We propose creating an international body under the UN- possibly affiliated with the FAO (but which could also be autonomous) that would regulate/manage/enforce the following treaty that is designed to meet our goals. This treaty only includes the requests of Team 2 and our team, so please post/email what regulations you would like included (i.e. does Team 3 want something on pollution or environmental considerations?):
1. How do we enforce international fishing regulations, including what technology could be used and where technology could be used?
a. We need to achieve near full compliance from most countries and create incentives to deter flag hopping.
i. China, US, EU, Japan, Russia, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and other countries with large fishing demand*
ii. Offer economic incentives from our regulatory body: trade restrictions on fish/fishing technology placed upon non-compliant countries; similar or more stringent rules apply to countries who sign but flag hop
b. How do we achieve near-full compliance?
i. Treaty/mandate/charter
1. Countries are responsible for all ships that are registered under their flag
2. Cannot register with a noncompliant country
3. Limit what technology can be used where
a. Info from Team 2
4. Fishing quotas for international waters/polar regions
a. Info from other teams on quota success
5. Each countries regulates compliance of ships under its flag by use of
a. Tracking devices
b. Regulatory officers
6. Each country responsible for regulating/measuring/tracking the biodiversity and biomass within coastal regions
7. Funds from dues to research biodiversity/biomass in international and the polar regions
a. How do we track this? Team 10
ii. Financial officers provided to each signatory by the regulatory body to help them balance the demands of the treaty without damaging the economy
1. Committee of experts that deals with case by case
c. Create a body: International Regulatory Commission for Sustainable Fishing (IRCSF)
i. Either autonomous, like NATO
ii. Or a part of the UN, like WHO or UNICEF (suggested)
1. Maybe under or affiliated with the FAO
Establishing a law that requires all fishing vessels to have a GPS tracking device on board will make the regulation of fishermen and fishing companies much simpler and more effective. It will allow regulating bodies to know which fleets are in the water and whether or not they are within legal boundaries. For fishermen, it is an simple way to determine which closed areas are in effect. For all fishing vessels currently in operation, the cost of the tracking devices can be subsidized.
Establishing a fish tax will put the cost of depleting fisheries on the consumer. Similar to gasoline tax and cigarette taxes, a fish tax will increase the cost of any fish products sold on the market. Currently there is a very high demand for fish, and if we are to keep a sustainable global fish population, we cannot catch the number of fish needed to meet this demand. An increase in fish prices will not only discourage consumers from buying more fish, thus lowering the demand, but it will make them aware of the crisis in our oceans today.
Issues: poor people now cannot afford fish (but in America there are substitutes)
Other ideas:
*Subsidizing fishing is NOT a solution.
*Fish tax vs. tariffs?
*what if countries aren't allowed to fish in each others waters at all? (make distant water fleets illegal) then the only way to get fish would be through imports and exports, which is easier to regulate than flaghopping
*set international standards for nitrates/phosphates (<-- algae)
Let's start expanding the outline by adding questions and topics that need to be addressed under each section of the outline. If you make changes please sign them with your name and date. Substantial restructing of the outline is probably best left in the hands of the executive committee. Possibly we could also use this page to keep track of work assignments, but I would like to discuss that in class first. The page will look better if it is edited in Wiki Markup language. It's not hard to do. If you would like to alter, object, or otherwise comment on any of these suggestions, please contact me.
Todd Mooring 10/28
Solution Document Outline
Here is an outline/template for our solution.
Using the Outline
We could create the solution by listing and then answering relevant questions under each of these headings. The topics are listed in what I think would be a rational order for a presentation or paper. The outline could also be a site map for the Web site we will create. Please feel free to send comments to me and/or post them on the wiki.
-Todd Mooring
Solution Document Outline
Introduction
Survey of global fisheries and their significance
Threats to fisheries
Fishing activities
Pollution
Climate
Implications for Humans
Food security
Economic impact
Goals and Justification
What we want and why
Non-biological considerations when formulating solution
Economic/social/political issues
Regional/fishery management solutions---How goals are to be achieved
The global problem is a collection of local problems
Regional solutions
Discuss fishery problems and solutions in various regions of the world
Solutions by fishery type---solution templates
Discuss problems and solutions in various kinds of fisheries---large commercial, subsistence, etc.
Global and technical aspects of solution
Climate
International waters
Change global fish demand
Aquaculture
Specific recommendations/issues not addressed elsewhere
Need for additional fisheries research
Conclusion