The Global Transition to Sustainable Fisheries: Taking Stock by Through the Gaps

International Sustainability Unit

The Global Transition to Sustainable Fisheries: Taking Stock 15th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16th June, 2016

Summary of meeting and recommendations

Contents Summary................................................................................................................................... 3 1 Overview and context.......................................................................................................... 6 2 Taking stock: reflections on successes to date.................................................................... 7

a. Context......................................................................................................................... 7

b. Discussion - key messages ............................................................................................ 8

3 Looking to the future of sustainable fisheries................................................................. 12

a. Global mega-trends: the backdrop of the transition..................................................... 12

b. Trends in the seafood sector ........................................................................................ 13

c. Emerging trends: a more detailed analysis.................................................................... 13

d. Roundtable discussion - key messages and recommendations...................................... 15

e. Conclusion & high-level remarks ................................................................................ 23

4 Recommended action points........................................................................................... 26 5 Appendix .......................................................................................................................... 29

Summary Almost five years on from the launch of the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit (ISU) Marine Programme and report ‘Towards Global Sustainable Fisheries’, it is evident that significant progress has been made in the transition to sustainable fisheries worldwide. However, serious and complex challenges continue to affect the global fishing industry. As a result, the ISU convened a two-day meeting in London in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, where this diverse and interconnected set of challenges was addressed. The meeting was attended by representatives from across the sectors of conservation, fisheries, science, economics, finance, law, development and retail. Expert presentations, panel discussion and in-depth roundtable conversations led to a series of recommendations, which are outlined in detail below (see pg 15-23). Participants had an opportunity to reflect on progress made to date on key parts of the transition to sustainability, as well as to debate and assess the nature and extent of the challenges that still lie ahead. Through these discussions, a number of key themes emerged as particularly salient for the future of sustainable fisheries worldwide. These included: • Governance. This was an over-arching issue of relevance to many of the themes discussed during the meeting. It was agreed that continuing to strengthen fisheries management against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, through the concerted implementation of existing regulation (discussed in detail below), is of vital importance. The need to raise the profile of fisheries issues within governments was highlighted and attendees suggested that linking fisheries with the social and development agenda could be a more effective means of engagement at the governance level. The need for fisheries issues to be factored into policies around development, climate change and pollution was also strongly recommended. Overall, it was felt that there is currently a positive political opportunity for fisheries: with an ocean Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and examples of fisheries recovery worldwide, which demonstrate the benefits of sustainable fisheries management. Participants recognised the need for this momentum and opportunity to be harnessed to support the below areas of action. • Solving ‘the social dimension’ of fisheries sustainability. Repeatedly referred to as the missing piece in the sustainability puzzle, social labour conditions in fisheries were highlighted as a key area for future action. It was suggested that labour conditions should play a part in the determining of fisheries as ‘sustainable’ under certification schemes, and also that international governance could play a role in continuing to raise the profile of this issue, such as through a new FAO Code of Conduct on ‘social labour conditions in fisheries’.

• Recognising the importance of, and renewing efforts in, small-scale fisheries. Whilst participants felt there was cause for optimism due to the existing progress that has been made in improving the sustainability of fisheries, it was recognised that the majority of progress to date has taken place within the large-scale commercial sector. The social, economic and food security impacts of small-scale fisheries in developing nations was mentioned repeatedly and there was a consensus that more of a focus needs to be given to this sector. It was said that work in the small-scale area needed to recognise the rights of artisanal fleets to coastal resources, be collaborative in nature, and ‘regionally appropriate’ in scale. Data deficiency issues in small-scale fisheries, due in part to the ‘fragmented and poor’ nature of the sector was highlighted as one reason why comprehensive management in this area is a challenge.

It was seen as vitally important that small-scale fisheries sustainability is addressed world-wide.

• Finance. With ambitious plans to continue the worldwide shift towards sustainable fisheries, but dwindling financial resources in the public sector to support this work, there was a strong focus on the possibility of increasing access to private capital to fund fisheries projects. A skills gap within the sector was identified; with very few people worldwide able to speak fluent ‘fish’ and ‘finance’, meaning communication between the sectors did not meet the needs of stakeholders. Experts commented that investment opportunities linked to social development and the A skills gap within the environment were ‘hot topics’ and that this should be sector was identified, with used to the sector’s advantage, but underscored that the very few people worldwide business case, deal opportunities and potential beneable to speak fluent ‘fish’ fits need to be clearly expressed to the finance sector. and ‘finance’, meaning Concurrently, there needs to be greater mitigation of communication between perceived risk in fisheries investments: through stronger governance counteracting illegal fishing, increased the sectors did not meet the transparency in supply chains, and better collaboration needs of stakeholders between, for example, the climate and fisheries sector. • Collaboration between actors in the ‘blue’ and ‘green’ spheres. The fisheries sector has shown great progress in increasing collaboration between stakeholders within fisheries management processes: with co-management and multi-stakeholder meetings starting to be seen as the norm

in some areas. However, it was felt that the sector needs to become more collaborative in its approach to understanding and tackling issues of ocean health and in particular to working with stakeholders outside of the fisheries space. Working with the ‘green,’ or terrestrial sustainability, sector will be vital to underpin progress on climate change and ocean pollution: both significant threats to the future of sustainable fishing.

Working with the ‘green’ or terrestrial sustainability sector will be vital to underpin progress on climate change and ocean pollution: both significant threats to the future of sustainable fishing

• The need for the better sharing of data. The meeting highlighted the need for the better sharing of existing data and the need for more information about global fisheries. It was suggested that protocols need to be put in place to ensure data is of a consistent quality, but participants also spoke of the need for increased citizen science and the importance of facilitating the input of data from small-scale fisheries. Through digitising data collected on board vessels, and through using systems such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM), collection and storing of information could be simplified. This, in turn, can lead to greater transparency in the supply chain: a tool in the fight against IUU fishing, and a way to deliver guaranteed sustainable and ethical produce to retailers and consumers. There is also a possibility that this could close markets to seafood suppliers not upholding high standards of transparency. A serious paucity of data on small-scale fisheries was highlighted as a key reason why sustainable management in this sector was lacking in comparison to larger-scale industry. Similarly, a lack of data on the impact of declining ocean health on fisheries was a key area for concern. It was thought that collaboration between sectors, and legislation to incentivise better data collection and sharing, could help to address the impacts of climate change on fishing: offering the sector the potential to becoming a leading exemplar for mitigation and adaptation.

