Water Resource Plan, Essay Example

Concerns about the sustainability of fishing practices are nothing new, nor are regulations regarding the overharvesting of certain species.  In 1932 the Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was signed by 22 nations in response to concerns about the rapid decline in whale populations. The Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 was the first comprehensive regulation in the US regarding fishery management.  This act was heavily amended by the Sustainable fisheries act of 1996. A number of international laws and regulations have also been adopted including the 1992 ban on drift-net fishing by the United Nations.  Notwithstanding these regulations, non-sustainable fishing practices continue to exist.

Problem Description

Fishing regulations have traditionally been targeted at maintaining sustainable fishing practices within certain species. These laws sought to prevent the over-harvesting of specific fish populations to the point of becoming endangered.  Another consideration has been the issue of “bycatch.”  Bycatch is the unintentional capture of a certain species while fishing for another (e.g. dolphins caught in tuna nets).  These issues have been easy to identify and understand.

In recent years, biologists have come to understand additional problems with over-fishing that were not so easy to see in the past.  Scientists are currently studying the possible effect that calcium carbonate deposits from fish waste could have on the ph of ocean water (Brahick, 2009).  Over-fishing reduces oceanic biomass and some scientists say that this reduction could have implications relating to ocean water acidity which affects global temperatures.

In a video interview, Jeremy Jackson of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography suggests that we should be thinking about endangered ecosystems rather than just endangered species.  (Jackson , 2010).  Jackson contends that the effects of over-fishing and pollution have precipitated serious threats to not only certain species, but to the entire oceanic ecosystem.

Management and Sustainment Plan

The ultimate goal of this plan is to address the single greatest threat to the problem of declining fish stock (biomass) and develop a comprehensive process for reducing that threat.

Many experts agree that the most significant problem regarding sustainability in the fishing industry is the practice of drift-net fishing.  This practice involves the use of extremely long floating nets (up to 30 miles long) that are set adrift to ensnare fish.  Drift-nets have been dubbed “curtains of death.”  This method of indiscriminate fishing yields high volumes of bycatch which is separated from the targeted fish and destroyed.  Notwithstanding a UN resolution against the practice, it is still a problem in several countries including Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.

Challenges to Overcome

The most significant driver of this practice is cost and competition.  A fairly small fishing vessel with limited technology and equipment can yield tremendous hauls using this method.  If the practice of drift-net fishing were to completely stop tomorrow, some fishing fleets could no longer sustain their livelihood. This could have a negative economic and employment impact on some coastal regions.

Conversely, if the practice of drift-net fishing continues without intervention, the oceanic ecosystem could be harmed and some species of fish endangered.  The paradox here is that the long-term damage caused by indiscriminant fishing methods will eventually affect the fishing industry anyway.  The real challenge is to manage short-term fishing methods in order to create long-term sustainability.

Sustainability Plan

In that the problem is multi-national, the solution must also be global in nature.  The UN has made efforts to ban drift-net fishing, but these rules have been difficult to enforce.  Since economics are at the heart of this problem (in terms of violators) one might look to the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to Wallach and Woodall (2010), the WTO has a rule stating that “products cannot be treated differently according to how they were produced or harvested.”  This means that exports of fish caught with drift-nets “must be given the same trade treatment as products made under more humane and ethical conditions.”

Action Items

The proposed sustainability plan has two primary targets.

1. Modify WTO rules regarding the international trade of fish harvested in a manner detrimental to the environment.
2. Help fishing fleets using drift-nets develop improved technology and efficiency within the parameters of safe, legal fishing methods.

Action steps and Timeline

Months 1-6 – Conduct an action research project using the following problem statement:  “The problem is that some fishing fleets in Japan, Taiwan and Korea lack the technology and efficiency strategies to competitively harvest fish using legal and sustainable methods.”

The resulting report should contain an extensive literature review and should result in quantitative data concerning the problem.  Based on the literature review, recommendations for improving technologies and efficiencies should be determined.  The study should also include suggestions for funding the implementation of the recommendations.

During this time, a coalition of political and industry leaders should be formed to begin preparing a strategy for influencing change to the current WTO rules.  This coalition should concurrently draft new fishing regulations and a tariff system to be implemented when the rules are changed.

Months 7 – 12 – Develop an implementation plan based on the action research project recommendations. This will involve the logistical matters of identifying the targeted fishing fleets and determining how to roll out the new technologies and efficiencies.  Part of this roll-out strategy will involve educating the fishermen and getting a “buy-in” for using new fishing methods.  Even with new efficiencies, many of these fleets will not be able to sustain their current haul-volume and must be made to understand that the future of their children is at stake.

Begin identifying sources for the financial resources that will be needed to implement the solution strategy.

Begin building consensus regarding the importance of rule changes within the WTO.  Part of the consideration for setting trade rules must include not only high tariffs for products harvested illegally, but should also include some kind of “premiums” or rewards to help sustain the fishing fleets that abide by the new rules.

Months 13 – 24 – Begin the process of implementation starting with one of the three countries.  Once the solution strategy begins working and precipitates positive results, it will be easier to implement on the other countries.  Trying to focus on all three countries at once could negatively affect the strength of that focus.  A definitive timeline should be set for implementation within each country.

Actively launch an aggressive campaign within the WTO to change the rules.  Launching this campaign at the same time as the technology and efficiency solution is being launched should have the effect of strengthening the case for a rule change.  Attacking this issue on two fronts should be effective.

Months 25 – 36 – Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.  Determine if the new technologies and efficiencies are being embraced by fishing fleets.  Are the new methods working?  Have incidents of drift-net fishing decreased?  Are the new WTO rules being enforced?  What has been the economic impact of the interventions?  Are the interventions sustainable as implemented or do subsequent changes need to be made?  Once these questions have been answered, future courses of action can be determined.

References

Brahick, C. (2009). Fish an ally against climate change. Retrieved from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16432-fish-an-ally-against-climate-change.html

Jackson , J. (2010, May 20). Oceans on the precipice [Video file].  Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/1578520

Wallach, L., & Woodall, P. (2010). A comprehensive guide to the WTO. Retrieved from http://www.citizen.org/trade/article_redirect.cfm?ID=10448