
much less advanced.
National progress in adopting EAF is also evident but patchy and so far mainly con-
fined to a few OECD countries. Progress in adopting the FAO Code of Conduct (including
EAF)hasbeenreviewedbyPitcher
et al
.(
2009
).ThefivehighestrankednationswereNor-
way, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Iceland. A recent FAO State of the World's
Fisheries and Aquaculture report (FAO,
2012
) highlighted ongoing efforts in the adoption
of ecosystem based approaches at both the sectoral and multisectoral level, which are being
pursued in various large marine ecosystems, including in the Caribbean, the Canary Cur-
rent, the Benguela Current, and the Bay of Bengal. However, in most of these large marine
ecosystems, efforts are concentrated on planning for an ecosystem based approach, and its
full-scale implementation remains to be realized.The FAO has also noted that while many
countries have made important strides towards the application of several of the principles
contained in the EAF, some are partly implementing the approach without necessarily re-
cognizing this (FAO,
2012
).
