Activists: Fishing Regulators Need More Transparency

Environmental groups and fishing interests are criticizing regional organizations set up by the United Nations to supervise fishing activities around the world.

The groups say the U.N. bodies need to be clearer and more open about what they are doing.

There are about 50 fisheries management organizations around the world. They bring together local fishers, coastal¹ states, and big international fishers. They help regulate fishing rights for companies and countries in a way that is meant to conserve² populations of fish and other ocean animals.

For years, these regulators have been accused of undemocratic practices that favor big, industrial fishers. Now several conservation groups are calling for a change.

Groups like the Ocean Foundation and the Global Tuna Alliance have supported more openness about the fisheries organizations' decisions. They say more openness will permit more members of the public to take part in conservation efforts.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) oversees³ fisheries management organizations. The FAO said it supports more openness in fisheries. But for local and small fishers who depend on well-managed fish populations, it's unclear if more open measures will help.

Kassim Abdalla is a fisherman on Kenya's coast. He is part of a cooperative group of fishers.

"I only hear of meetings on fisheries, but I have no idea what it is they discuss there. I have never been invited," he said. He added that he cannot compete with large fisheries from developed nations.

The concern among environmentalists and small fishers is that large fishing boats can do things that are not possible for smaller boats. Their activities take fish supplies from fishers who must stay close to the coast. If there are no fish close to the coast, smaller fishers must take their boats farther out to sea, which is more dangerous.

Many industrial fishing boats use a method called purse seining. Fredric Manach said this method uses two-kilometer-long nets that surround whole schools of fish. Manach is a marine⁴ scientist with the ocean conservation group Bloom. Purse seining makes it difficult to protect fish populations, he said.

The European Union is closely involved in eight regional fisheries management organizations worldwide. The EU has been accused of using methods like purse seining. Critics also say the EU pressures coastal states to get better access to regional fishery management organizations.

The EU Commission denied the claims. It said it is not suppressing developing countries for more favorable access. It also said that it would ban purse seining if science supported a ban. But "it is essential that science is the backbone⁵" of decision-making, EU officials said.

Manach said the regulatory bodies need to be more open about how they set fishing limits for countries and groups. "There is absolutely no transparency" surrounding how limits are set and who gets them, he said.

Last month, the U.N. high seas treaty was finally approved. The treaty will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish protected areas in the world's oceans.

The hope for conservation groups is that fishery bodies involve small fishers in the discussions.

Ryan Orgera is with Accountability.Fish, a non-profit group based in Brussels. He said the most important thing is transparency.

He said more openness can make sure that "societies have access to what happens to our collective resources."

Words in This Story

management –m. the activity of controlling business operations of a company, office or organization

region — n. an area of a country or the world that is different from others

regulate — v. to make rules or laws to control an activity or industry

conserve — v. to keep something safe from damage or destruction

access — n. the ability to use or take part in an activity or resource

net –n. a device made of rope or line that is used to catch fish

backbone — n. the most important or strongest part of something

transparent⁶ — adj. the quality of not hiding but making clear what people mean to do

society — n. a large number of people living in a country who have an organized community that observes laws

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

3 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

6 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。