1. Overview and context The Prince’s Charities International Sustainability Unit (ISU), established by HRH The Prince of Wales, convened a meeting entitled ‘The Global Transition to Sustainable Fisheries: Taking Stock’ in London on 15th and 16th June 2016. The event brought together over 100 stakeholders from across the fisheries and seafood sector in order to provide the opportunity for reflection on progress made to date in the transition to more sustainable fisheries, as well as to assess and debate emerging global social, economic and environmental trends and their potential impact on the transition to sustainable fisheries going forward. In February 2012 the Prince of Wales’ ISU formally launched its Marine Programme, following two years of research and consultation. At the time of the launch, the ISU published a discussion document entitled ‘Towards Global Sustainable Fisheries: The Opportunity for Transition’. It offered a detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the global wild capture fishing industry and described a number of key areas around which progress toward sustainable fisheries might be achieved. The rationale for a global focus on this transition is as important today as it was then, if not more so – wild capture fisheries and the ecosystems on which they depend can provide significant economic, social and environmental benefits if they are managed sustainably, contributing to livelihoods, food security and ecological resilience in the face of climate change and other environmental pressures. The aim of this meeting, therefore, was to consider how far the global community has come in reaching the key milestones that were set out in that report, and to challenge the fisheries community, broadly speaking, to set a global agenda for priority action for the foreseeable future. This note summarises the meeting content and discussions, and sets out the key areas of prioritisation and recommendations for future action.

A broad range of stakeholders from across the fisheries, development, environmental, retail and finance sectors gathered to discuss the global future of fishing.

2. Taking stock: reflections on successes to date a. Context During the first half of the two-day meeting, participants were encouraged to consider success to date in the global transition to sustainable fisheries. Specific examples of existing progress were given by two presenters who described their own journeys toward a more sustainable model of fishing. These included the collaborative, industry-led initiative Fishing into the Future, and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, an unprecedented collaboration in the exploitation and protection of the Pacific islands’ shared tuna resource. A broader observation of changes that have taken place in fisheries around the world was also provided. It was suggested that sustainable fishing is now the ‘new normal’ in the developed world and that there is a greater understanding of the common ground that exists between sectors within

BOX 1: Taking stock: Progress to date Prior to the Taking Stock Meeting the ISU put together a short report, based on a series of stakeholder interviews, summarising progress to date in the transition to sustainable fisheries. Some of the key findings were described during the first part of the Meeting. They included: The narrative that sustainable fisheries can provide economic, social and environmental benefits is now largely accepted throughout much of the seafood value chain and recognised at a high political level. There has been clear evidence of change ‘in the water’. The Marine Stewardship Council estimates that close to 10% of global fisheries are certified under their label: an increase from 6% in 2010 and accounting for 8.8million tonnes of seafood. Consumer awareness about the importance of buying sustainable seafood has increased markedly in recent years, particularly in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Linked to this is the growing recognition of consumer-facing certification schemes and labeling. Traceability is an issue that has received significant attention in the past five years. New technologies have not only enabled the tracking of fish from boat to plate, they also provide the means by which to monitor and enforce fisheries management legislation and address IUU fishing. These technologies have been coupled with policies and sanctions that help prevent illegally or unsustainably caught fish from entering the market. The increasingly recognised interdependence between sustainable development and the ocean has helped to push global ocean health, and therefore fisheries, higher up the political agenda. The ocean Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14) has further cemented ocean health on the international political agenda, and forms part of a growing recognition of the potential of the ‘blue economy’ as a framework for sustainable marine, coastal and ocean-based economic activity.

the fishing industry, a greater interaction between diverse groups and a sense of common purpose. Words such as ‘transparency’ and ‘ethical’ are now being used hand-in-hand with ‘sustainable’, and consumers, primarily in the developed world, are actively seeking products that have these qualities. The progress made in the fight against IUU fishing was also noted and the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), which recently came into effect, was celebrated. Participants were reminded of the importance of these efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries management in a world that is becoming increasingly socially fragmented and threatened by global environmental degradation. The need for cohesive, collaborative thinking is paramount.

b. Discussion – key messages Participants had the opportunity to share their own perspectives of success to date and to reflect on the presentations and case studies they had heard. This resulted in rich discussion from which the following key themes emerged:

Managing small-scale fisheries worldwide

There was a

There was a consensus that whilst large strides have been made consensus that in the management and sustainability of large-scale fisheries, insufficient progress has been made in the small-scale sector. whilst large strides Individuals commented that although developments such as have been made in the PSMA offer reasons for optimism for the large-scale inthe management dustry, ‘intelligent, joined-up thinking’ was urgently required and sustainability of in developing nations, where individuals ‘fish to live’. Others large-scale fisheries, underscored the lack of data available on small-scale fisheries, insufficient progress and the scale of the challenge presented by the need to fully understand and cohesively manage these activities, given that has been made in the they represent the operations of up to 90% of active fishermen small-scale sector worldwide. It was highlighted that effective progress on managing small-scale fisheries is not only an environmental and economic issue, but also a social challenge of relevance to the development community. With this in mind, it was reasserted that meaningful collaboration between sectors – environment, finance and development, humanitarian – will be needed to underpin change on a global scale.

Data paucity in global fisheries A lack of data – critical to concerns about the future of small-scale fishery management – became a theme across a range of issues, including the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on global fishery resources and ocean health. It was commented that without greater understanding of

how these global trends will affect fisheries, current efforts to preserve and boost stocks may well be undermined. Participants remarked that the range of interconnecting issues in fisheries is ‘infinitely diverse’, and that a broad variety of solutions will need to be implemented to provide outcomes for ‘the common good’. All agreed that more data, and therefore a clearer picture of how global fisheries are faring, would be vital to make progress on any of the major concerns raised. The potential for harnessing new technologies in streamlining data collection, as well as in monitoring of legal and illegal activity, to inform local, national and international management and policy making was highlighted by a number of participants. Although some technological advances have been made in this respect, it was noted that there was much more that could be done to create a paradigm shift in data collection.

