PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This is the report of the KMI/APRACA/FAO Regional Workshop on the Effects of Globalization and Deregulation on Marine Capture Fisheries in Asia and the Pacific. The workshop was held in Pusan, Republic of Korea, from 11 to 15 October 1999 and hosted by the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI). It was organized in close cooperation with the Korea Maritime Institute and the Asia and Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA).

The report comprises a record of the proceedings and recommendations of the workshop. The appendixes to the report include the programme of the workshop, the list of participants, the recommendations and follow-up proposals as well as selected papers as presented by their authors at the workshop.

The report was prepared by Dr. Uwe Tietze, Fishery Industry Officer, Fishery Industries Division, FAO Rome, and Mr. Bishnu P. Shrestha, Managing Director, APRACA Consultancy Services.

Distribution:

FAO Fisheries Department
FAO Fisheries Field Projects
FAO Regional Fisheries Officers
Directors of Fisheries
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands

Tietze, U.; Shrestha, B.P. Report of the KMI/APRACA/FAO Regional Workshop on the Effects of Globalization and Deregulation on Marine Capture Fisheries in Asia and the Pacific. Pusan, Republic of Korea, 11-15 October 1999. FAO Fisheries Report. No. 624. Rome, FAO. 2000. 129p. ABSTRACT The Regional Workshop on the Effects of Globalization and Deregulation on Marine Capture Fisheries in Asia and the Pacific was hosted by the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and organized by the Fishery Industries Division of FAO in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA). It was attended by experts in fisheries economics, administration, trade and finance from Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and regional organizations: APRACA and INFOFISH The findings and recommendations of the Workshop suggest that many countries in Asia and the Pacific benefited and expect to continue to benefit from globalization and deregulation. These benefits include improved quality and better access of their fishery products to markets in other countries within and outside of Asia and the Pacific, increased export earnings, better exchange of technology, increased productivity and efficiency and better supply of fishery products for local populations through liberalization of imports of fishery products. Experience also suggests that above benefits can only be realized, if Governments introduce appropriate policies and measures to properly manage, conserve and rehabilitate fisheries resources and coastal environment. Otherwise, globalization might encourage the overexploitation of natural resources, cause damage to the coastal environment and lead to social conflicts. In this context, the practical adoption of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries at the national level was considered to be of utmost importance and particularly the enhancement of the awareness of the Code through translation and distribution and through preparation and dissemination of technical guidelines. FAO was also requested to assist in the preparation and dissemination of case studies on the implementation of the Code at the national level. Negative effects of globalization and deregulation identified in the Workshop included increased competition for the small-scale domestic fisheries sector mainly through import of low priced fish products. It was felt that special measures are needed to protect and strengthen this sector. These included technical assistance, training and investment support as well as possibly fiscal measures and economic incentives. With a view to enable domestic fisheries industries in Asia and the Pacific, particularly in Small Island Developing States, to successfully compete in the global market, national Governments, FAO, APRACA and INFOFISH were requested to provide special support to fishery industries. This support should focus on the facilitation of technology transfer, information exchange, training, research and development, on investment and credit support and on introduction of conducive fiscal and regulatory policies and measures.