The workshop adopted specific recommendations on how to continue the monitoring of the economic viability of marine capture fisheries and how to promote the use of sustainable fishing practices. The workshop recommendations also identify the role that FAO, national governments, fisheries research institutes, fishers and fishing industry associations and others should play. The recommendations of the working groups as adopted in plenary are shown in Appendix IV.
It was recommended that future monitoring of the economic viability and sustainability of marine capture fisheries, should validate, update and supplement information presented and discussed at the workshop. Economic performance of marine capture fisheries should also be monitored to encourage sustainable use of fisheries resources and the introduction of responsible fisheries. It was suggested that while the coverage of countries and fisheries should be expanded, the institutions, organizations and individuals involved in the study on the techno-economic viability of fishing practices should form the core of the future monitoring mechanism. Regarding the purpose of monitoring, choice of indicators, data sources, mechanisms and coverage, the following was suggested.
The purpose of the future monitoring of economic viability and sustainability of marine capture fisheries should be to provide: investment information for bankers, investors and entrepreneurs; information for fishers, entrepreneurs and their associations for comparison of economic performance; information for government for design and implementation of fisheries and environmental/coastal area management policies, regulations and measures and of provision of information for scientific research.
The indicators to be monitored, as identified by the workshop participants, relate to the level of exploitation of fisheries resources exploited by particular craft gear combinations in terms of development of total catch per unit of effort (CPUE), and catch composition. They further include such economic and financial indicators as cost of investment, earnings, direct costs of operations, administration costs/overheads, depreciation, interest/opportunity cost of capital, various gross margins, net surplus before tax, taxes, net surplus minus tax, sharing systems and earnings per crew member. The ratios to be monitored include the rate of return on investment, the rate of profit to earnings and the rate of net surplus + taxes + wages to investment.
A suggestion was made to carry out special case studies on the impact of natural phenomena such as typhoons and El Niño on the economic performance of fisheries sector and on fish marketing and processing.
Suggestions were made for the following:
Data sources: monitoring should include fishing companies/accountants, fisher associations, landing sites/harbours, fishermen settlements; in all countries, small-scale fishing fleets.
Methodologies: interviews should be conducted every four months for specifically selected, stratified sample of operators, buyers, suppliers, financiers, companies, accountants.
Participating institutions and organizations: should be the same as in the present study plus independent academic and research institutions and fisheries associations and fishery industry associations.
Funding: participating institutions and organizations should be funded with contributions from fishing enterprises, fishermen's associations and with support from FAO under TCDC, TCP and FAO Regular Programme. Further funding should be explored from private sector and donors.
