Next training dates
20th and 21st April: 9:30am 3:30pm,Viking Fishing (Please contact Nicola at nokes@wwf.org.za for more info!
Responsible Fisheries Training
Equipping fishers, compliance staff, fisheries observers and managers with the skills and knowledge to implement an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management.For responsibly managed fisheries, it is important to understand the dynamics of individual populations and the ecosystem as a whole. It is equally important to have appropriate policies and regulations in place which incorporate all aspects of an ecosystem approach, however, the fact that this is a necessary but not a sufficient condition is apparent. If the people on the ground like the fishers themselves, fisheries observers or compliance officers do not understand how and why regulations or management measures are in place there will be little or no implementation. Therefore it is vital that fishers who are at the coalface of fisheries management are empowered to understand the environment within which they work, the concepts that underpin fisheries management and the thought process behind management decisions.
Observers on the other hand require appropriate training to not only collect verifiable data on which management decisions are based, but are also inspired to raise the awareness and understanding of fishers at sea. Compliance officers, who enforce management actions, cannot do so effectively if they are not equipped with a thorough understanding of fisheries regulations, why the regulations exist and how to implement them. The training proposed in this document aims to address this need.
Benefits of the proposed training programme will ultimately result in fisheries acting more responsibly through improved compliance to fisheries regulations and implementation of voluntary measures and thereby increasing the likelihood of long-term sustainability and access to global markets.Many fishers have little tertiary education. A training programme such as this one would uplift the skills of fishers and in this way aid in poverty alleviation.
19 Aug 2008 Module 1 An introduction to responsible fishing practices - 1. The state of the worlds ecosystems 2. Historic single species approach to fisheries managementBriefly describe the approach and its shortcomings 3. Ecosystem approach to fisheries management What is an EAF? How to implement an EAF 4. Our international and national obligations: Constitution...read more
18 Aug 2008 Module 2 Ecological health: fishing smarter - This module introduces new Ecosystem-based Management concepts and covers related permit conditions/regulations. 1. Food webs e.g. bycatch of sharks What are a food web and an ecosystem? Brief introduction to why removing some animals from the ecosystem may have a bigger effect than others. Food webs in...read more
17 Aug 2008 Module 3 Introduction to fisheries management - 1. An introduction to the tools available to a fisheries manager Effort limitation (e.g. limit number of rights, boats or sea days) Target stock effort limitation Catch limitation (e.g. TAC, bag limits, size limits or mesh size, gear restrictions) Time and area closures Gear...read more
16 Aug 2008 Module 4 Monitoring and Enforcement - 1. Monitoring Logbooks/catch statistics Why do we need to submit this information/what is it used for? Affects of over-reporting or under-reporting Practical: Filling in logbooks and catch returns Landing procedures Observer Programme Why do we need observers? What happens...read more
