![]() FisheriesFish is an increasingly important food item as well as the basis of the livelihood of millions of people world-wide. The manner in which fishing and aquaculture are conducted has a tremendous impact on the marine environment and the social and economic well-being of some of the world’s poorest people. As the global demand for fish increases it is crucial that fisheries are managed in a responsible way. And yet, more than half of the most important wild fish stocks around the world are threatened today by over-exploitation. In certain areas, continuation of the policies and fishing practices of the last few decades is neither responsible nor sustainable. NEWS! January 27-30, 2008 - RFA Hosted a workshop at the 2008 Seafood Choices Alliance Summit in Barcelona: "Small Scale and Artisanal Fishing: Key actors of the responsible management of fisheries" Moderated by Bruno Correard, Coordinator of the RFA.
Through living examples worldwide, the RFA intends to illustrate the idea that artisanal/small scale fishers can be positive contributors to a responsible management of the fish chain -from the fishery, to the consumer- as they consider, by nature, all aspects of the sustainability: environmental, but also economic and social issues. Iceland – Artisanal fishers and responsible management of the fishery: example of the KRAV certification. Arthur Bogason, WFF & NASBO organization. Chile & Québec – Fish products from traditional fishing: interesting alternatives for European fish market. Pedro Avendano & François Poulin, WFF. Lake Victoria (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya) – Nile perch fishery: social and economic responsibility of Northern countries. Margaret Nakato, WFF & Katosi Woman.
European Ecolabel on Responsible Fishing. The European Commission publicly confirmed at the Seafood Choices Alliance Summit in
Responsible Fishing Alliance was publicly launched during the Economic Business Summit in Brussels on March 15, 2007. The Responsible Fishing Alliance (RFA) brings together fishers' associations, public and private organizations and businesses. The organization currently has 11 members including NGO's, universities, Europe's largest retailer, Carrefour and its newest member, the packaging company Multivac. The Alliance complements other seafood initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Council by focusing not on certifying but on responsible business-to-business seafood trade. Its members work in development and supply-chain projects that strive to create environments where fishing and fish farming are done in ways that protect the environment, support the social and economic health of small fishing communities, are economically viable, and help meet the increasing demand for fish. The aim is to increase cooperation, environmental awareness and mutual understanding along the seafood value chain. The RFA is active in several locations through concrete projects in the field: Building of a Responsible Fish Chain, Switzerland The RFA aims to engage stakeholders in working together to help build bridges between both the different actors at various levels of the value-chain and the initiatives related to responsible fishing that they might have. Read more: French, German An article about the Responsbile Fishing Alliance was published on intrafish.com (English) and intrafish.no (Norwegian) on March 16, 2007.
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