Illegal fishing, labour conditions within the supply chain & opportunities for investment It was clearly noted that the coming into force of the PSMA provides an excellent additional step in addressing illegality in large-scale fishing operations and is a signal of greater political intent to end IUU fishing practices at all levels. It was commented that the growing political capital should be harnessed to address a wider lack of comprehensive governance on the high seas, and awareness of human slavery within fisheries should continue to be raised at the highest possible political and business levels.

BOX 2: Fishing into the Future (FITF) Alan Steer, Chairman Fishing into the Future is an independent charity, born out of a 2013 event orchestrated by the ISU, in collaboration with Seafish and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, to bring together fishermen from across the UK to identify common sustainability goals for the future of their industry. FITF is ‘by fishermen: for fishermen’. Two-thirds of the board of Trustees have to be active fishermen, and they come from across the UK. Through a range of work programmes, the charity aims to address three main issues: the need for better, more accurate and more real-time evidence in management; the lack of formal training available for fishermen in sustainability, fishing ecosystems and science, and data collection, and; the need for genuine collaboration based on fishermen’s knowledge and data. FITF is currently developing a pilot training course, targeted at all UK fisherman, with the aim of building capacity within industry to engage with sustainability issues, practices and challenges. The training will provide fishermen with a ‘toolbox’ of skills and knowledge with which to engage with management. Benefits of the FITF approach include: fisheries are supported by better data; fishermen are more engaged in management processes; economics improve in line with better-managed stocks; collaboration becomes the norm.

BOX 3: Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Maurice Brownjohn, Commercial Director PNA controls the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse-seine fishery. PNA members are: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. Despite a small landmass, these ‘8 large ocean states’ have an EEZ 40% larger than that of the European Union, and deliver 50% of the world’s skipjack tuna supply. Although well managed, there was almost no local jobs or investment in the fishery. Investments saw a return of just 2-3% on a fishery worth $3billion in catch and $8billion in retail. Working collaboratively across the 8 states, PNA introduced an effort control – selling ‘opportunity’ within the fishery, and ‘moving from a buyer’s, to a seller’s market’, eventually creating 15,000 jobs across the supply chain, producing tuna within the PNA island states, and attracting investment. PNA has achieved MSC certification of skipjack and yellowfin tuna – a world first for skipjack. The damaging use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and other concerns being addressed by PNA, but impact of under-regulated high seas activity needs addressing. PNA tuna is a ‘multi-billion dollar resource’ and a renewable asset. Potential for PNA ‘tuna futures’ to appear on international stock exchanges.

Illegal fishing activity worldwide has profound implications for both working conditions and investment opportunities. By its very nature, illegal fishing is un-transparent; human rights abuses and inhumane working practices are carried out under the radar; catches are not documented, and the state of the fisheries they operate in – as with the working conditions aboard – is hidden from the international community. Failing to address illegality within the seafood supply chain has created a Failing to address illegality transparency ‘choke point’ for would-be investors: an within the seafood supply unacceptable level of uncertainty.

chain has created a

Considering social and labour conditions when distransparency ‘choke point’ cussing ‘sustainability’ in seafood is a necessary step for would-be investors: forward. It was suggested that these considerations needed to be inherent in certification or eco-labelling an unacceptable level of processes, and that the FAO should consider a new uncertainty Code of Conduct on social conditions in fisheries. In addressing human rights abuses within fishing businesses, it was thought that fisheries would become a more viable option for finance at the scale necessary to underpin a global transition towards greater sustainability within small- and largescale operations.

Markets and Retailers The importance of retailers within the wider fisheries picture was a key theme of the discussions. Retarilers still have significant potneital to help drive sustainability through their own purchasing power and through driving consumer engagement with sustainability. The future impact that Asian markets will have on the global seafood supply chain was also raised as an area that required more in-depth analysis and targeted programmes of work. Population growth in the region will lead to a demand for seafood that will only be met through substantial increase in production, greater yield from sustainably managed stocks at sea, and aquaculture development. The question was raised as to what structures need to be put in place to ensure this demand can be met without severe environmental or human cost.

3. Looking to the Future of Sustainable Fisheries The level of success and progress that can be celebrated around the transition to globally sustainable fisheries, through initial discussion, provided the foundation for a look into the future of the marine fisheries sector. In this respect participants were reminded of the challenging and changing global context in which fisheries operate today and in the future.

a. Global mega-trends: The backdrop to the transition Leo Johnson (PricewaterhouseCoopers) offered insight into ‘Global Mega-Trends’ and how these trends will influence the continued transition to sustainable seafood. Participants heard how life expectancy is increasing to the extent that children are already being born today that will live to 150 years old. Some financial institutions already base their resource forecasts on an anticipated human life expectancy of 300-400 years. This vast increase in life expectancy, will contribute to the growing global population, which may reach 18 billion in the distant future. Together, life expectancy and population growth will have serious implications for demands on food and resource security. As a low carbon, renewable and high protein food source, fisheries will likely become an increasingly crucial part of global food security. Of particular note is the vast impact that technology will have on the world of fisheries: both as a positive, for monitoring and enforcement, and as a disruptive force replacing traditional job roles within the sector.

