Privatization of marine resources will hurt global food security
For as long as we can remember coastal communities globally have harvested from the ocean. The wild fish stocks of the world are common resources, thus, it is important that the resources contribute to local welfare.
Community-based management, with non-transferable, community-owned exclusive access right would boost the stewardship of fishing communities. The mechanism needed is therefore the effective empowerment of small-scale fishers organizations. Moreover, successful connection between the communities/organization and national/transnational management bodies should be favored so that the managers take decisions informed and
guided by the needs and interests of resource users, to establish an effective bottom-up management.
Currently a privatization of marine resources through so-called right-based fisheries, through e.g. individual transferable quotas (ITQs) is taking place. We fear this leads to financial speculation in marine resources, and ocean grabbing, where the ownership to resources is concentrated to both national and foreign capital. Local communities and fishers are thereby excluded from the right to fish, and loose a direct access to food and money.
The local resources should instead contribute to local community welfare. Fishing rights should only be allocated for a limited amount of time and the community should take part in the allocation. Also the owner of the boats and the fishing rights must physically take part in the fishery, to prevent financial speculation. To stimulate local value-addition fish should be
landed and processed locally.
To further gain value addition locally and nationally there needs to be established regional markets, and prevent a raise in prices through bilateral free trade agreements. Also the social consequences for fisheries communities should be assessed before trade agreements are put into action.
Most importantly food security and good sustainable fishing practices will be achieved only by empowering local communities promoting stewardship and knowledge, and taking the entire value-chain in to consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Harald Sakarias Brøvig Hansen
President of Spire
[email protected]
Harald Sakarias Brøvig Hansen