Developing an International Standard for the Trade in Live Reef Food Fish - SEAFOOD Ecolabelling: Principles and Practice - page 169

a review of existing information on supply and demand issues in the Asia-Pacific
region, including perspectives on current practices and areas for improvement,
existing best practices employed in a well-regulated fishery in Australia and
consumer-related aspects;

a review of recommendations based on the MAC experience in developing an
environmentally and socially sustainable standard for the marine aquarium trade
within an artisanal fishing context;

identifying the substantive elements for inclusion in a code of best practice and
the areas where further data collection or research may be necessary (see below);
and

the strategic implementation process required to gain the broadest possible in-
volvement and acceptance of an international code of best practice.

During this preliminary period the drafting team undertook extensive informal
consultation with representatives of the catching (source countries) and importing
(demand countries) sectors in order to understand the boundaries and limitations
and acceptability of the proposed standard. Producing a robust and credible standard
relied on the co-operation and support of industry members in these countries. In
the initial months the standard was referred to as a code of best practice rather than
a standard in order to allay nervousness amongst the industry members about the
regulatory implications of a typical standards document. As the project developed,
however, those who took part in the consultative process became less apprehensive
about the concept of a standard.

8.4.2 Collaborative management models

The project team considered a number of different models for promoting collabora-
tive resource management of fisheries including: (i) certification and ecolabelling;
(ii) voluntary codes of conduct; and (iii) industry standards (Civic Exchange 2001).
Of these models, certification and ecolabelling for the LRFFT were considered to
be inappropriate starting points due to the large volumes and the number of species
traded, the diffuse nature of the industry, the uniquely 'live' aspect of the product
and uncertainty about the market acceptance of certification. Voluntary codes, espe-
cially the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, set out 'principles and
international standards of behavior for responsible practices with a view to ensur-
ing effective conservation, management and development of aquatic resources with
due respect for ecosystem and biodiversity' (FAO 1995). Certification and ecola-
belling systems also typically impose high levels of requirements for assessments
and compliance. In contrast, voluntary codes, such as the FAO Code of Conduct
for Responsible Fisheries, provide frameworks for coordinated national, regional
and international efforts, and their voluntary participation seemed to be the more
suitable starting point for the LRFFT.