FAO: Fisheries experts agree on first global guidelines on reducing fishing discards

The first global guidelines for bycatch and management and reduction of fishing discards have been released by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). They now go to the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) for endorsement when it meets in Rome at the end of the month. The guidelines were agreed by fisheries experts from 35 countries who met at FAO in December.
“These are the first guidelines to cover all species encountering fishing gear,” said FAO fishing technology expert Frank Chopin. “The guidelines extend the principles of fishery management to all species and all areas of concern. Although the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries refers to bycatch and discards, these guidelines elaborate more clearly how countries should address bycatch and discard problems in practice”.

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