Fisheries and Aquaculture Emergency Response Guidance

By

David Brown & Benjamin Cattermoul

and Florance Poulain

Preface

People who depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods face both an increasing number and intensity of natural disasters. Most small-scale fishers and fish workers live in developing countries, and often face a range of diverse problems that increase their vulnerability to hazards including food insecurity, poverty, pollution, environmental degradation, and overexploitation of resources, high levels of accidents at sea and conflicts with industrial fishing operation. The specific characteristics of fishing and fish farming operations (such as location and exposure) also increase vulnerability to hazards.

     Assistance to countries and partners in responding to disasters is becoming a greater part of the work of international agencies, including FAO. To date there have been no systematic guidelines available to support those responding to an emergency involving the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This document aims to fill that gap and to improve the effectiveness of such interventions. These guidelines were developed following a meeting of experts in 2013 (FAO, 2013). They draw on best practice and lessons learned during response to disasters that have affected fisheries and aquaculture sector. The sections (which are laid out to support the main elements of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF)) include general good practice and technical areas such as; Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Management; Capture Fisheries Gear, Vessels and Engines; Landing Sites, Harbours and Anchorages; Aquaculture and Post-harvest, Trade and Markets.

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Fisheries and Aquaculture and Emergency

Chapter 3: Emergency Response in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Chapter 4: Common Best Practice

Chapter 5: Best Practice in Emergency Response in Fisheries and Aquaculture