Coastal Fisheries Policy and Planning Course, 28/01/08 – 8/02/08, Apia, Samoa
Formulating a fisheries policy:
How can the workshop help?
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Contents
Not in Workshop
1. Clarification: Policies vs. plans
2. How to develop a fisheries policy
Not in Workshop
3. Fisheries policy: Structure, contents,
In Workshop
examples
4. Examples of policy
Some in Workshop
1
Clarification:
Policies vs. plans
What is Policy?
• A set of objectives (≥1) and (perhaps) means to reach
them
• A policy must include objectives (at least one)
• A policy often includes means
• Examples:
– Policy 1: Maximize well-being by relying on the market
system
– Policy 2: Maximize flow of net benefits from resources
with the help of community management.
– Policy 3: Maintain ecosystems
Policies (cont.)
• Policies sometimes present a hierarchial list of
objectives
• Examples
– Maximize the flow of net benefits from marine
resources
• Strengthen CFM in coastal areas
– Ensure democratic decision making in communities
– Provide training to communities
• Introduce ITQs in offshore area
What is plan?
• A plan is a set of means (ways/steps/actions) to
achieve an objective.
– Really a blueprint
– Rather like a recipe
• A plan always derives from a policy(-ies)
• It always includes means
• It sometimes includes (re-states) objectives
Plans (cont.)
• Plans exist on many levels
– Broad plans (overall plan)
– Detailed plans (sub-plans)
– There are usually several levels of subplans
• Plans (if written) tend to be much larger
documents than policies
Overlap
• There tends to be
an overlap
between policies
and plans
Policy
• This, no doubt, is a
source of
confusion
Plan
Overlap
Overlap (cont.)
– Means mentioned in policies are really (very
simple) plans
• Example: Strengthen CBFM in coastal areas by
providing training to community members
– Plans often restate objectives
– Sub-plans are usually stated with an objective (a
sub-objective derived from the overall plan)
• Example: Reach a certain level of ecosystem awareness
in a fishing community; (i) Set up an ecosystem course
(ii) provide literature, (iii) offer access to experts.
2
How to develop policies
• Many different ways
• Always based on knowledge and understanding
of the situation
– What is the opportunity/problem/situation?
– What is the proper action?
• Sources of policies: Examples
– Perceived need (i.e. obvious)
– Brainstorm sessions
– SWOT (Strength-Weakenss-Opportunity-Threat) analysis
– Comparison with others (imitation)
– Expert views
3
Fisheries policies:
Structure and contents
A policy document
Generally contains:
Usually
0. Preamble
Always
1. The policy statement
– Objective(s)
– Means
Often
2. Rationale (amplification/clarification)
0. The preamble
1. How this policy
relates/contributes to other
national/regional/local policies.
2. How this policy conforms or is
compatible with international
obligations
3. How this policy is or is not
supported or is compatible with
basic law
Workshop:
Sections 1, 5
Pio, Peter,
Vina
1. The policy statement
• The objectives
– Example: Maximize the sustainable
flow of net benefits from marine
resources in coastal waters
• Means
– Example: By introducing property
rights in the fisheries
– Example: By strengthening CBFM
Workshop:
Sections 2,3,6,7
Ragnar, Vina,
Mike,
2. Rationale (amplification)
• Why the policy is a good idea
– Description of
situation/problem/opportunity
– How the proposed policy deals with
this reality
– How the means (ways) will work and
why they are preferable to others
– What are the expected benefits and
what are the risks
Workshop:
Sections 2,3,6,7
Ragnar, Vina,
Mike,
A policy document does (and should) not be
long
Perhaps 1-7 pages – the shorter (basically)
the better (provided clarity is retained)
0.
1.
2.
Preamble: 0.2-1 page
Policy statement: 0.2-1 page
Rationale 0.5-5 pages
Example
Vina’s Manihiki pearl “fishery”
A policy outline
0. Preamble
– The following policy is in accordance with national
and regional policies of marine utilization.
– It is in accordance with international views and
obligations of the Cook islands
– It is in accordance with the basic spirit of the law
but requires some legal modifications
Policy outline (cont.)
1. Policy statement
–
Objective: Maximize the present value of the flow of net
economic benefits from Manihikis’s pearl industry to the
Manihiki population on ecologically sound and sustainable
basis
–
Means:
(1) Maintain the current system of TURFs,
(2) Introduce a system of oyster IQs transferable within the
community
(3) Set up a system for TAQ-setting
(4) Strengthen the MCS and FJS parts of the FMR
Policy outline (cont.)
• Rationale (amplification)
– The pearl industry has run into serious problems
of overstocking, disease, low growth and quality.
– This is primarily caused by the common property
in ocean water (fresh seawater).
– This can be cured by ITQs in quantity of oysters.
– Total Allowable Quantity will be set by the
community management unit (MIC) supported by
expert biological and economic advice
Rationale (cont.)
• TURFs retained because space is also a potential
limiting resource
• ITQs allocated to Community members (ca. 100-130
families) 50% on the basis of historical
participation/investment), 50% equally.
• ITQs transferable within the community. This allows
beneficial reallocation of the activity while retaining
all benefits within the community.
• In due course wider transferability may be allowed
by the community
• MCS & FJS strengthened for obvious reasons
END
Fisheries policy and planning
• Policies and plans in the field of fisheries
• Examples
– Policy: Rebuild whale stocks
– Plan: Stop whaling
Ban whaling
Convince nations to adhere to the ban
by imposing sanctions
by paying them