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p. 17 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Introduction II. The Context: Fisheries in the Asian and Pacific Region III. The Bank's Experience in the Fisheries Sector IV. The Issues: Challenges and Opportunities V. The Recommended Strategy for the Bank A. Basic Principles of Bank Operations in Fisheries B. ADB’s Policy in the Fisheries Sector C. Operational Implications of Bank Policy D. Recommendation

Policy on Fisheries : V. The Recommended Strategy for the Bank

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A. Basic Principles of Bank Operations in Fisheries

Fisheries play a major role in the DMCs as a source of food, employment, and export earnings, and fisheries and aquatic resources are expected to play a greater role in the food security equation in the future. The case for continuing Bank assistance to the sector is strong and is consistent with the Bank's mandate to foster sustainable economic growth and regional cooperation and to contribute to accelerating the process of social and economic development. The Bank's interventions in the sector are also consistent with its Medium-term Strategic Objectives, as the sector, particularly artisanal fisheries, provides great opportunity for addressing the cross-cutting concerns of poverty reduction and environmental protection.

The Bank's strategy in fisheries operations will take into account developments affecting the sector as enumerated in the preceding sections. The Bank recognizes the need to adapt its sector operations and their institutional arrangements to each DMC's economic, political, socioeconomic, and environmental conditions. Regional activities will be synchronized with global efforts being coordinated by FAO to promote responsible fisheries, and the Bank in its fisheries operations will take cognizance of the relevant international agreements including the Agenda 21 Action Plan for sustainable management of natural resources, including fisheries, and the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity (see pages 13-14). Within this overall framework, Bank operations in fisheries will be guided by the following basic principles:

1. The Bank's strategy for the fisheries sector will be anchored on three basic objectives: sustainability (in conservation and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources); equity (in balancing the interests of competing resource users); and efficiency (in the development and management of aquatic resources).

2. The private sector will be encouraged to play a larger role in fish marketing and processing projects. Large-scale fisheries operations requiring large investments and complex technologies will generally continue to be undertaken by fishery corporations. In all such cases of private operations, adequate safeguards to protect the interests of small-scale fishers and the environment will be a major concern.

3. Governments will be principally responsible for establishing a policy, institutional, and regulatory framework for supporting sustainable management of fisheries resources. Governments will also continue to be involved in some fishery infrastructure development such as ports, auction halls, and shore-based facilities as well as research, training, and extension.

4. The Bank's environmental guidelines will be applied rigorously in developing and implementing fisheries and aquaculture projects, which will generally adopt a more holistic and precautionary approach to fully consider the fishery-environment linkages.

5. A participatory process will be followed in formulating fishery projects, and the active involvement of the community, NGOs, voluntary organizations, and target beneficiaries in the design and implementation of projects will be encouraged. Where possible, actual small-scale fishing and fish farming operations should be owned and managed by fishers and fish farmers themselves or by small groups of fishers organized in cooperatives or associations.

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