The importance of fisheries as a key part of global food security was repeatedly highlighted across the meeting, particularly in the context of projected population growth

It was suggested that by 2030 renewable energy will reach ‘cost parity’ with fossil fuels which will have significant impact on both urban and rural development, as energy become cleaner and cheaper worldwide. Other changing trends include around the development and possible deployment of synthetic biology, and the potential that the development of robotics could result in ‘systemic’ job losses in fishing. Ultimately, it will be choices we make about the way these new technologies and systems are used and shared that will define our future.

b. Trends in the seafood sector Layering seafood sector-specific insights over global mega-trends, Stephen Hall (Alverion Capital) painted a picture of a future in which aquaculture has an increasingly important role in seafood supply and where global seafood demand outstrips production by a forecast 60 million tonnes. It was highlighted that China is both the world’s biggest producer of aquaculture products and has the world’s largest wild capture fishery. Also being the world’s foremost consumer of these products, with a vast and growing population, it was speculated that a much higher percentage of Chinese seafood may stay within the Chinese domestic market in future. This could put further pressure on markets elsewhere, as importers of fishery products from China seek to replicate this produce through exploiting local resources. The impact of global externalities on fisheries production, such as climate change and ocean acidification, were noted. And in this context, the opportunity for using ‘index insurance’ as a financial tool to build resilience into potential fisheries investments was put forward. Furthermore, on the investment theme, with environmental and development concerns becoming increasingly important to the financial community, large-scale fishing operations may lose investment appeal and thus more attention should be paid to attracting finance and putting strong governance structures in place, particularly for small-scale operations. With this in mind, fisheries need to be recognised as a ‘business’ and the sector needs to move away from ‘piecemeal initiatives’ to a genuine and cohesive shift in management approaches. There is a growing consensus that ‘systemic change at scale’ is required with a critical need for generating successful collaborative initiatives and embedding these, along with strong leadership, in sector working practices.

c. Emerging trends: a more detailed analysis An interdisciplinary panel of experts provided a more detailed analysis of specific challenges that will need to be addressed, and which will impact efforts to create more sustainable seafood supply chains. The panel was comprised of Ian Urbina, New York Times; Ally Dingwall, Sainsbury’s; Heather Koldewey, Zoological Society of London; Daniel Brooksbank, Responsible Investor, and; Paula Caballero, World Bank Group. They explored the following themes:

An expert panel discussion offered stakeholders further points for consideration when tasked with developing actions for fisheries sustainability.

The social dimension Several panelists raised questions about the social dimension of fisheries management and its role as an emerging challenge in the sustainable fisheries landscape. Participants heard about the ‘lawlessness’ often witnessed at sea: abuse, slavery, uninvestigated murder and more. Delegates were challenged to think about what ‘real enforcement’ and governance should look like in high seas fisheries, and to consider the human element in the seafood supply chain in greater detail. In this vein, the importance of improving traceability throughout the seafood supply chain was highlighted to ensure IUU fish, which often are linked directly with inhumane working conditions, do not reach supermarket shelves. It was commented that consumers have not grasped that they might be buying illegally caught fish, and that it was currently still ‘impossible’ for retailers to be certain of the provenance of all seafood they source and sell.

Impacts of wider ocean health The links between climate change and fisheries were explored in detail, including the humanitarian implications of changing climate and changing fishing opportunities and availability particularly with respect to poor and vulnerable parts of the world. Therefore, the necessity of ‘building resilience’ amongst developing fishing communities, who risk losing livelihoods and food sources in the wake of severe climatic events, was underscored. In addition, the importance of land-based sustainability to the health of the ocean and fisheries was also raised – plastic pollution in our seas is an issue with its roots in practices that take place on land. As had been expressed earlier in the meeting, greater collaboration is needed between the ‘green’ and the ‘blue’ sectors.

Sustainable development policy and practice Participants were encouraged to envision a ‘best case scenario’ for fisheries and the marine environment in 2050 and to work towards that specific vision. The need for greater long-termism and its integration into fisheries management was highlighted, with particular reference to the need for policy change to drive sustainability in Asian and developing nations. The implications of the ocean ‘orphan goal’ (Sustainable Development Goal 14) were highlighted, as was the need for its implementation to be more clearly linked to other Goals and associated targets: for example making the connection between fisheries and health, gender equality and employment.

Finance and investment in fisheries The lack of capital flowing towards sustainable fisheries opportunities was linked to global fisheries lacking sufficient data to paint an accurate picture of risk, and this in part being due to the ‘fragmented and poor’ nature of the small-scale sector. As such, the fisheries community were urged to meaningfully address data collection and governance in this area as it represented ‘an enormous opportunity to start working from the ground-up’, and a chance to bring together environment

and development concerns. Cause for optimism was given due to the fact that ‘environmental, social and governance’ led investment are the ‘hottest topics’ in finance at the moment. The ten-year anniversary of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and the growing success of ‘green bonds’ (bonds created to fund projects that have a positive climate/environmental impact) were pointed to as concrete examples of this trend. It was also suggested that these trends could lead to the successful issuance of ‘blue bonds’ in the marine sphere given the right opportunities and projects.

Cause for optimism was given due to the fact that ‘environmental, social and governance’ led investment are the ‘hottest topics’ in finance at the moment

d. Roundtable discussion – key messages and recommendations Participants spent the next part of the meeting in roundtable discussion. Each group explored one of the following with respect to their relevance to the future of global seafood: social issues, science and ocean health, the supply chain and finance. Participants spent several hours discussing these challenges within the context provided by the presentations and panel discussion. They were then tasked with identifying practical, concrete steps forward for positive action towards more sustainable fisheries worldwide. The following summarises the ideas, themes and actions that resulted from these discussions.

Communicating fisheries issues A narrative was offered by participants who suggested that engagement with fisheries issues can be kept ‘fresh’ and progress augmented by engaging a wide-range of stakeholders in the importance of fisheries through better communicating the ‘human face’ of the sector (i.e. reconising that people’s well-being and lives are at stake). Painting a picture of global fisheries based on this ‘human face’ could further engage new and valuable players in fisheries discourse: investors, insurers and humanitarian agencies, for example. This would represent a marked shift from a discourse that has traditionally focused on ‘fish and conservation’. It was thought that this narrative may facilitate stronger engagement with governments on the transition to sustainable fisheries. This would address the criticism made by some that political engagement of appropriate scale or intensity has been lacking. By linking fisheries to political drivers such as human health, food security and livelihoods (economic activity of a range of scales), new opportunities may be created for high-level national and international support. Recommendation 1: Tying fisheries issues to the development agenda, especially SDG14, - by all stakeholders and across supply chains - and strongly communicating the ‘human face’ of oceans and fisheries issues should be considered as a method to gain political traction.

