FAO ecosystem approach to fisheries management

http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/13261/en

Principles of ecosystem approaches to fisheries 

 The FAO Technical Guidelines on the ecosystem approach to fisheries (FAO 2003) define EAF as follows:

"An ecosystem approach to fisheries strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic, abiotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated approach to fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries."

[...]  the following elements emerge as the foundations and components of an ecosystem management approach to fisheries and aquaculture:

• Recognize that management objectives are a matter of societal choice.  
• Decentralize decision and action to the lowest appropriate level, while recognising that there must also be mechanisms to ensure that management decisions and actions are consistent and coordinated at the higher levels required
• Introduce measures to ensure transparency, public awareness and consensus building
• Establish effective conflict resolution and enforcement mechanisms.
• Ensure coordination, consultation and cooperation, including joint decision-making,
• Recognize and identify the various direct and indirect uses and users of the ecosystem and involve all stakeholders in knowledge-sharing, decision-making and management.
• Translate the high-level policy goals for EAF into transparent and comprehensive operational objectives
•  Governance for EAF should ensure both human and ecosystem well-being and equitable allocation of benefits, as a condition for compliance