PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This preliminary study has three main purposes:

• to demonstrate the wide variation in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) costs, reflecting the diversity of fishery governance regimes;
• to provide a basic classification of cost items to focus the fishery manager’s attention on the costs associated with MCS and the need for cost-effectiveness; and
• to focus attention on the problems posed by measurement of costs and benefits of MCS and efforts to determine a satisfactory level of MCS.

The information presented in this report is drawn from a number of sources, in particular: project proposals, national fisheries budgets, evaluations of MCS activity. The infinite range of MCS solutions reflects the specific challenges posed by each fishery and the particular legislative and administrative framework of each country. Because of the vast range of MCS systems, the costs presented are illustrative and cannot readily be compared between countries and over time. Often the costs of MCS are not clearly identified within the budgets of the fisheries authorities and the paper suggests approaches to calculating, or extracting such cost information. For comparative purposes information is also presented on MCS activities and their costs in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries as the costs of capital equipment and technology is relatively similar and some of the experiences are applicable to developing countries.

Examples of capital and recurrent costs and cost structures are provided. Alternative financing of MCS is briefly described. Because fisheries administrators need to justify MCS expenditures, the difficult question of evaluating the benefits of MCS is also addressed.

Because of lack of information the costs associated with the legal dimensions of MCS and MCS applications under co-management regimes and marine parks are not provided. Costs associated with monitoring health, hygiene, and traceability of fish products are not discussed.

This work was undertaken in the framework of the Regular Programme activity 234P3 - Economic and Social Analysis of Fishery and Aquaculture Policy and Management.

Kelleher, K. The costs of monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries in developing countries. FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 976. Rome, FAO. 2002. 47p. ABSTRACT This report is a preliminary effort to establish the nature and range of costs of monitoring, control and surveillance in developing countries. Definitions of MCS and key terms used are provided and the methodology used in the study is stated. Several of the major factors determining the structure of MCS systems are characterized and the principal capital and recurrent costs identified and quantified, using examples from a range of countries. The problem of estimating the benefits arising from MCS is addressed and approaches to determining and financing an adequate set of MCS activities presented.