Social and labour issues The social dimension of fisheries was discussed by many groups, as delegates sought to offer solutions to human rights abuses at sea. One suggestion was for the need to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention & Recommendation, which was adopted by the International Labour Organisation in 2007 but is currently ratified by only 8 of a necessary 10 states worldwide. Additionally, it was suggested that the FAO should produce a Code of Conduct on social labour issues in fisheries or augment exiting fishing codes of conduct to include social dimensions. It was stated that the sector should look to existing beacons of best practice in labour generation and social conditions – such as the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (the only global standard that audits compliance on vessels alongside ethical and welfare criteria), or the Shrimp Supply Chain Taskforce in Thailand – and use these as templates for local, national and international projects wherever appropriate. Recommendation 2: Best practice case studies for the sourcing and use of labour under fair conditions, which benefit all parties and secure a long-term working future for employees, should be sought and highlighted. Lessons learnt from these case studies should be shared with the international marine, development and humanitarian communities, and implemented wherever possible as part of national and international projects tackling the issue of labour conditions in fisheries.

Recommendation 3: Countries concerned by issues of human rights abuses and poor labour conditions within the fisheries supply chain should seek to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention.

Recommendation 4: The FAO should work with the fisheries sector to develop a Code of Conduct for social labour conditions in fishing.

Data, monitoring and enforcement The use of new technology and better data, leading to better enforcement, played a key role in discussion around social labour conditions in fisheries. One suggestion made was that as far as possible, transshipment records, crew manifests, unique crew identifiers, recruitment agencies and other ‘data points’ should be fully digitised. This data could then be efficiently captured from fisheries worldwide and may help to build a picture of where legitimate versus illegal operations are taking place, providing important intelligence on the fisheries labour market, and helping to identify areas of inhumane or illegal practice.

Increased collection, sharing and effective analysis of data, particularly ‘big data’1, was considered to be a key requirement to achieve sustainable fisheries and ocean health. Standardising protocols was felt to be an important means of ensuring quality data, but the use of citizen science was also recognised as contributing to data needs and should be encouraged and supported. As such, given the high level of uncertainty associated with the ocean and the need to increase the volume of data to get a better sense of emerging trends, participants highlighted that data does need to be of a uniform standard to be used in decision-making. A centralised and transparent repository of data was suggest- The need for more data, from large and small-scale fisheries across the world, was emphasised from a number of perspectives across the meeting. ed as one potential forward move. In addition, Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) was seen as a transformational approach, which needs further support in terms of funding and uptake. One table discussed how the fisheries sector can encourage (disruptive) innovation of this kind and bring in new players, such as Google and other technology experts, in thinking about how to solve some of the big data challenges presented by global fisheries. Overall, there is a need to incentivise and legislate for greater data sharing and transparency. In particular the need for better legislation on traceability was highlighted and a move to a fully digitised system of monitoring and data collection was advocated. Other delegates raised issues of using and collating existing data on the ocean suggesting that there would be advantages to publicising as much existing marine data as possible and allowing shared use of this valuable resource. In the context of small-scale fisheries delegates felt there may be some issues with the sharing and compatibility of data on small, or artisanal, operations that are under national jurisdiction. It was suggested that a regionalised approach in small-scale fishery data collection may be most effective, allowing for appropriate regional decision-making. On the subject of data for spatial management and marine protected areas (MPAs), it was said that fully digitising data collection would support better ‘real-time’ decision making in fisheries and conservation, providing 1

extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to

human behaviour and interactions.

a clearer case for spatial management where appropriate – as vital recharging and recovery points for ocean health – and engaging industry in a more transparent system. The importance of locally appropriate and co-designed management systems, which fully take into account social development, was underlined. Again, it was felt that better data (and a collaborative approach) would be needed to support the development of such systems – or to act as a ‘proof point’ for the value of such management tools as MPAs.

Participants discussed themes in groups, with many underscoring the need for co-design of fishery management measures.

Recommendation 5: Non-legislative and legislative methods should be considered to incentivise greater digitisation, sharing and transparency in data production and collection, leading to a central repository for information on global ocean health and fisheries.

Recommendation 6: International data protocols should be generated for collection of data within large-scale fisheries. Appropriate data collection protocols should be developed locally or regionally for small-scale operations.

Recommendation 7: The production of fisheries data through citizen science should be encouraged. Either protocols should be developed in this area, or the sector should work to include this data alongside other material collected under scientific conditions. Any contribution to the local, national, or global picture when it comes to fisheries is important in identifying trends.

Recommendation 8: The sector should seek to work with as broad a range of partners as possible in developing, using and refining technologies for data collection. ‘Disruptive’ innovative advances should be sought through collaborations (e.g. Google).

Climate change The fisheries sector was encouraged to show leadership in the development of measures to combat climate change. A call was made for the ‘urgent’ development of a strategy within this sector to look at adaptation and mitigation in the face of this serious global threat. Many said the sector should seek to become a leader in the reduction of its carbon footprint, establish a research agenda around climate adaptation and also examine how existing tools will work and how effective they will be. The need for collaboration on this issue with developing countries was emphasised and there was a consensus amongst participants that such nations are not sufficiently represented in the fisheries/climate change discourse.

Many participants underscored the need and opportunity for the fisheries sector to become a leader in climate change mitigation and adaption.

It was suggested that there is a gulf between policy and climate science when it comes to fisheries. Noting that changing ocean temperatures will drive significant changes in plankton blooming, fish behaviour and migratory patterns, many delegates questioned whether current policy in Europe, and further afield, was able to take this new reality into account. It was stated that this would need addressing within the European Union as a matter or urgency. Delegates noted the significance and optimism of the ‘Because the Ocean’ event held immediately prior to the COP21 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (Paris, 2015) which called for an ocean-specific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to examine climate change as it relates to the marine environment. Recommendation 9: The fisheries sector needs to fully acknowledge and proactively engage with the global climate change discussions. An opportunity to show leadership in this area as an industry/sector should not be missed. To this end, research to support a sector-wide strategy examining opportunities for mitigation and adaptation should be commissioned.

Recommendation 10: Research should be urgently amplified, and where appropriate be commissioned, on the projected impacts of climate change on fish stocks (e.g. feeding, breeding, migrations), and implications this may have for fisheries policy and management, with a view to bridging the gap between climate science and fisheries assessments.

