Discussion: Boosting Transparency in Fisheries to Establish Equity
The global push for transparency in various sectors has extended to the fishing industry, with countries around the world adopting and implementing transparency policies. At the forefront of this movement is the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency, a network of over 50 civil society organizations, led by Maisie Pigeon as its director.
The Coalition's mission is twofold: to make details about fishing activities more transparent and to show local fishermen in communities like Senegal a future where they are well-fed and making good money from their efforts. This transparency aims to improve the long-term sustainability of fisheries, ensuring responsible management of marine resources and the protection of ecosystems and fishing communities.
The Coalition connects and coordinates actors working on transparency in different geographies to amplify and accelerate the movement. They facilitate meetings between organizations working on beneficial ownership in different regions, with the goal of identifying the real owners of companies and vessels. The public disclosure of beneficial ownership information is an essential aspect of the Coalition's advocacy.
The Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a framework consisting of 10 policy principles, guides the Coalition's work. The charter covers vessel information, fishing activity, and governance and management.
However, the movement towards transparency is not without challenges. Privacy concerns from the fishing industry about sharing information are sometimes encountered, and competition from industries that do not see the benefits of transparency or benefit from opacity is a significant hurdle. Corruption can also permeate some industries and hinder transparency efforts.
Despite these challenges, the importance of transparency is increasingly recognised. More governments are acknowledging its role in benefiting coastal communities that rely on fisheries. The Coalition highlights certain countries as leaders in fisheries transparency, such as South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Chile, to showcase their commitment to sustainable fishing practices and encourage others to adopt similar standards.
Transparency is a cost-effective tool for improving fisheries governance. In a transparent fishery, local fishermen could return with boats full of fish that they can sell locally, benefiting both them and the local community. This vision of a transparent fishery is what drives the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency in their mission to make the fishing industry more open and accountable.
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