November 27, 2006

FAO seeing results in lowering by-catch from fisheries
 

FAO's effort to reduce by-catch from trawlers is starting to see results, according to a recent FAO report.

In 2002, FAO teamed up with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environmental Facility to establish a US$ 9 million five-year project to reduce unwanted by-catch in shrimp fisheries.

The shrimp fishing industry was once much criticised for wasting the sea's resources- for every kilogramme of shrimp produced, twenty kilogrammes of other by-catch were thrown overboard where they inevitably die.

FAO estimates that tropical shrimp trawl fisheries have the highest discard rate, accounting for 27 percent of the waste of 1.8 million tonnes.

The capture of juveniles of valuable fish before they have the chance to reproduce threatens the well-being of fish populations, while removal of non-targeted fish is a threat to marine ecosystem biodiversity, said Jeremy Turner of the UN agency's Fisheries Department.

FAO has worked with trawlers, small-scale fishers, national fishery agencies and regional fisheries organizations to introduce new technologies and fishing methods to target only desired fish while letting small juveniles and non-targeted animals escape.

The UN organisation also helped fishermen modify their trawls and equipment and is holding workshops to train them in their proper use. Vessels fitted with high tech sensors and underwater monitors that assess the effectiveness of the new trawls are also being tested.

Through these and other efforts by-catch is being reduced by as much as 50 percent  in some cases, FAO reported.

Asian countries where FAO is implementing the project include Indonesia, Iran, the and the Philippines. The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFEC) is also participating.