Pollution Plastic pollution in the marine environment was considered an important issue by a number of discussion groups. It was argued that greater collaboration is needed between the terrestrial environmental community and those working on the ocean. It was also seen to be an issue with significant political momentum that should be harnessed to raise the profile of concerns such as the impact of microplastics on the seafood supply chain and human health. This would help to contribute to a more human-centric discourse for fisheries in the political sphere. Recommendation 11: Where possible the fisheries sector should contribute towards land-based sustainability discussions that also have profound implications for the marine environment. Links between terrestrial sustainability and conservation issues, and their analogous or resulting marine counterparts need to be embedded in political consciousness at the highest level.

Governance IUU fishing was a serious concern for many of those present. Whilst it was uniformly agreed that the entry into force of the PSMA was cause for optimism, participants emphasised the need to move swiftly to implementation. It was felt that this conversation on implementation needed a global champion who could continue to generate sufficient political will to create meaningful change and encouraging more countries to ratify this agreement. It was suggested that this role could be undertaken by the European Union. The need for all significant market states to exert pressure in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide was widely noted. The EU and USA were considered to be leaders in tackling this challenge. It was suggested that underperforming nations could better contribute through active positive engagement with Regional Fishery Management Organisations (RFMOS) and with the PSMA. The link between IUU fishing and transparency was raised repeatedly. Significant improvements in transparency could drive a market solution to eradicating IUU produce from supply chains. In providing transparent labeling of produce to consumers, demand could increase for sustainable and ethical produce, demonstrating the benefits of legal activity and environmental stewardship to fishing businesses worldwide. Another concrete measure posited as a means to combat IUU activity was the ‘reinvigoration’ of existing legislation in the area – one example specifically mentioned was Case 21 of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. This sets out the obligations of ‘flag states’ as linked to IUU fishing. It was suggested that this legislation is under-respected by flag states, who have an obligation

to ensure they are not providing flags to illegal operations. One possible action would be to find a coastal state that has been adversely impacted by illegal fishing (under a flag state) and commence litigation against the flag state involved. If the litigation was successful the compensation awarded could be sufficiently large as to cause others to take notice. Concerns around high seas governance were also raised. It was agreed that, as with other fisheries, more data is urgently needed to effectively map and monitor high seas activity. One table suggested that ‘we need to find a way to connect’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) with the high seas, and therefore work on sustainable fishing in this area through national organisations, as well as international and regional bodies. Finally, it was agreed that there was ‘much to be done’ at a governance level to effectively finance the transition to sustainable fisheries. Delegates concurred that the ‘political opportunity’ afforded by SDG14 was one key tool with which to generate conversations at the governance level around fisheries finance. Recommendation 12: The international marine community should identify a champion nation, organisation or coalition to drive the effective implementation of Port State Measures Agreement. The selected ‘champion’ body should seek to convene dialogue around best practice implementation and capacity building needs, and work collaboratively with developing nations to ensure they have appropriate tools for combatting IUU fishing.

Recommendation 13: Existing legislation in the area of IUU fishing should be used as fully as possible to combat illegal operations, and where possible to assist in the implementation of the PSMA.

Recommendation 14: A transparent supply of information to consumers on the origins of seafood produce should be encouraged, and become a matter of course. Existing initiatives in this area should be built on driving consumer behaviour towards purchasing seafood from legitimate, well-monitored fishing activity.

Finance Consensus points that emerged from the discussion on finance included the need for ‘skilled interpretation’ between the world of fisheries and that of finance. One table elaborated that there is a ‘limited pool of actors’ who are able to effectively translate between these two groups and that

this skill set was a real necessity in the move to generate greater interest in, and amount of, fisheries finance. Several groups converged around the idea that investment in other marine and ‘green’ areas, or in land-based parts of the supply chain, could have significant impacts on fisheries sustainability. Greater understanding is required in this area, but it was suggested that ‘smart investments’ in logistics, processing, and transport could help shift the sector towards a lower carbon footprint, and in turn drive changes on the water. Wherever possible it was felt that fisheries finance conversations should be held at ‘relevant scale’ – at the regional, or individual market-specific level.

Participants worked collaboratively to generate concrete action points for the fisheries sector, and its counterparts.

Overall, it was felt the opportunities for generating investment in fisheries and the blue economy were significant and that there was great appetite within the finance community for opportunities of an environmental and social nature. However, identifying and pricing ‘risk’ within the sector was considered a barrier to investment, as were the data gaps noted throughout the meeting. These become ‘choke’ points for investors, stifling the flow of finance into the sector.

One table noted that the current fisheries finance conversation is simply ‘too broad’ for investors and that it needs to be refined in order to put readily available investable propositions on the table for would-be investors. The sector should prioritise opportunities for investment and focus on areas where there is already strong collaboration between industry and governance – seen as desirable by the finance community. Again underlining a new skill set to be found (or nurtured) within the sector, it was commented that the ‘deals to be done’ needed to be clearly and appealingly expressed to potential investors. Recommendation 15: There is a need to up-skill the fisheries sector – or attract new talent – with respect to finance. The opportunities for generating investment in fisheries of all sizes will be greater if the sector develops a fuller understanding of the requirements, appetites and concerns of investors and can offer skilled interlocutors in this area.

Recommendation 16: Given investor appetite, sustainable fisheries projects at national, sub-national or regional level should be put forward for financing through Blue Bonds, adding to the already growing Climate or Green Bond markets.

Recommendation 17: Improvements in governance (fisheries management, data collection and greater transparency) should be seen as crucial tools in helping to mitigate perceived risk in sustainable fisheries investments: making the sector more appealing to potential investors.

Collaboration and consensus building Throughout the meeting, the underlying importance of collaboration and developing joint goals within and across sectors was consistently reiterated. Collaboration was promoted by fishermen, scientists, and NGO representatives as a way to make use of the knowledge and business skills inherent within fishing communities, and in order to develop initiatives with real stakeholder buy-in. It was repeatedly noted that collaboration is the key to tackling global, cross-sectoral issues such as climate change and ocean acidification, with calls for environmentalists, fishing businesses, finance, development and humanitarian specialists to come together to seek joint solutions for fishing communities in the developing world. Collaboration between sectors was also seen to be an important ingredient in developing attractive proposals for the finance community as it indicates a low-risk investment. Recommendation 18: Those in the fisheries sector should seek to embed collaborative working and industry leadership, in a cross-sectoral manner, within projects and management processes.

e. Conclusions and high-level remarks The roundtable session was concluded with a summary of the key themes that had emerged from the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discussion with particular note of the action points. It was observed that the changing lens of fisheries sustainability had been a thread throughout the event. The meeting had drawn attention to the emerging human face of fisheries management and conservation amid a growing understanding of the links between fisheries and development, and increasing concern about social conditions in seafood supply chains. The challenges represented by this were underscored, and

it was emphasised that stakeholders will need to work closely together to address common issues and to find a common language. As a sector, fisheries need to acquire new ways to communicate with new partners and continue to be increasingly outward-looking and collaborative in approach. Finally, the importance of private sector investment to the future of the sustainable fisheries transition was underlined alongside the need for supply chain transparency and strong governance to increase investor appetite in the sector. Before HRH The Prince of Wales offered his remarks and closed the meeting, José María Figueres, former President of Costa Rica and Global Ocean Commissioner, offered an overview of the key is- HRH The Prince of Wales and President Figueres offered sues and ways forward. He called on participants their remarks on the discussions held across the day. to ‘take advantage of the window of opportunity that exists in the next few years to move from a path of decline to an agenda of recovery with respect to the ocean’s health’. He described his optimism at recent developments and measures such as the coming into force of the PSMA. He went on to underscore the importance of framing ocean issues in a narrative that could help ‘elevate’ them to the appropriate level within governance discussions and ‘put them in their proper context for the future’. He also celebrated the advances made in consumer demand for sustainable seafood pointing out that the global sustainable seafood market was worth 11.5 billion dollars in retails sales last year. However, President Figueres was quick to contrast this figure to the estimated global cost of IUU fishing, at ‘23.5 billion dollars’, and to the ‘30 billion dollars’ in subsidies paid annually to the ‘10 nations – no more than that in the whole world – to fish the high seas; often to the detriment of the over 100 nations with Exclusive He called on participants to Economic Zones’. He concluded: ‘this is not only an ‘take advantage of the window economic issue, it is an issue of equity’.

of opportunity that exists in the next few years to move from a path of decline to an agenda of recovery with

respect to the ocean’s health’

Concluding his remarks, President Figueres offered an optimistic vision for the future: ‘I believe we live in unprecedented times, where the desire for a healthy, equitable and sustainable ocean and planet, which we have held in our hearts, it no longer a dream. This relates to the progress you have all made

across fisheries and seafood communities which is commendable, and I feel should be a model for how we address other challenges facing the ocean’. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, in closing the meeting (for full speech please see Appendix see pg 29-31), offered participants the benefit of his long-term interest and interaction in the future of global fisheries and underscored the urgent need for them to be managed in a more sustainable manner. He left participants with a sense of achievement at the level of progress that had been made as well as a sense of encouragement at the potential for overcoming serious and complex challenges in the months and years ahead:

HRH The Prince of Wales encouraged meeting participants to continue working to overcome challenges and obstacles to the global transition to sustainable fisheries.

“…may I just express my fervent hope that what has been discussed here today is not an end but, rather, a reinvigoration of your efforts and a stimulus for further collaboration and action? And that the future challenges you have identified will be met with the same energy, innovation and determination that you all have most ably demonstrated in the past…”

4. Recommended Action Points Communicating fisheries issues Recommendation 1: Tying fisheries issues to the development agenda, especially SDG14, - by all stakeholders and across supply chains - and strongly communicating the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;human faceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of oceans and fisheries issues should be considered as a method to gain political traction.

Social and labour issues Recommendation 2: Best practice case studies for the sourcing and use of labour under fair conditions, which benefit all parties and secure a long-term working future for employees, should be sought and highlighted. Lessons learnt from these case studies should be shared with the international marine, development and humanitarian communities, and implemented wherever possible as part of national and international projects tackling the issue of labour conditions in fisheries. Recommendation 3: Countries concerned by issues of human rights abuses and poor labour conditions within the fisheries supply chain should seek to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention. Recommendation 4: The FAO should work with the fisheries sector to develop a Code of Conduct for social labour conditions in fishing.

Data, monitoring and enforcement Recommendation 5: Non-legislative and legislative methods should be considered to incentivise greater digitisation, sharing and transparency in data production and collection, leading to a central repository for information on global ocean health and fisheries. Recommendation 6: International data protocols should be generated for collection of data within large-scale fisheries. Appropriate data collection protocols should be developed locally or regionally for small-scale operations. Recommendation 7: The production of fisheries data through citizen science should be encouraged. Either protocols should be developed in this area, or the sector should work to include this data alongside other material collected under scientific conditions. Any contribution to the local, national, or global picture when it comes to fisheries is important in identifying trends.

Climate change Recommendation 9: The fisheries sector needs to fully acknowledge and proactively engage with the global climate change discussions. An opportunity to show leadership in this area as an industry/sector should not be missed. To this end, research to support a sector-wide strategy examining opportunities for mitigation and adaptation should be commissioned. Recommendation 10: Research should be urgently amplified, and where appropriate be commissioned, on the projected impacts of climate change on fish stocks (e.g. feeding, breeding, migrations), and implications this may have for fisheries policy and management, with a view to bridging the gap between climate science and fisheries assessments.

Pollution Recommendation 11: Where possible the fisheries sector should contribute towards land-based sustainability discussions that also have profound implications for the marine environment. Links between terrestrial sustainability and conservation issues, and their analogous or resulting marine counterparts need to be embedded in political consciousness at the highest level.

Governance Recommendation 12: The international marine community should identify a champion nation, organisation or coalition to drive the effective implementation of Port State Measures Agreement. The selected ‘champion’ body should seek to convene dialogue around best practice implementation and capacity building needs, and work collaboratively with developing nations to ensure they have appropriate tools for combatting IUU fishing. Recommendation 13: Existing legislation in the area of IUU fishing should be used as fully as possible to combat illegal operations, and where possible to assist in the implementation of the PSMA.

Finance Recommendation 15: There is a need to up-skill the fisheries sector â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or attract new talent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with respect to finance. The opportunities for generating investment in fisheries of all sizes will be greater if the sector develops a fuller understanding of the requirements, appetites and concerns of investors and can offer skilled interlocutors in this area. Recommendation 16: Given investor appetite, sustainable fisheries projects at national, sub-national or regional level should be put forward for financing through Blue Bonds, adding to the already growing Climate or Green Bond markets. Recommendation 17: Improvements in governance (fisheries management, data collection and greater transparency) should be seen as crucial tools in helping to mitigate perceived risk in sustainable fisheries investments: making the sector more appealing to potential investors.

Collaboration and consensus building Recommendation 18: Those in the fisheries sector should seek to embed collaborative working and industry leadership, in a cross-sectoral manner, within projects and management processes.

Appendix The Prince of Wales’ speech to the global transition to sustainable fisheries “Taking Stock” conference 16th June 2016 Ladies and Gentlemen, I did particularly want to thank you all so much for having found the time in your incredibly busy schedules to participate in this two day meeting. It really is very kind of you to be prepared to do that. I also want to say how particularly grateful I am to Justin Mundy, and all my ISU team for the incredible amount of work they put into all these gatherings. I know how difficult it is, when acting in a neutral, convening way, to achieve at the end of the day the kind of consensus that’s required on so many of these very difficult issues. I am, of course, especially grateful to President Figueres, not only for taking the time to join us, but also for such kind words and really astute analysis of the challenges facing our global oceans. Likewise, I am most grateful to John Goodlad for sharing the outcomes of the discussions that have taken place so far. In this regard, Ladies and Gentlemen, I need hardly say how much I appreciate all your efforts, collectively, as well as individually, towards the evident progress that has been made since my I.S.U.’s Marine Programme was launched here at Fishmonger’s Hall nearly five years ago now. It does seem - in some ways - that there are grounds for considerable optimism, although clearly there also still remains much to be done – not least the increasingly urgent situation around the health of the oceans where acidification and plastic pollution are two examples of the challenges that will have ever more serious impacts on the seafood community. But they are not being given enough attention, along with the issue of perverse subsidy regimes. One such marker of success, however, is that of The Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted last year and the fact that they include an agreement to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans… for sustainable development.” Then there is the ratification of the Port State Measures Agreement. I know many of you in the room have worked long and hard to reach this historic agreement, which will, I very much hope, lead to a greater and more significant curtailing of illegal fishing. These, amongst others, are most certainly not insignificant milestones to reach... What I believe to be most important, however, is the level of practical progress that has been made. That is why it is so heartening to hear about fish stocks around the world that are showing real signs of recovery, in the process proving that we are indeed capable of turning the tide of historic

decline. One example that I feel illustrates the art of the possible if we really set our minds to it, is that of the iconic Grand Banks cod. Whilst it may still be a bit premature, the fact that this once tragically decimated fishery is showing signs of recovery, to my mind, is truly encouraging. I am a firm believer that the more we are able to share evidence of actual positive change, then the more likely it will be that others will adopt and spread good practice. This, and many other examples illustrate how even seriously overexploited fish stocks can recover and, if managed sustainably, provide more food, enhance job security and improve the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems. In laying the foundations for continued progress, however, it seems to me that, at the same time as celebrating success, we need to embrace the self-evident reality of a world that is subject to rapid and in some cases volatile change where, despite our best predictions, risks and uncertainties abound. We face an unprecedented set of interconnected challenges â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a global rise in population growth, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard from John Goodlad, and in consumption; rapid urbanization; climate change; natural capital depletion and social, economic and energy insecurity. All of which are already having major implications for ocean health and the future of our global sustainable fishing industry and have all the symptoms of a perfect storm. For this reason, it is vital to grasp the opportunity to be proactive, rather than merely reactive. It is only too evident that ocean health is declining rapidly, whether due to warming temperatures, acidifying and more polluted waters or habitat destruction. Given what we know about the implications of these issues for fisheries, as has been reflected in your discussions today, it seems to me utterly essential that fisheries managers, scientists and policy-makers around the world work even more closely together to understand and plan for the future. Equally, of course, it is important to remember that sustainability is not only linked with fish stocks but also with the conditions experienced by people working in the fishing industry and aboard fishing boats. You will all, ladies and gentlemen, have been as shocked as I have been to learn of the human rights and labour abuses suffered by many workers in the fishing industry. It seems to me that while workforces are being mistreated, complete sustainability will still have evaded the industry. So shining a light into these dark corners of the fishing industry could not be more important. Now I know that significant questions remain around how best to secure the ever-dwindling financial resources required to quicken the pace to reach this goal, so I was very pleased to hear a

mention of your continued commitment to this challenge. My I.S.U. has devoted considerable effort towards facilitating what might be called ‘blue’ financing and is now working to advance and define the ‘blue economy’ agenda. It remains committed to making further progress in this area, so as to ensure that sustainable fishing, within a healthy and resilient ecosystem, can be increasingly recognized as a good, long-term investment proposition and a critical part of a sustainable blue economy. Now I know, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the next 18 months see much activity for the oceans with Secretary Kerry’s “Our Ocean” meeting, C.O.P.22 in Marrakesh, The Economist’s World Ocean Summit and the High-Level U.N. Conference to Support the Implementation of S.D.G. 14 – that’s just to name but a few! So I can only urge you, if I may, to use these moments, and indeed the myriad of other opportunities, to address, comprehensively, and in partnership, the challenges and solutions that you have identified. With that thought in mind, may I just express my fervent hope that what has been discussed here today is not an end but, rather, a reinvigoration of your efforts and a stimulus for further collaboration and action? And that the future challenges you have identified will be met with the same energy, innovation and determination that you all have most ably demonstrated in the past – to the point where my grandchildren and yours might become used to using the phrase ‘there are plenty more fish in the sea’ as more than a common figure of speech...? Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

The Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charities International Sustainability Unit

Clarence House, London, SW1A 1BA T: +44(0) 20 7024 5724 E: lucy.holmes@royal.gsx.gov.uk www.pcfisu.org

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